FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Navigation, Air Traffic Control and ProceduresMedium
During cruise flight, an airliner's TCAS II system issues a Traffic Advisory (TA) on nearby traffic, but no Resolution Advisory (RA) follows. According to standard TCAS procedures, what should the flight crew do?
- AContact ATC and request an immediate altitude change regardless of RA status
- BDisregard the advisory since only an RA requires crew action
- CIncrease visual scanning and prepare to respond, but do not maneuver based on the TA alone
- DImmediately execute an evasive climb or descent maneuver
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Increase visual scanning and prepare to respond, but do not maneuver based on the TA alone
A Traffic Advisory alerts the crew to nearby traffic and prompts increased vigilance and readiness, but it does not direct a maneuver. Only a Resolution Advisory (RA) provides a specific vertical maneuver command that must be followed, even overriding ATC instructions.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. ATC contact for an altitude change is unnecessary based on a TA alone.
- B. A TA still warrants heightened attention even though no maneuver is mandated.
- D. Evasive maneuvers are reserved for RAs, not TAs.
TCAS Traffic Advisory vs Resolution Advisory
TCAS II issues Traffic Advisories (TA) to alert crews of nearby traffic and Resolution Advisories (RA) that command specific vertical maneuvers to avoid collision.
- TA: alerts crew, prompts visual scanning, no maneuver required
- RA: commands a specific climb/descend/maintain vertical rate maneuver
- RA maneuvers take priority over ATC instructions
- Crew must promptly and smoothly comply with an RA
Memory trick: 'TA = Talk and watch, RA = React'