Don Bateman, a brilliant engineer who revolutionized airline safety with his cockpit invention, the ground proximity warning system, passed away on May 21 at the age of 91. He died at his home in Bellevue, Washington, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
His creation, which sounds audible alerts and displays colorful warnings like “Caution Terrain!” and “Pull Up!” on screens when pilots are in danger of crashing into buildings, mountains, or water, has likely saved thousands of lives. He began designing the system in the late 1960s while working for Honeywell International and continued to improve it until his retirement in 2016.
Bateman’s invention has significantly reduced the number of airline deaths caused by poor visibility or bad weather. According to data from Boeing, there were only six such accidents from 2011 to 2020, killing 229 people onboard commercial jets worldwide. In comparison, there were 17 accidents from 2001 to 2010, leaving 1,007 people dead, and 27 from 1991 to 2000, killing 2,237 passengers and crew.
Charley Pereira, a former senior aerospace engineer with the National Transportation Safety Board, estimated that Bateman and his team had saved thousands of lives through their safety system technologies. “He was very passionate,” Pereira said, adding that Bateman “taught me what it means to be a safety engineer.”
President Barack Obama recognized Bateman’s significant contributions to aviation safety when he awarded him the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2011. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2005.
Aside from his work, Bateman’s passion for flying was evident in his personal life. He owned his own single-engine Cessna 182 and flew regularly. In his later years, he also took up running and completed over 50 marathons.
Bateman’s love of aviation and dedication to safety began at a young age. When he was just nine years old, he saw the aftermath of a midair collision involving military planes that left debris and bodies falling from the sky. His experience spurred his interest in improving aircraft safety.
Bateman’s engineering innovation changed air travel forever, and he will forever be remembered as a pioneer of aviation safety. He is survived by his wife, Mary, four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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