Lesson 3

TRAFFIC CONTROL AND

ALERT/COLLISION AVOIDANCE
SYSTEM
 CONTENT

1. ATC TRANSPONDER
2. TCAS INTRODUCTION
3. REVIEW
1. ATC TRANSPONDER
1.1. Function
ATC needs more information to distinguish between the
different aircraft. Therefore the ground station
secondary radar sends interrogation signals to all
aircraft.
The ATC transponder can reply in three different
modes, named mode A, mode C and Mode S:
MODE A the transponder transmits an aircraft
identification code which is a four digit number .
MODE C the transponder transmits the barometric
altitude of the aircraft which it receives from the air data
computer.
MODE S is an advanced system which will helps ATC
to control increasing traffic in the future and which is
needed for the traffic alert and collision avoidance
system, or TCAS in short.
1.2. ATC system architecture
- ATC transponder
- 2 Antennas
- Control panel
The ATC transponder is located in the avionics
compartment. All ATC transponders worldwide receive
the ATC interrogations on a frequency of 1030 Mhz and
reply on 1090 Mhz.
All ATC transponders have one antenna at the bottom of
the aircraft. Mode S transponders also have a top antenna
to allow communication with the TCAS systems of other
aircraft at a higher altitude.
The ATC transponder system also has a control panel in
the cockpit, which is also used to control the TCAS
system.
 The display window shows the selected identification
code given by the ground controller. It can be between
0000 and 7777, but you must note that three
identification codes must never be selected on the
ground, because they are emergency codes. These are:
- 7500, which identifies a Hijacking,
- 7600 for Radio failure,
- 7700 if the aircraft is in an emergency
2. TCAS INTRODUCTION
2.1. Function
The Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS
in short, is designed to protect the airspace around a TCAS
equipped airplane.
The function of TCAS is to determine the range,
altitude, bearing and closure rate of other aircraft which
are equipped with an ATC transponder
TCAS monitors up to 50 aircraft and puts them into one of
four groups:
- Resolution advisory group, RA in short
- Traffic advisory group, TA in short,
- Proximate traffic
- Other traffic
 TCAS forms two protected areas around its own aircraft:
- Resolution Advisory (RA)
- Traffic Advisory(TA) protected areas.
The TA and RA times vary with the altitude. For
example at 7000 ft, the RA time is 20-30 sec. the TA
time is 35-48 sec.
- Proximate traffic means that an aircraft with a relative
altitude separation of less than 1200 ft is inside a six
nautical miles radius of the TCAS aircraft.
Other traffic indicates aircraft at a distance of more than
6 Nautical Miles or that have a relative altitude
separation of more than 1200 ft.
2.2. TCAS architecture
A typical TCAS system has the following main
components.
- A TCAS Computer which is located in the Avionics
compartment,
- Two antennas which are used for transmission and
reception, one at the top and one at the bottom of the
aircraft.
- ATC and TCAS control panel
- The TCAS computer also communicates with its own ATC
transponders via a data bus.
- It also needs information from other aircraft systems
- TCAS computer also provides output signals to the indicators
like the EFIS displays and to the loudspeakers for aural alerts
2.3. TCAS operation & indication
Communication operation
To detect traffic conflicts TCAS continuously transmits
interrogations to other aircrafts. This allows TCAS to
identify an intruders characteristics.
When the intruder ATC transponder reply it is added to a
TCAS Roll Call List so that it can be tracked
Intruders equipped with a MODE S transponder transmit
permanent signals, which contain, for example, their
own aircraft address code
Using the address code, TCAS can now selectively
interrogate the MODE S transponder of this intruder
aircraft and ask for more information.
The TCAS computer now uses the received data to
calculate if the other aircraft is on a possible collision
course.
This data and the position data are sent to the display
system and an aural alert sounds if the warning level is
reached.
If the intruder also has TCAS, the two TCAS computers
communicate with each other using the MODE S
transponders.
Both TCAS computers calculate an escape path which is
exchanged and coordinated. This sets up an air – to - air
MODE S data link between the two aircraft.
b. Indication operation
The mode selector on the ATC/TCAS control panel is
now in the TA/RA position and four types of symbols
could be displayed on the ND.
All four symbols show:
An altitude separation between the aircraft, shown in
hundreds of feet. A plus sign indicates if the traffic is above,
and a minus sign indicates if traffic is below our aircraft. A
vertical up-pointing arrow shows if the traffic is climbing,
and a down-pointing arrow shows aircraft descending.
Four symbol of traffic groups:
- Other traffic is shown by a hollow diamond with the
altitude, both in white (or blue).
- Proximate traffic is shown by a solid diamond with the
altitude, both in white (or blue).
- Traffic Advisory is shown by a solid circle with the altitude,
both in amber.
- Resolution Advisory is shown by a solid square with the
altitude, both in red.
c. Alert operation
When a Traffic Advisory, TA, occurs, the aural alert
“TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC” can be heard in the cockpit. This
alert tells the flight crew to monitor the display for
intruder traffic.
During a Resolution Advisory, RA, two types of aural
alert are possible. These are a Preventive action RA and
a Corrective action RA.
The preventive action RA occurs when the present
vertical speed achieves a safe altitude separation from
the threat aircraft. When this happens the aural advisory
is “MONITOR VERTICAL SPEED-MONITOR VERTICAL SPEED”.
The Corrective action RA occurs when the altitude
separation is not safe. Here we show you two examples
of aural alert that tell the flight crew to take a corrective
action to avoid a possible collision.
- The aircraft must climb with a vertical speed inside
the green area of the indication.
- A “REDUCE CLIMB” aural alert tells the flight crew
to reduce the rate of climb.