Traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS / ACAS)
The course moves from why collision avoidance exists, to how the system sees and judges traffic, to what crews and controllers do with it, and ends with the equipment, its standards and its successor.
What you will be able to do
- ✓ Explain mid-air collision risk, the last safety net, ACAS versus TCAS, TCAS I versus TCAS II, and who must carry ACAS II
- ✓ Describe interrogation on 1030/1090 MHz, range, bearing, altitude, tau, hybrid surveillance and TCAS-to-TCAS coordination
- ✓ Read the traffic symbols, explain sensitivity levels and TA/RA timing, name the RA types and the low-altitude inhibits
- ✓ Set out the RA response, the radio reports, the controller's role and the human factors lessons
- ✓ Name the parts and equipment standards, describe the tests, state the mandates and explain ACAS X
Course content
Session 1 · Why collision avoidance exists
1
- Two aircraft, one piece of sky · free preview
- The last safety net
- TCAS I, TCAS II and who must carry them
- Worked example: who must carry ACAS II?
Session 2 · How TCAS sees traffic
2
- Asking the neighbours
- Range, bearing, altitude and tau
- Two TCAS II aircraft working together
- Worked example: four intruders, four answers
Session 3 · Traffic and resolution advisories
3
- Reading the traffic display
- When the alerts come
- Types of resolution advisory and the inhibits
- Worked example: from traffic advisory to climb at FL350
Session 4 · The crew and air traffic control
4
- Follow the RA
- Talking to air traffic control
- Lessons from history and human factors
- From the investigation file: the near miss off Yaizu, 2001
Session 5 · Equipment, maintenance and the future
5
- What is in the installation
- Tests and maintenance
- Software, mandates and ACAS X
- Worked example: returning TCAS to service after an antenna change
Who this course is for
Course content © Aerospace Garage Limited. All rights reserved.