DORIS WANG
News Writer

Witnessing a plane crash would deter almost anyone from pursuing a career in the aircraft industry.

However, it had the opposite effect on C. Donald Bateman, the speaker at this year’s C. J. Mackenzie Gala of Engineering Excellence. Not only did he obtain a pilot’s licence, he also became a pioneer in aircraft safety.

Growing up during the Second World War, Bateman saw two planes crash into each other during an air force training session in Saskatchewan.

“I was curious so I went up to take a look,” said Bateman, “and I took a piece of the plane with me.”

Although this incident had a profound impact on him, Bateman credits his elementary school teacher for pushing him to become an engineer.

“She was one of those teachers who encouraged everyone to pursue their interests. And she told me I should be an engineer.”

After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan in 1956 with a degree in electrical engineering, Bateman plunged into the midst of the Cold War with his first job. Working at a radar site in Northern Ontario, he was in charge of monitoring and detecting Soviet planes that came into the Canadian or American airspace.

“I had a great time working with a wide range of electronic equipment,” Bateman said of his experience.

He found his main interest working in aircraft safety after a stint with the Boeing Company, and is currently the chief engineer and corporate fellow for Honeywell’s Flight Safety Avionic Technology in Seattle, Wash.

Bateman encouraged engineering students to consider flight safety as a career since all the skills they learn in university can be applied to the flight industry.

“They should keep their minds open and look for opportunities to contribute to society,” he said. And Bateman himself has contributed plenty through flight research.

Along with pioneering systems to warn of potentially dangerous flight conditions, he helped create heads-up displays, which allow pilots to view data without looking away from where they need to be looking.

Another innovation was automatic throttle, which conserves fuel and extends engine life by allowing pilots to control the power setting of an aircraft’s engines.

Bateman is most noted for his invention of the ground proximity warning system, which uses visual and auditory devices to alert pilots if their aircraft is in immediate danger of flying into the ground or an obstacle.

He has continued to improve these warning systems, and the resulting program provides a better visualization than even the GPWS did. At a glance, pilots can view a display of hazardous terrain below and ahead of the aircraft, enhanced by GPS data. Military jets use this technology to predict the path of the aircraft and the terrain ahead for several miles.

According to Bateman, the main challenge now is to make landing and departure safer as they are the most dangerous portions of a flight.

“The planes are 400 times safer than they were in the Second World War,” says Bateman. “But we are still looking to improve flight safety in practical and cost-effective ways.”