Traffic Collision

Avoidance System
 TCAS
• What is it?

• What does it do?

• What requirements must planes meet to

be equipped with a TCAS?
  Each year, numerous reports reveal that mid-air collisions
are avoided successfully
•Air Traffic Controllers (on ground) strive to avoid such events
•The onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) was
developed to prevent mid-air collision, particularly in case Air
Traffic Controller guidance is incorrect.
•TCAS II has become mandatory:
Since 1986, in the US
Since 2000, in Europe
•TCAS II has a worldwide ICAO mandate as of January 1st,
2003.
• Detects any nearby aircraft that is equipped with
an ATC Transponder.

• Displays potential collision targets.

• Triggers vertical orders to avoid conflict.

TCAS
•TCAS calculates the:

• Bearing (based on the direction of the received signal)

• Range (based on the time that the signal was received)

• Trajectory and speed (based on intruder position evolution)

• Relative Altitude (based on the signal received)

 TCAS

OTHER VOLUME
PAVOLUME

TA VOLUME

RAVOLUME
• Amist all the TCAS information, the most
important involves Resolution Advisory
• TCAS calculates two types of Resolution
Advisories (RA) :
 Preventive Advisory (''MAINTAIN VERTICAL
SPEED-MAINTAIN''):
 Red sector appears on V/S scale, the V/S needle
is in the grey area.
 The red square is displayed on the Navigation
Display
 No pilot action on the sidestick ( maintain the current
vertical speed)
Corrective Advisory:
–The vertical speed needle is in the red area.
–The red square is displayed on the Navigation Display
Follow aural warnings.
Follow vertical speed green sector on the PFD.

Corrective Advisory (e.g. “ADJUST VERTICAL SPEED, ADJUST”):

• –TCAS computes the best avoidance manoeuvre according to
a model:
•Assumes a reaction from pilots within 5 seconds and accelerates
with
0.25g in climb or descent until +/-1500 ft/min is reached
•V/S must be maintained until clear of conflict.

Smoothly and firmly follow green sector within

5 seconds
• Corective Advisory

• Generally:
-Deviation caused by RA manoeuvre is between 300 and 500 ft
-Vertical miss distance at the Closest Point Of Approach is 400 ft
 Additional Corrective Advisory (E.g.: “INCREASE
DESCENT”)
–TCAS computes the best avoidance manoeuvre according to a
model:
•Assumes pilots reaction within 2.5 seconds and accelerates with
0.35g in climb or descent until +/-2500 ft/min is reached
• V/S must be maintained until clear of conflict.

Firmly follow green sector within 2.5 seconds

 Conclusion

 Even if the number of TCAS alerts decreases, there are still

missed mid-air collisions each year.
 Pilots must always follow TCAS RA orders.
 Some improvements are envisaged and are being developed to
further assist pilots in effectively responding to TCAS
warnings.
Thank you !