DESCRIPTION

of

RITA 2 EVENTS

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 1
 Event List (1/3)

 Straight-forward TCAS operations

 Event 01: Coordinated RAs following altitude busts
 Event 02: Crossing RA with appropriate pilot reaction
 Event 03: Airprox but RA not issued
 Event 04: Conflict with 2 VFR traffic
 Event 05: Multiple intruders not displayed to ATC

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 2
 Event List (2/3)

 Simultaneous ATC and TCAS resolutions

 Event 06: ATC instructions complementary to TCAS RAs
 Event 07: RA followed although an ATC instruction was contrary
 Event 08: Manoeuvre opposite to the RA (en-route)
Modified with correct pilot reaction to RAs
 Event 09: Manoeuvre opposite to the RA (TMA)
Modified with correct pilot reaction to RAs

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 3
 Event List (3/3)

 RA in approach
 Event 10: RA during radar vectoring to parallel runways
 Event 11: RA during final approach due to VFR traffic
 Event 12: RA in holding pattern

 TCAS conflicting with ATC procedures

 Event 13: High vertical rate approaching cleared flight level
 Event 14: RA due to clearance for visual separation

 Others
 Event 15: Misuse of TCAS display
 Event 16: “Climb” RA at maximum certified flight level
 Event 17: RA during military interception

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 4
 Coordinated RAs following altitude busts
(01)

 TCAS is a last safety net, which reacts

promptly and rapidly.

 When both aircraft are TCAS

equipped, RAs are coordinated.

 TCAS provides a good protection when

there is an altitude bust.

 Normally, deviations are limited

(300~500 ft) when both pilots correctly
follow their respective RA.

 Flight crew must report RAs, as soon

as possible, to the controller.

 Any subsequent conflict with third

aircraft is processed by TCAS.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 5
 Crossing RA with appropriate pilot reaction
(02)

 TCAS “sees” the vertical situation

much more accurately than the
controller does on his radar display.

 The crossing RA is justified by the

current vertical position and trajectories
of the aircraft.

 TCAS logic tries to avoid crossing RAs.

 Crossing RAs are less likely when both

aircraft have an active TCAS.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 6
 Airprox but RA not issued (03)

 When TCAS calculates that the miss

distance is sufficient, the RA is not
issued.

 If there is no RA, even if there is a loss

of separation, TCAS has calculated
that there is no risk of collision.

 This lack of RA may be surprising for

pilots and controllers.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 7
 Conflict with 2 VFR traffic (04)

 TCAS provides an efficient last-resort

protection against VFRs each time they
have an active mode C transponder
with altitude report.

 To minimise deviations, pilots must

follow weakening RAs. It may avoid a
further conflict with a third aircraft.

 Any further conflict with a third aircraft

is processed by TCAS.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 8
 Multiple intruders not displayed to ATC (05)

 TCAS detects and processes all

transponding aircraft, even if not
displayed to ATC.

 If the tracks are not displayed to ATC,

this may cause surprise to controllers.

 TCAS is able to issue multi-intruders

RAs when necessary.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 9
 ATC instructions complementary to TCAS RAs
(06)

 Horizontal avoidance instructions by

ATC do not adversely affect
compliance with RAs.

 When both aircraft are TCAS

equipped, RAs are coordinated.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 10
 RA followed although an ATC instruction was
contrary (07)

 Pilots must follow their RA whatever the

controller’s instruction. Thus, a good
vertical separation at CPA is likely to be
achieved.

 Horizontal avoidance instructions by ATC

do not adversely affect compliance with
RAs.

 Vertical avoidance instructions could

disrupt the flight crew and lead to a poor
or even wrong response to the RA.

 TCAS-TCAS coordination is always

efficient.

 TCAS “sees” the vertical situation much

more accurately than the controller does
on his radar display.
RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0
Slide 11
 Manoeuvre opposite to the RA (en-route) (08)

 TCAS-TCAS coordination is always efficient. It

is hazardous to manoeuvre contrary to the RA.

 Pilots must follow all RAs, even if they have

visual acquisition.

 Pilots must inform ATC as soon as possible of

the RA.

 When a pilot reports a manoeuvre induced by

an ACAS resolution advisory, the controller
shall not attempt to modify the aircraft flight
path [...] (ICAO PANS-ATM)

 When controllers are not aware of an RA, and

if they are providing the aircraft with
instructions for avoiding action, horizontal
instructions are more appropriate as they will
not adversely affect any vertical manoeuvres
required by TCAS II RAs.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 12
 Correct pilot reaction to RAs (08 modified)

 If both flight crews had correctly

followed their RAs, the vertical
separation at CPA would have been
about 800 ft instead of less than 100 ft.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 13
 Manoeuvre opposite to the RA (TMA) (09)

 TCAS-TCAS coordination is always efficient.

It is hazardous to manoeuvre contrary to the
RA.

 Pilots must follow all RAs, even with a

contrary ATC instruction.

 Pilots must inform ATC as soon as possible of

the RA.

 When a pilot reports a manoeuvre induced by

an ACAS resolution advisory, the controller
shall not attempt to modify the aircraft flight
path [...] (ICAO PANS-ATM)

 When controllers are not aware of an RA, and

if they are providing the aircraft with
instructions for avoiding action, horizontal
instructions are more appropriate as they will
not adversely affect any vertical manoeuvres
required by TCAS II RAs.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 14
 Correct pilot reaction to RAs (09 modified)

 If both flight crews had correctly

followed their Ras, the vertical
separation at CPA would have been
about 600 ft instead of less than 50 ft.

 The total deviation for each aircraft

does not exceed 300 ft and RITA01
does not conflict with any other aircraft.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 15
 RA during radar vectoring to parallel runways (10)

 TCAS II is very effective even at low

altitude and on the approach.

 TCAS alert times are very short at low

altitude to permit compatibility with
ATC. Therefore it is important that RAs
are followed without delay.

 Pilots must follow their RA whatever

the controller’s instruction. When it is
done, a good vertical separation at
CPA is likely to be achieved.

 TCAS-TCAS coordination is always

efficient.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 16
 RA during final approach due to VFR traffic (11)

 TCAS II is very effective even at low

altitude and on the approach.

 An RA during final approach often

results in a go-around.

 TCAS alert times are very short at low

altitude to permit compatibility with
ATC. Therefore it is important that RAs
are followed without delay.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 17
 RA in holding pattern (12)

 TCAS II is very effective in holding

pattern.

 TCAS safety is maximum when both

pilots follow RAs.

 To minimise deviations, pilots must

follow weakening RAs. It may also
avoid a further conflict with a third
aircraft.

 Pilots must inform ATC as soon as

possible of the RA.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 18
 High vertical rate approaching cleared flight level
(13)

 RAs can be triggered due to high

vertical rate when climbing or
descending to a cleared flight level at
1000 ft separation from another
aircraft. TCAS safety is maximum
when both pilots follow RAs.

 These RAs can be necessary in case

of altitude bust.

 Pilots must follow the RAs even if

traffic information is provided by ATC.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 19
 RA due to clearance for visual separation (14)

 Visual separation clearance may be

incompatible with the safety net TCAS

 Pilots must follow the RAs even if

traffic information is provided by ATC.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 20
 Misuse of TCAS display (15)

 TCAS is a system for collision

avoidance only and not to provide
separation.

 The TCAS traffic display has been

designed as an aid for the visual
acquisition of intruders only.

 Even if a pilot misuses the TCAS

display and causes a conflict, then the
TCAS will still provide collision
avoidance.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 21
 “Climb” RA at maximum certified flight level (16)

 Even if an aircraft cannot achieve the

vertical rate demanded by a "Climb"
RA, initiating a climb in response to the
RA is a positive action.

 TCAS-TCAS coordination is always

efficient. It is hazardous to manoeuvre
contrary to the RA.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 22
 RA during military interception (17)

 TCAS processes all transponding

aircraft.

 Interception should be carried out

according to the ICAO procedures and
guidance. In particular, the interceptor
should switch off its transponder
altitude report at 20 NM from the
intercepted aircraft.

 The aircraft being intercepted should

be informed, if possible, about the
interception to minimise the surprise
for the pilot.

RITA 2 Description of RITA 2 events 18/11/02 - v1.0

Slide 23