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Lecture 10: Traffic alert

and Collision AvoidanceSystem (TCAS)

By: Zuliana Ismail,2010

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What is TCAS

TCAS stand for Traffic alert and CollisionAvoidance System

TCAS is a special system designed to reduce the

incidence of Mid-air Collisions (MAC) between

aircraft.

According to ICAO, all aircraft with MTOW over

5700 kg or carry more than 30 passengers arecompulsory to equipped with TCAS.

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Mid-Air Collision (MAC)

A mid-air collision is an aviation accident in which two or

more aircraft come into contact during flight.

Worst MAC in History

Saudi Arabian Airlines VS

Kazakhstan Airlines , 1996

(349 people killed)Bashkirian Airlines collided

with DHL,2002 (71 People

Killed)

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TCAS Equipments

TCAS

Antenna

TCAS

Display

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HOW TCASWORKS

TCAS operates similar as Secondary SurveillanceRadar (SSR), but in air to air role.

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HOW TCASWORKS

TCAS consists ofantennas on aircraft body,computer processor & TCAS display inside cockpit.

TCAS antenna continually surveys the airspacearound an aircraft & transmit the signal.

Other aircraft that also equipped with TCAS in thesurrounding area will reply the signal.

TCAS continuously calculates tracked aircraftposition, therefore TCAS display constantly

updated and provide real time positioninformation.

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HOW TCASWORKS

Targets (other aircraft) are displayed on theTCAS screen as different symbols which showlevel of threat.

Aircraft relative altitude also will be displayed.

Relative altitude is the targets altitude inrelation to the aircraft. EX: -03 depicts atarget 300 feet below and climbing.

TCAS can not display aircraft without TCASantenna/transponders.

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Traffic Advisory (TA) &

Resolution Advisory (RA)

Range = 14 NM

Maximum number of aircraft processed = 30

Determination of the alerts: TA & RAAUDIOWARNING

Traffic Advisory (TA)help the pilots in the visual search

for the intruder aircraft, and alert

them to be ready for a potential

resolution advisory

Intruder be at 45

and 35 seconds

from the collision

area.

Traffic, Traffic

Resolution Advisory (RA)avoidance maneuvers

recommended to the pilot.

Intruder be at 30

and 20 seconds

from the collision

area.

Climb, Climb

Descent,

Descent

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TYPICAL TCAS DISPLAY

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TCAS Display

In modern glass cockpit aircraft, the TCAS display may be integrated in the

NavigationDisplay

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TCAS Advantages

Highly accurate distance measurements, with aone-second refresh rate.

All threats taken into account

Detection of all transponding aircraft, includingthose which are not displayed on the air traffic

controllers screen

Independent system, which acts as a last resort

measure to avoid mid-air collision when other

safety precautions fail.

TCAS reduced the risk of mid-air collision

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