C. Donald Bateman
Encyclopedia
Charles Donald Bateman, known as Don Bateman, (born 8 March 1932, Saskatchewan, Canada) is the inventor of the Ground Proximity Warning System
(GPWS), a device that is responsible for a marked decline in controlled flight into terrain
accidents.
before commencing a 40+ year career at Sundstrand Corporation
(later Honeywell).
s, speed control/auto throttle systems, stall warning systems, automatic aircraft flight control systems
, and weight and balance systems, Don Bateman is most recognized for his invention of the original Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). Heading a small team of Honeywell engineers, Bateman not only invented the original GPWS, but continues to improve these warning. Every five years his team “comes up with a new model, not because the technology had improved but because we knew we could make it better.” These advancements lead to the creation of the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS). This program provides a better visualization that the GPWS did. At a glance, pilots can view a visual display of hazardous terrain below and ahead of the aircraft.
Ground proximity warning system (GPWS) serves the purpose of alerting pilots if their aircraft is in danger of flying into hazardous terrain or the ground.
“In order to provide for the additional effectiveness of a ground proximity warning system during a landing approach, the waypoint signal of an Area Navigation System is used in combination with an altitude above-ground-signal to compute a minimum terrain altitude for each point along the aircraft's approach to the runway. The minimum altitude is compared with the aircraft's actual altitude and if it is below the minimum an alarm is activated.”
This paragraph is the abstract of the invention from its patent. It describes using a radar altimeter system to keep track of the aircraft’s height above ground. The system will sound an alarm if aircraft’s altitude is undesirable for the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.
While this technology improved flight safety tremendously, it was still imperfect. It had two problems:
Additionally, with EGPWS, landing does not inhibit the performance of the system. In fact, the main focus now is making landing and departure safer, as they are the most dangerous aspects of flying.
the improvement of international air safety.
The primary GPWS patent, Aircraft landing approach ground proximity warning system dates to 1976, with Sundstrand Data.
Abstract: “In order to provide for the additional effectiveness of a ground proximity warning system during a landing approach, the waypoint signal of an Area Navigation System is used in combination with an altitude above-ground-signal to compute a minimum terrain altitude for each point along the aircraft's approach to the runway. The minimum altitude is compared with the aircraft's actual altitude and if it is below the minimum an alarm is activated.”
Ground Proximity Warning System
A ground proximity warning system is a system designed to alert pilots if their aircraft is in immediate danger of flying into the ground or an obstacle. The United States Federal Aviation Administration defines GPWS as a type of terrain awareness warning system...
(GPWS), a device that is responsible for a marked decline in controlled flight into terrain
Controlled flight into terrain
Controlled flight into terrain describes an accident in which an airworthy aircraft, under pilot control, is unintentionally flown into the ground, a mountain, water, or an obstacle. The term was coined by engineers at Boeing in the late 1970s...
accidents.
Abstract
Donald Bateman is a Canadian born engineer currently working as Chief Engineer, Flight Safety Avionics at Honeywell. Over his 50 plus career, he has “developed innovative, cost-effective avionic flight systems”. His primary accomplishment is having pioneered the invention of the original Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) in the late 1960s. The United States now requires the installment of GPWS for turbine aircraft with at least six passenger seats. This technology has delivered Honeywell close to a billion dollars of revenue.Life
Bateman earned his degree in electrical engineering at the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
before commencing a 40+ year career at Sundstrand Corporation
Sundstrand Corporation
Sundstrand Corporation was founded in 1926 as a merger of the Rockford Tool Company and Rockford Milling Machine Company in Rockford, Illinois. It was known as Sundstrand Machine Tool Company until 1959 when shareholders voted to change the name to Sundstrand Corporation.Sundstrand is known for...
(later Honeywell).
Scientific Work
While having over 40 U.S. and 80 foreign patents concerning aircraft terrain avoidance systems, head-up displayHead-Up Display
A head-up display or heads-up display is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints...
s, speed control/auto throttle systems, stall warning systems, automatic aircraft flight control systems
Aircraft flight control systems
A conventional fixed-wing aircraft flight control system consists of flight control surfaces, the respective cockpit controls, connecting linkages, and the necessary operating mechanisms to control an aircraft's direction in flight...
, and weight and balance systems, Don Bateman is most recognized for his invention of the original Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). Heading a small team of Honeywell engineers, Bateman not only invented the original GPWS, but continues to improve these warning. Every five years his team “comes up with a new model, not because the technology had improved but because we knew we could make it better.” These advancements lead to the creation of the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS). This program provides a better visualization that the GPWS did. At a glance, pilots can view a visual display of hazardous terrain below and ahead of the aircraft.
Ground proximity warning system (GPWS)
A series of aircraft crashes and hundreds of deaths as a result of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) lead Bateman to take the initiative in creating a solution to these accidents. CFIT is defined as “where a pilot has the aircraft under control but unknowingly flies into terrain” This type of accident typically takes place during poor visibility. Bateman felt it was within his capabilities to construct a system that would detect hazardous terrain in the aircraft’s projected path.Ground proximity warning system (GPWS) serves the purpose of alerting pilots if their aircraft is in danger of flying into hazardous terrain or the ground.
“In order to provide for the additional effectiveness of a ground proximity warning system during a landing approach, the waypoint signal of an Area Navigation System is used in combination with an altitude above-ground-signal to compute a minimum terrain altitude for each point along the aircraft's approach to the runway. The minimum altitude is compared with the aircraft's actual altitude and if it is below the minimum an alarm is activated.”
This paragraph is the abstract of the invention from its patent. It describes using a radar altimeter system to keep track of the aircraft’s height above ground. The system will sound an alarm if aircraft’s altitude is undesirable for the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.
While this technology improved flight safety tremendously, it was still imperfect. It had two problems:
- No Warning: The primary cause of CFIT occurrences with no GPWS warning is landing short. When the landing gear is down and landing flaps are deployed, the GPWS expects the airplane to land and therefore, issues no warning.
- Late Warning or Improper Response: This was primarily caused by blind-spots within the terrain. A sudden change in altitude—a steep slope, for example—would receive a late warning and the pilot may be unable to avoid the obstacle. This problem was implicated in the Garuda Indonesia Flight 152Garuda Indonesia Flight 152Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 was a scheduled domestic Indonesian passenger flight from Jakarta to Medan Sumatra operated by state owned flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. On September 26, 1997, the Airbus A300 flying this route, registered PK-GAI, crashed into woodlands 29 km from Medan in low...
accident.
Enhanced GPWS
Bateman continued to head the development of the GPWS. Eventually, it developed into the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS). This system has fixed the faults in the GPWS by incorporating GPS into its analysis of terrain. Now it is possible for EGPWS to predict the path of the aircraft and the terrain ahead of the aircraft for several miles. Military fast jets require this enhanced system to accurately predict the flight path. Digital terrain maps, featuring hazardous obstacles and features, warn the pilot when to pull up.Additionally, with EGPWS, landing does not inhibit the performance of the system. In fact, the main focus now is making landing and departure safer, as they are the most dangerous aspects of flying.
Awards
- Inducted in 2005 into the National Inventors Hall of FameNational Inventors Hall of FameThe National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
- Industrial Research Institute Achievement Award
- Awarded the Cumberbatch Trophy of GAPAN in 1996 for a major personal contribution to
the improvement of international air safety.
Patents
Bateman holds more than 40 U.S. and 80 foreign patents concerning aircraft terrain avoidance systems, HUDs, speed control/auto throttle systems, stall warning systems, automatic flight control systems, and weight and balance systems. The earliest for a HUD dates to 1972 when he was with United Controls. The latest, for a cabin depressurization warning system, dates to 2008 with Honeywell.The primary GPWS patent, Aircraft landing approach ground proximity warning system dates to 1976, with Sundstrand Data.
Abstract: “In order to provide for the additional effectiveness of a ground proximity warning system during a landing approach, the waypoint signal of an Area Navigation System is used in combination with an altitude above-ground-signal to compute a minimum terrain altitude for each point along the aircraft's approach to the runway. The minimum altitude is compared with the aircraft's actual altitude and if it is below the minimum an alarm is activated.”