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Traffic alert and collision avoidance system: Difference between revisions
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Traffic alert and collision avoidance system (view source)
Revision as of 12:48, 8 January 2011
, 8 January 2011minor description update
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TCAS monitors the airspace around an aircraft for other aircraft, independent of air traffic control, and warns pilots of the presence of other aircraft which may present a threat of mid-air collision. TCAS uses aural annunciation of all warnings - similar to the [[ground proximity warning system]]. | TCAS monitors the airspace around an aircraft for other aircraft, independent of air traffic control, and warns pilots of the presence of other aircraft which may present a threat of mid-air collision. TCAS uses aural annunciation of all warnings - similar to the [[ground proximity warning system]]. | ||
Rather than using fixed distances, threats are detected on a basis of ''time to conflict''. Any aircraft on a flight path causing a conflict within the next 20-50 seconds triggers a traffic warning. Traffic coming even closer (15-35 seconds) may also trigger a resolution advisory | Rather than using fixed distances, threats are detected on a basis of ''time to conflict''. Any aircraft on a flight path causing a conflict within the next 20-50 seconds triggers a traffic warning. Traffic coming even closer (15-35 seconds) may also trigger a resolution advisory, i.e. advise each pilot of conflicting aircraft to climb or descend to provide optimal vertical separation. | ||
Threat detection sensitivity increases with altitude, assuming that planes should have a much higher separation at high altitudes, while only a minimum separation can be maintained when flying low - usually in the vicinity of the destination or departure airport. TCAS II increases the threat sensitivity in 7 steps: from 20 seconds at 1000ft to 50 seconds above 20000ft for traffic alerts, and from 15 to 35 seconds for resolution advisories. | Threat detection sensitivity increases with altitude, assuming that planes should have a much higher separation at high altitudes, while only a minimum separation can be maintained when flying low - usually in the vicinity of the destination or departure airport. TCAS II increases the threat sensitivity in 7 steps: from 20 seconds at 1000ft to 50 seconds above 20000ft for traffic alerts, and from 15 to 35 seconds for resolution advisories. | ||
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== Display == | == Display == | ||
The TCAS display shows any aircraft with enabled transponder ( | The TCAS display shows any aircraft with enabled transponder (transponders should be switched off while taxiing or the aircraft is parked). | ||
The following symbols and colors are used by a TCAS display: | The following symbols and colors are used by a TCAS display: | ||
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</PropertyList> | </PropertyList> | ||
'''Note''': You can | '''Note''': | ||
* You can connect the instrumentation/tcas/inputs/mode property to a cockpit switch (transponder mode), so the pilot can manually switch the TCAS mode. | |||
* The instrumentation/tcas/serviceable property may be used to simulate a device failure. | |||
== TCAS display == | == TCAS display == | ||