EGPWS
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation
| Stands for | Enhanced ground proximity warning system |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
EGPWS stands for Enhanced ground proximity warning system, an aviation abbreviation.
Terrain awareness system that compares the aircraft's GPS position with a worldwide terrain and obstacle database and issues forward-looking alerts such as "Terrain, terrain, pull up." Introduced by Honeywell in the 1990s, it sharply reduced controlled-flight-into-terrain accidents.
Example: The EGPWS shouted "terrain, pull up" as the jet descended early toward the hills in the darkness.
Usage notes
The original GPWS, mandated for US airliners in the mid-1970s after crashes such as TWA Flight 514 in 1974, relied on the radio altimeter and could not see rising terrain ahead. The generic regulatory term is TAWS (terrain awareness and warning system); EGPWS is Honeywell's product name, often used generically.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- CVR – Cockpit voice recorder
- DA – Decision altitude
- DH – Decision height
- DME – Distance measuring equipment
- DPE – Designated pilot examiner
- EFB – Electronic flight bag
- ELT – Emergency locator transmitter
- ETA – Estimated time of arrival
- ETD – Estimated time of departure
- ETE – Estimated time en route
- ETOPS – Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards
- eVTOL – Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft