Plain English Meaning

Safety systems are the equipment in the cockpit that watches for dangers — like other aircraft, rising terrain, or being too close to the ground — and warns the pilot in time to react.

Full Definition

In instrument flying, safety systems are onboard avionics and equipment designed to alert the pilot to hazards or to help avoid them. The principal categories include radar altimeters, traffic advisory and collision avoidance systems (TAS/TCAS), terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS/GPWS), and the Mode C/Mode S that support them. Each either provides the pilot with situational information or generates a warning when a is detected.