Which of the following is an example of a GPWS hard warning?

• A. Terrain
• B. Whoop whoop, pull up
• C. Pull up now
• D. Terrain warning

Answer: (B)

Hard GPWS warnings are the most urgent alerts signaling an imminent threat that requires immediate action. The distinctive audio cue “Whoop whoop, pull up” is designed for rapid recognition and to compel an immediate nose-up climb to gain terrain clearance. It’s the classic hard-warn signal pilots train to respond to right away.

In contrast, signals that merely say “Terrain” or “Terrain warning” indicate terrain ahead but aren’t the most urgent, and don’t carry the same immediate, high-priority implication. While some systems may use direct commands like “Pull up now,” the combination and cadence of “Whoop whoop, pull up” is the hallmark hard warning that demands immediate action.