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My understanding is that TCAS is disabled not due to radar limitations, but because it isn't altitude-aware and will happily generate an avoidance command that
by TylerE 2y ago
My understanding is that TCAS is disabled not due to radar limitations, but because it isn't altitude-aware and will happily generate an avoidance command that results in CFIT.
- kristian1109 2y agoThe systems I've flown have definitely been altitude aware. They won't alert if the plane is sufficiently deconflicted above or below. One problem for sure is that when you're close to the ground you have to be careful about buildings, cell towers, etc. Terrain is one thing, but when you're a few hundred feet AGL, you could quickly be in the way of tall structures if a TCAS alert goes off.
- timoth 2y agoIt's been a long time since I worked in flight simulation (full flight simulators and simpler pilot training devices, including simulating TCAS), but I believe at that time TCAS would be switched to a mode in which it only alerts of "Traffic" instead of providing avoidance instructions precisely _when_ entering busier airspace -- e.g. airport proximity. In that environment it was undesirable for TCAS to be giving instructions. That seems like the environment in which Enhanced Radar's (future) product(s) could be of most interest. (By the way, I believe EGPWS would take priority over TCAS anyway.)
- kristian1109 2y agoGood callout, thanks