SIMULATOR GUIDE · 1 OF 7
What Does This TCAS Simulator Teach?

This guide explains how to use the simulator before you start.

✓ START WITH THIS GUIDE
Learn the TCAS logic first, then try the traffic, RA and transponder labs practically.
TCAS COLLISION AVOIDANCE SIMULATOR
INTERACTIVE AVIATION LEARNING LAB · EDUCATIONAL / NON-CERTIFIED
Threat Level
SAFE
Range
12.0 NM
Relative Altitude
+12
Approx Tau
96 SEC
BEGINNER MODE

UNDERSTAND TCAS IN 4 SIMPLE STEPS

Follow these lessons in order. You do not need aviation experience to use this simulator.

01

Understand the System

See transponder → antennas → TCAS computer → cockpit guidance.

02

Watch a Conflict Build

See normal traffic become proximate, TA and then RA.

03

See the RA Response

Follow climb/descend guidance and watch separation change.

04

Test the Limitation

Turn the intruder transponder off and see why TCAS is cooperative.

Recommended: Start with System Map. Then run the Closing Traffic Demo.
✈ YOUR AIRCRAFT ✈ INTRUDER TRANSPONDER REPLY + ALTITUDE TCAS ANTENNAS TCAS COMPUTER TRACK • CPA • TAU COCKPIT DISPLAY TRAFFIC • TA • RA AUDIO + VERTICAL CUES MODE S / COORDINATION TCAS ↔ TCAS
✈ INTRUDER→ 📡 TRANSPONDER→ 📶 TCAS ANTENNAS→ 🧠 TCAS COMPUTER→ 🖥 DISPLAY / AUDIO

TRAFFIC → TA → RA

Move the intruder or run a scenario. Watch range, relative altitude, Tau and the traffic symbol change.

5 NM
10 NM
20 NM
CPA
✈
YOUR AIRCRAFT
◇
+12 ↓
CURRENT TCAS CLASSIFICATION
OTHER TRAFFIC
Projected conflict not urgent
NO AURAL ALERT
12.0 NM
+12 · 1200 FT
450 KT
↓

LIVE THREAT CALCULATION

Range12.0 NM
Closure450 KT
Approx Tau96 SEC
Vertical Separation1200 FT
CPA ConceptMONITOR
ThreatOTHER
OTHER TRAFFIC: projected conflict is outside the simplified TA/RA thresholds.

COCKPIT RA GUIDANCE

The visual below is simplified. It demonstrates vertical RA guidance, not a specific aircraft display.

— ✈ —
NO ACTIVE RA
Predicted separation
Stable / no active RA response required.

TCAS ↔ TCAS RA COORDINATION

Run the animation to see two compatible TCAS aircraft receive complementary vertical advisories.

✈
✈
YOUR AIRCRAFT
INTRUDER
↑
↑
NO ACTIVE RA

MODE S COORDINATION

YOUR TCASSTANDBY
↔
INTRUDER TCASSTANDBY
Compatible TCAS II systems can coordinate complementary advisories.

Coordination capability

Both equipped: the simulator can show coordinated complementary RA senses.

Core RA concepts

RA: vertical avoidance guidance or restriction.
Strengthening: more demanding response when predicted separation remains insufficient.
Reversal: vertical sense may reverse when encounter geometry requires another solution.

TRANSPONDER DETECTION TEST

TCAS is cooperative. Turn the intruder transponder off and see why that matters.

✈
✈
Intruder transponder replying — TCAS can track cooperative traffic.

WHAT TCAS CAN / CANNOT TRACK

CAN TRACK: cooperative traffic with suitable operating transponder replies.
LIMITATION: no usable cooperative transponder reply means normal TCAS tracking may not be available.
NOT WEATHER / TERRAIN RADAR: TCAS is not designed to detect storms, terrain or birds.

Why altitude reporting matters

Collision risk depends on horizontal geometry and vertical separation. TCAS uses altitude information to understand whether the traffic is above, below or converging toward the same level.

+12Approximately 1,200 ft above own aircraft.
-07Approximately 700 ft below own aircraft.
↑ / ↓Vertical trend indication.
TA / RAThreat classification / avoidance guidance state.
OPTIONAL · AFTER THE 4 MAIN LESSONS

MORE TCAS LEARNING TOOLS

Use these after the basics. They explain the deeper concepts behind the animations.

CPA

Closest Point of Approach: where two projected trajectories come closest.

TAU

A time-to-conflict style parameter. Fast closing traffic can become important while still several miles away.

TA

Traffic Advisory: alerts the crew to potentially significant traffic and prepares them for possible RA.

RA

Resolution Advisory: vertical guidance or restrictions intended to increase or preserve separation.

STRENGTHENING

An RA can become more demanding when predicted separation remains insufficient.

REVERSAL

The vertical sense can reverse when the encounter requires another avoidance solution.

HYBRID SURVEILLANCE

Newer TCAS implementations can reduce unnecessary active interrogations by using suitable passive surveillance information.

TCAS VS ADS-B

ADS-B provides cooperative surveillance information. TCAS performs collision-avoidance threat logic and RA functions.

TCAS VS ATC

ATC separation is a ground service. TCAS is an airborne collision-avoidance safety net.

TCAS VS EGPWS

TCAS focuses on aircraft-to-aircraft collision risk; EGPWS focuses on terrain/ground proximity risk.

1030 / 1090 MHz

TCAS surveillance uses the same cooperative transponder RF environment associated with 1030 MHz interrogations and 1090 MHz replies.

ACAS

ACAS is the broader airborne collision-avoidance system family; TCAS II is a widely used implementation.

Important: This is a simplified educational simulator. Real TCAS logic, sensitivity levels, alerts and procedures depend on certified equipment and operational rules.

KNOWLEDGE CHECK

Answer these 5 questions after using the simulator.

Score: 0 / 5