Operational Errors - Interaction with TCAS RAs

This document provides an overview of a presentation given at the 7th ATM R&D Seminar in Barcelona, Spain from July 2-5, 2007. The presentation analyzed operational errors involving interactions with TCAS, the Traffic Collision Avoidance System. It found that operational errors sometimes occurred when air traffic controllers issued instructions that were inconsistent with the TCAS resolution advisories pilots received. Often this was due to pilots providing incomplete or late information to controllers about the TCAS advisories. The presentation concluded with recommendations to improve pilot-controller coordination during TCAS events through additional training and further study of downlinking TCAS resolution advisories to controllers.