Honeywell's EGPWS for Continental's aircraft

Honeywell has been awarded a contract by Continental Airlines to provide Honeywell's Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS) to retrofit 208 aircraft in Continental's fleet.

Total value of the equipment at catalogue prices is $17 million including spare systems and components. The retrofits will complete installation EGPWS in Continental's fleet of approximately 430 aircraft. All other aircraft in the fleet except those slated for retirement have EGPWS. The agreement calls for installing the systems during major maintenance scheduled through 2004.

The EGPWS helps keep pilots aware of the aircraft's position relative to terrain. It provides a cockpit display of terrain near the aircraft, with the terrain colour coded according to its elevation relative to the aircraft. The system also sounds an audible alert beginning about one minute or more in advance of a pending collision. Older Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS), which EGPWS units replace, provide an average of about 10-15 seconds advance warning of a terrain encounter, but sometimes provide shorter warnings or no warning.

EGPWS was the first Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) to be certified, and it meets all TAWS mandates. EGPWS has been selected by more than 200 airlines as well as other private and government entities.

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