A system for updating an onboard terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) database of an aircraft, the system comprising: a first wireless communications device that is onboard the aircraft and that is configured to transfer data with a TAWS datacenter that is remote from the aircraft, wherein the first wireless communications device is configured to transfer data with the TAWS datacenter via a satellite wireless communication device and a third wireless communication device; and a TAWS system onboard the aircraft, the TAWS system communicatively coupled to the first wireless communications device, the TAWS system including the TAWS database, and configured to: (a) receive information relating to a flight path from an onboard flight management system, (b) request, by way of the first wireless communications device communicating by way of an avionics data transfer protocol, an update of TAWS data in the onboard TAWS database and associated with the flight path of the aircraft, and (c) receive and accept, from the TAWS datacenter by way of the first wireless communications device and by way of the avionics data transfer protocol and in response to the request, the update to the TAWS data; and (d) reject an unrequested update to the TAWS database that is not received in response to the request for the update, wherein the TAWS system is configured to close a communication port between the TAWS system and the satellite wireless communication device to reject the unrequested update to the TAWS database; wherein the TAWS system is configured to receive destination information relating to the flight path from the onboard flight management system; wherein the TAWS system is further configured to request the update to the TAWS data based upon the destination information; wherein the update to the TAWS data includes airport runway and/or taxiway data, data about obstacles or buildings located within an airport. a first wireless communications device that is onboard the aircraft and that is configured to transfer data with a TAWS datacenter that is remote from the aircraft, wherein the first wireless communications device is configured to transfer data with the TAWS datacenter via a satellite wireless communication device and a third wireless communication device; and a TAWS system onboard the aircraft, the TAWS system communicatively coupled to the first wireless communications device, the TAWS system including the TAWS database, and configured to: (a) receive information relating to a flight path from an onboard flight management system, (b) request, by way of the first wireless communications device communicating by way of an avionics data transfer protocol, an update of TAWS data in the onboard TAWS database and associated with the flight path of the aircraft, and (c) receive and accept, from the TAWS datacenter by way of the first wireless communications device and by way of the avionics data transfer protocol and in response to the request, the update to the TAWS data; and (d) reject an unrequested update to the TAWS database that is not received in response to the request for the update, wherein the TAWS system is configured to close a communication port between the TAWS system and the satellite wireless communication device to reject the unrequested update to the TAWS database; (a) receive information relating to a flight path from an onboard flight management system, (b) request, by way of the first wireless communications device communicating by way of an avionics data transfer protocol, an update of TAWS data in the onboard TAWS database and associated with the flight path of the aircraft, and (c) receive and accept, from the TAWS datacenter by way of the first wireless communications device and by way of the avionics data transfer protocol and in response to the request, the update to the TAWS data; and (d) reject an unrequested update to the TAWS database that is not received in response to the request for the update, wherein the TAWS system is configured to close a communication port between the TAWS system and the satellite wireless communication device to reject the unrequested update to the TAWS database; wherein the TAWS system is configured to receive destination information relating to the flight path from the onboard flight management system; wherein the TAWS system is further configured to request the update to the TAWS data based upon the destination information; wherein the update to the TAWS data includes airport runway and/or taxiway data, data about obstacles or buildings located within an airport.