ALASKA AIRLINES has joined American Airlines in purchasing AlliedSignal Aerospace's new enhanced ground-proximity warning system (EGPWS) (Flight International, 4-10 September).
Parent group Alaska Air has undertaken a $10 million commitment to equip Alaska Airlines' 25 Boeing 737-400s, and to train flightcrews in using an integrated global-positioning system (GPS) satellite navigation and EGPWS package. An order has been placed with AlliedSignal Aerospace for an initial three EGPWS units, with a follow-on order for 22 systems, plus spares, due shortly, says Alaska Air. The carrier is also evaluating a possible retrofit GPS/EGPWS for eight 737-200Cs.
The EGPWS works by integrating terrain database information with the aircraft's GPS- determined position, and presenting contoured terrain on the pilot's navigation display. Terrain-proximity alert is given 1min before potential impact, compared with between 10s and 30s using a conventional GPWS.
Alaska Air expects to have its GPS/EGPWS package certificated by the US Federal Aviation Administration in October and installed on 14 aircraft by mid-February, with the remainder fitted by the end of 1997. Pilot-training takes three days, including one day of simulator training, one day of ground school and one day of flying with a check airman.
British Airways continues to test a prototype EGPWS unit in a Boeing 747-400 in conjunction with a standard GPWS, and Malaysia Airlines has requested a change to its Boeing 777 contract to enable the aircraft to be delivered with EGPWS equipment.
United Airlines plans to evaluate EGPWS on 20 Airbus A320s, and it may install the system throughout its 560-aircraft fleet. A FAA Supplemental Type Certificate would be required, since United plans to operate the A320s without standard GPWS units.
Source: Flight International
