BendixKing KMH 920 System KMH 980 - Manual (Page 10)

Rev 2
KTA 970/KMH 980 Pilot’s Guide
006-18273-0000
TCAS I Introduction
2
INTRODUCTION
TCAS I (an acronym formed from the phrase Traffic Alert and Collision
Avoidance System) is an airborne system used for detecting and track-
ing aircraft near your own aircraft. TCAS I includes a TCAS processor,
antennas, a traffic display and a means to control the system. The TCAS
processor and antennas detect and track other aircraft by interrogating
their transponders. Aircraft detected, tracked, and displayed by TCAS
are referred to as Intruders. TCAS analyzes the transponder replies to
determine range, relative bearing and relative altitude, if the Intruder is
reporting altitude. Should the processor determine that a possible colli-
sion hazard exists, it issues visual and aural advisories to the crew. The
visual advisory is shown by symbols on the traffic display.
Complementing the traffic display, TCAS provides appropriate synthe-
sized voice announcements in the cockpit. A complete list of traffic sym-
bols and announcements is given in the Theory of Operation and
Symbology section of this Pilot’s Guide.
TCAS is unable to detect any Intruding aircraft without an operat-
ing transponder. TCAS can detect and track aircraft with either an
ATCRBS (operating in Mode A or C) or Mode S transponders.
The traffic display shows the Intruding aircraft’s position. TCAS identifies
the relative threat of each Intruder by using various symbols and colors.
The Intruder’s altitude, relative to your own aircraft’s altitude, is annunci-
ated if the Intruder is reporting altitude. A trend arrow is used to indicate
if the Intruder is climbing or descending more than 500 feet per minute.
TCAS traffic may be displayed on a weather radar indicator, on a dedi-
cated TCAS display, on a TCAS compatible EFIS Display Unit or a
TA/VSI (combination traffic display and vertical speed instrument).
TCAS modes and functions are controlled by switches located on a con-
trol panel or in combination with various other controls. A description of
controls is given in the Controls and Displays section of this Pilot’s
Guide.
ATC procedures and the “see and avoid concept” will continue to be the
primary means of ensuring aircraft separation. However, if communica-
tion is lost with ATC, TCAS adds a significant backup for collision avoid-
ance.