Question on TCAS

[Randh 0]

I've had the Wilco Airbus for a few years now, and something has bothered me about its TCAS system, but I'm not sure if it reflects the real thing or not.

 

If I'm correct, if the pilots and ATC are following the correct procedures with adequate traffic advisories, the audible "TRAFFIC! TRAFFIC!" alerts should really never happen in flight. They should be for threats that require immediate attention, which should never even happen anyway because you should have already done whatever needed to be done well ahead of time.

 

On the Wilco Airbus, I'm often getting these audible alerts when both me and the other aircraft are in level flight, with a vertical separation of, say, 5K feet, but with a lateral separation of under 5 miles. I feel as though these alerts are unnecessary and would only serve to be like the boy who cried wolf in the sense that a pilot would just become accustomed to the sound.

 

Is this normal? When I'm in especially congested areas on approach in, say, the NYC area, I'm often getting alerts for aircraft at 8,000 feet when I'm at 4,000 feet, and not at all in a collision course.

[byork 2,259]

Hi Randall,

 

This question might be better sent to the Wilco support forum.

[Randh 0]

Ah, whoops. Sorry about that, my bad. I misread the name of this forum. Nevermind.