Safety organisations have welcomed the move by Cirrus Design to fit the enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) as standard, pointing to the continuing problem of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) as a major cause of light-aircraft accidents. While there is no data for light-aircraft CFIT accidents worldwide, the Flight Safety Foundation says the addition of EGPWS to the standard Cirrus avionics kit is “highly responsible”.
Honeywell’s Bendix/King KGP 560 EGPWS will be fitted as standard on the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 two- and four-seaters. There have been no CFIT accidents to large commercial aircraft fitted with EGPWS, but while the US Federal Aviation Administration required its fitment to in-service airliners by March 2005 there are no plans to make it mandatory for private light aircraft. The KGP 560 weighs 0.68kg (1.5lb) and incorporates similar database technology to that found in the company’s air transport EGPWS.
Source: Flight International
