Indonesians Launch TAWS

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- Merpati Nusantara Airlines of Indonesia has placed the launch order for Universal Avionics' Terrain Awareness and Warning System. The order covers 38 TAWS systems to be installed on Fokker F-27, F-28, Casa C-212, CN-235 and DHC Twin Otter aircraft by Celsius' Hawker Pacific unit in Singapore. Merpati has taken options on another 20 systems.

TAWS is a database-driven warning system. As well as providing standard Enhanced GPWS functions, it can be integrated with the aircraft's flight management system to ensure that the flight plan provides safe ground clearance, beyond the normal reach of EGPWS. It can also be used to display a color perspective view of the terrain, improving the pilot's situational awareness and reducing the chance of conflicts. Initially, however, the systems delivered to Merpati will be confined to basic GPWS functions.

By Bill Sweetman