C. Donald Bateman

Charles Donald Bateman, known as Don Bateman or C. 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.

It's accepted within the industry that Don Bateman has probably saved more lives than any single person in the history of aviation.

Donald Bateman is a Canadian-born engineer who spent most of his career as Chief Engineer, Flight Safety Avionics at Honeywell. Over his career, he developed innovative, cost-effective avionic flight systems. His most significant 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 which carry six or more passengers. This technology has delivered Honeywell close to a billion dollars of revenue.

Bateman earned his degree in electrical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan before commencing a career at Sundstrand Corporation (later Honeywell). Bateman retired from Honeywell on July 21, 2016.

While having over 40 U.S. and 80 foreign patents concerning aircraft terrain avoidance systems, head-up displays, speed control/auto throttle systems, stall warning systems, automatic aircraft flight control systems, and weight-and-balance systems, Bateman is most recognized for his invention of the original Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). With his team of Honeywell engineers, Bateman invented the original GPWS, and continues to improve these devices. 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 led to the creation of the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS). This program provides a better visualization than the GPWS did. At a glance, pilots can view a visual display of hazardous terrain below and ahead of the aircraft.

A series of aircraft crashes as a result of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) led 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.

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