Definition
Optional voice announcements generated by a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) or Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) to inform the flight crew of specific altitudes, configuration states, or approach milestones during low-altitude operations. Advisory callouts are informational only and do not indicate an unsafe condition or require corrective action; typical examples include altitude callouts such as "five hundred," "one hundred," "minimums," and "bank angle."
Plain English
Spoken announcements from the aircraft's terrain warning system that simply tell the crew what's happening — like calling out altitudes as the airplane gets close to the ground — without warning of any danger.
Context Anchor
Seen in GPWS discussions, especially during instrument approaches and low-altitude operations near the ground.
Derivation
"Advisory" comes from Latin advisare, to give counsel — it offers information rather than a command. "Callout" is plain aviation usage for a spoken announcement made aloud in the cockpit. Together: a spoken piece of information offered to the crew.
Why Pilots Care
They give pilots time to adjust flight path before a situation becomes critical, reducing the chance of controlled flight into terrain.
Grounding Statement
On approach, an advisory callout can be the airplane’s way of saying, “Notice this now,” before the situation becomes more urgent.
Intuition Check
“Advisory” does not mean unimportant or safe to ignore. Here it means the alert gives information or caution, not a direct escape command.
Example Sentence 1
As the aircraft descended through 500 feet on final approach, the GPWS issued the advisory callout "five hundred."
Example Sentence 2
The crew acknowledged the advisory callouts for sink rate and added power to stabilize the descent.