Airbus is studying development of an advanced traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) that would automatically manoeuvre the aircraft away from a potential mid-air threat without input from the flightcrew.
“We are looking at the possibility that when you have a TCAS RA [resolution advisory], you don’t wait for the pilot to take avoiding action, but have the autopilot take control and avoid the traffic,†says Airbus vice-president training and flight operations Capt Jean-Michel Roy.
Although the “autopilot traffic collision avoidance system†has been presented to Airbus customers, Roy cautions that the technology is “not mature and is in the early stages of development – it has not been flight tested yetâ€. Airbus is believed to be working with TCAS supplier Honeywell, which was unavailable for comment.
The idea is “very doableâ€, says a TCAS expert, who adds: “It makes sense if the autopilot is engaged to let the autopilot do it.†The pilot must now disengage the autopilot on receiving an RA and hand-fly the TCAS climb or descend commands. Roy says it is unlikely the system would take control if the aircraft is being flown manually, as “the autopilot should not engage unless it is done so by the pilotâ€.
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“We are looking at the possibility that when you have a TCAS RA [resolution advisory], you don’t wait for the pilot to take avoiding action, but have the autopilot take control and avoid the traffic,†says Airbus vice-president training and flight operations Capt Jean-Michel Roy.
Although the “autopilot traffic collision avoidance system†has been presented to Airbus customers, Roy cautions that the technology is “not mature and is in the early stages of development – it has not been flight tested yetâ€. Airbus is believed to be working with TCAS supplier Honeywell, which was unavailable for comment.
The idea is “very doableâ€, says a TCAS expert, who adds: “It makes sense if the autopilot is engaged to let the autopilot do it.†The pilot must now disengage the autopilot on receiving an RA and hand-fly the TCAS climb or descend commands. Roy says it is unlikely the system would take control if the aircraft is being flown manually, as “the autopilot should not engage unless it is done so by the pilotâ€.
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