Description (AMM 34-45-00)

 

A- The basic Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) supplies safe separation between your airplane and other airplanes that have ATCRBS or Mode S Transponders.

 

B- One TCAS system is installed on the airplane. The TCAS system consists of one TCAS computer, two phased array directional antenna, and a control unit (ATC control panel). TCAS informations is shown on the EFIS EHSI and EADI displays.

 

C- TCAS interrogates proximate airplanes and receives the altitude, bearing and other data from the intruder airplane via Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. The TCAS computer will analyze the data and determine if the intruder airplane is a threat to your airplane.

 

If there is a potential threat, TCAS will issue resolution advisories which will instruct the pilot to avoid the conflict. If there is no threat TCAS will track the intruder airplane's position.

 

D- TCAS operates in two modes: TA ONLY mode which only tracks the proximate airplane traffic and TA/RA mode which tracks intruder airplanes and issues resolution advisories.

 

E- The TCAS uses this equipment (Fig. 1):

(1) TCAS Computer

(2) Two Phased Array Directional Antennas

(3) Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) Displays

(a) Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI)

(b) Electronic Attitude Director Indicator (EADI)

(c) EFIS Control Panel.

(4) A Mode S Transponder System that has this equipment:

(a) Two Mode S Transponders

(b) A TCAS/ATC Control Panel

(c) Two Omnidirectional Antennas

 

F- The TCAS computer control unit, and directional antenna are included in this section. Other TCAS equipment is included to a level necessary to understand the TCAS operation. See Chapter 34-53-00 for the mode S transponder description.