Lecture 10: Traffic alert

and Collision Avoidance

System (TCAS)
 Learning Outcomes

Home
• At the end of this lecture, the student should
Previous be able to:
– Describe the theory of early warning system
Next
including TCAS & GPWS
Help
 Mid-Air Collision

Home

Previous

Next

Help

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

more aircraft come into contact during flight.
 CASE 1:
Saudi Arabian Airlines VS Kazakhstan Airlines

Home
• Worst Mid-Air Collision in History
Previous • Mid-air collision occurred on 12 November 1996

Next
• Saudi Arabian Airlines (Boeing 747)from New Delhi,
India, to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
Help
• Kazakhstan Airlines (Ilyushin Il-76) from Kazakhstan to
New Delhi
• Both aircrafts collided at India airspace.
• All 349 people on board both flights were killed, making
it the WORST mid-air collision in history
 Causes of Accident

Home
The causes of accident are:
Previous • Failure of the Kazakh pilot to follow ATC instructions.
– Commanded by ATC to descend at altitude 15’000ft, but he
Next
descend to altitude 14’500ft.
Help • Lack of English Language Skills of Kazakh pilot.
• Indira Gandhi International Airport did not have
secondary surveillance radar, which produces exact
readings of aircraft altitudes; instead the airport had
outdated primary radar, which produced approximate
readings.
• No TCAS
 Case 2:
Bashkirian Airlines collided with DHL
Home • Bashkirian Airlines (Tupolev Tu-154M) passenger jet en
route from Moscow to Barcelona.
Previous
• DHL Flight 611 (Boeing 757) cargo jet flying from
Bergamo, Italy, to Brussels, Belgium.
Next
• The two aircraft collided in mid-air on 1 July 2002, in
Help
Germany airspace killing all 71 aboard both aircraft.
• The Investigation found that the accident had been
caused by problems within the air traffic control system
and problems with the use of the Traffic alert and
Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).
• On 24 February 2004, the ATC who was on duty at the
time, was stabbed to death by a man who had lost his
wife and two children in the accident.
 Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance
System (TCAS)
Home • TCAS is a special system designed to reduce the
incidence of mid-air collisions between aircraft.
Previous

• It is also known as ACAS (Airborne Collision

Next
Avoidance System)
Help • TCAS system capable of displaying conflicting
traffic and providing resolution advice.
• According to ICAO, TCAS is mandatory for all
aircraft with MTOM (maximum take-off mass)
over 5700 kg or carry more than 19 passengers
 Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance
System (TCAS)
Home
• TCAS monitors the airspace around an aircraft
Previous for other aircraft equipped (independent of
ATC)
Next
• TCAS warns pilots of the presence of other
Help aircraft (transponder-equipped) which may
present a threat of mid-air collision (MAC).
• Intended as a last resort protection against risk
of collision.
 HOW TCAS WORKS

Home

Previous

Next

Help
 HOW TCAS WORKS

Home • TCAS works as a back up to the ATC system and the

‘see & avoid’ system.
Previous

• TCAS consists of antennas on aircraft body,

Next computer processor & TCAS display inside cockpit.
Help • TCAS antenna continually surveys the airspace
around an aircraft & transmit the signal.
• Other aircraft that also equipped with TCAS in the
surrounding area will reply the signal.
• TCAS continuously calculates tracked aircraft
position, therefore TCAS display constantly
updated and provide real time position
information.
 HOW TCAS WORKS

Home
• Targets are displayed on the TCAS screen as
Previous
different symbols which show level of threat.
• Aircraft relative altitude also will be displayed.
Next

– Relative altitude is the targets altitude in

Help
relation to the aircraft. EX: -03↑ depicts a
target 300 feet below and climbing.
• TCAS can not display aircraft without TCAS
antenna/transponders.
 Home

Previous

Next

Help
 TCAS

Home
• Determination of the alerts: TA & RA
Previous
• Traffic Advisory (TA)- help the pilots in the
Next
visual search for the intruder aircraft, and alert
them to be ready for a potential resolution
Help advisory. EX: TA “Traffic, Traffic”
• Resolution Advisory (RA)- avoidance maneuvers
recommended to the pilot. RA “Climb, Climb”
• Range = 14 NM
• Maximum number of aircraft processed = 30
 TYPICAL TCAS DISPLAY

Home

Previous

Next

Help
 TCAS Display
In modern glass cockpit aircraft, the TCAS display may be integrated in the
Home
Navigation Display

Previous

Next

Help
 TCAS Advantages

Home
• Highly accurate distance measurements, with a
Previous one-second refresh rate.
Next
• All threats taken into account
Help
• Detection of all transponding aircraft, including
those which are not displayed on the air traffic
controller’s 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
 TCAS Limitations

Home
• No detection of aircraft without or not
Previous operating transponders (e.g. VFRs, military
flights)
Next

• No knowledge of the pilot’s intentions and of

Help
the ATC separation minima
• Basic display: no identification, no past
positions, no speed vector
• Sometime generate unnecessary alerts.