Chapter 20

Traffic Alert and Collision

Avoidance System
TCAS
 TCAS Overview
• The heart of the TCAS system is the transponder.
• Once every second the transponder sends out a similar interrogation that is sent to the ATC
surveillance radar.
• If another aircraft is within range, it will respond to the interrogation, the first aircraft will measure
the time difference to compute the range of the other aircraft.
• Aircraft with Mode C transponders will respond with altitude information.
• Aircraft with Mode S transponders will respond with address information.
• Aircraft with the old ATCRBS transponders do not have TCAS, however TCAS aircraft will
receive a TA (threat advisory) when those aircraft get within range.
• Because TCAS operates aircraft-to-aircraft, it is not dependant on ground stations.
• To decide if an airplane is on a collision course, the TCAS processor will look at “range rate”
which tells the rate at which distance is changing.
• If the “range rate” is constant, that means the aircraft are on a collision course.
• Because aircraft operate at different speeds and performance, allowance has to be made.
• Tau, a Greek letter is what represents that allowance, which is done by measuring distance and
closing rate and adjusts its warning times to compensate.
• The TCAS system issues 2 types of alerts: a TA which is a threat advisory that alerts the pilot
that another aircraft is close enough to be a potential threat; a RA is a resolution advisory that
means the other aircraft IS a threat (30 seconds to a possible collision) and issues commands to
evade a collision.
 TCAS on a Radar Display
Here is TCAS displayed on a Radar
Display, for aircraft equipped with
EFIS.
If a TA is issued, an audible warning
will be a voice saying “Traffic Traffic”
If an RA is issued, an audible warning
will be a voice saying to climb or
descend.
The system shown is TCAS II,
required for large aircraft, which
issues both a TA or an RA.
TCAS II needs a Mode S transponder
to operate.
TCAS I is for GA and only issues
TA’s.
 TCAS on Vertical Speed Indicator
• For aircraft not equipped
with EFIS, TCAS is
display on the Vertical
Speed Indicator.
• The VSI on the right is
showing an RA.
• The red arc indicates the
area to avoid, the pilot
always shoots for the
green arc.
• In this example, the
airplane is descending at
about 3000 feet per
minute.
TCAS Voice Warnings
 TCAS System Block Diagram
• The system shown is a TCAS II system.
• There is both a top and bottom transponder
antenna to insure full coverage.
• The computer processes large amounts of
information: target tracking, threat
assessment, visual and aural advisories,
escape maneuvers and coordinated
maneuvers between aircraft on a collision
course.
• Maneuver coordination is accomplished
each aircraft sending out coordinated
interrogations once per second. Non TCAS
equipped aircraft will not be able to perform
maneuver coordination and only a TA will
be issued.
• These interrogations broadcast the “intent”,
the escape command issued, so that the
other aircraft won’t issue the same
command, for instance to climb, thus
avoiding a collision.
 Overload Prevention
• In congested areas near large airports, there is a problem of too many TCAS alerts.
• To prevent this from occurring, the “whisper-shout” technique was developed.
• The “whisper” transmits interrogations at low power, about 2 watts when the aircraft is
in cruise; only the closest aircraft with the most sensitive transponders hear it and
reply.
• Next, the transponder increases power to trigger replies from aircraft slightly further
away; at the same time it sends a suppression pulse which silences the first set of
transponders and prevents their replies.
• In rapid steps, the interrogations increase in power until they are “shouting” at 250
watts.
• These high-level signals now reach aircraft at the outer edge of the range.
• Then the system returns to “whisper” again, the cycle is repeated once per second.
• This cycle allows for only small groups of replies to get through at any one time,
effectively “buffering” the system.
• The directional antenna also divides a full circle into 90° quadrants and limits replies
to the active quadrant, further “buffering” the system.
 TCAS System Components
• The control panel is for both TCAS and
the Transponder and selects the
functions.
• There are the top and bottom
transponder antennas.
• The Mode S transponder allows for
TCAS II operation.
• The TCAS processor computes aircraft
speed, closure rate, etc and issues the
appropriate command.
• This example shows the display on the
Weather Radar Display as well as the
Vertical Speed Indicators.
• Top and Bottom directional antennas
allow for directional interrogation which
electrically rotates 90° at a time which
allows for sensing of bearing of the
threat and buffering.
 Review Q & A Chapter 20 TCAS
20.1 A TCAS aircraft transmits an interrogation once per ____.
Answer: second.
20.2 How does an intruder aircraft with an ATCRBS (early type) transponder reply to TCAS interrogation?
Answer: Only a TA
20.3 How does an intruder aircraft with a Mode S transponder reply to TCAS interrogations?
Answer: Both a TA and RA
20.4 How does TCAS determine the direction of a threat?
Answer: From its directional antenna
20.5 How does TCAS determine the distance of a threat?
Answer: By using Tau and using the range rate.
20.6 How does TCAS determine whether the other aircraft is a threat?
Answer: By using range rate
20.7 What is the concept of “Tau”?
Answer: Compensation for varied speeds and performance
20.8 Name the 2 kinds of warnings issued by TCAS.
Answer: TA (Threat Advisory) and RA (Resolution Advisory).
20.9 Does a Threat Advisory (TA) command the pilot to maneuver out of the way?
Answer: No.
20.10 What does a Resolution Advisory (RA) do?
Answer: Issues evasive maneuvers
20.11 If 2 TCAS aircraft are closing, what prevents them from climbing, and flying into each other?
Answer: Coordinated Resolution Advisories
20.12 What is the technique of “whisper-shout”?
Answer: Buffering of replies to prevent alert overload
20.13 How does the directional antenna reduce the number of replies for each interrogation?
Answer: By only responding to interrogations in the active quadrant.