Traffic Collision And Avoidance Systems (TCAS)

1.     INTRODUCTION Aviation communities across the globe have always been focusing upon the reduction of aircraft accidents and mid-air collisions. It was necessary to develop an effective system to control aircraft activities and avoid dangers to the passengers. It was the role of the electronics industry to develop efficient airborne collision avoidance system. There was a need to develop a system which would work outside the radar coverage and independently of air traffic control (ATC). Concept of TCAS was introduced in 1970 and implemented in June 1981. [1] TCAS supports the concept of “see and be seen”. It can be called a virtual air traffic controller. This system provides the crew with the traffic alert information and advanced version of TCAS also provides with recommended action that needs to be taken. TCAS is a secondary radar resource which does not override the decision of ATC.   2.     VERSIONS OF TCAS There are mainly four versio...