TCAS and GPS Technology Quiz

The primary purpose of the TCAS system is to prevent aircraft from being involved in mid-air collisions. TCAS accomplishes this by using transponders on equipped aircraft that transmit and receive signals. Each TCAS-equipped aircraft interrogates all other nearby aircraft about their position, builds a three-dimensional map, and determines if a potential collision exists based on extrapolated positions.

TCAS is a more advanced safety system than PSR because it uses transponders to determine not only the position of aircraft, but also their altitude and identity, which are crucial pieces of information that PSR lacks. This makes TCAS more effective in identifying potential collisions and issuing warnings. For instance, it might be known that two aircraft will collide if their paths don't change, thanks to the information from the transponder.

Transponders are the crucial component that allows TCAS to operate effectively. Transponders are carried by aircraft and are interrogated by TCAS-equipped aircraft. They provide information about altitude, position, and identification, allowing TCAS to establish a comprehensive picture of the airspace. Transponders are more advanced than traditional PSR methods, as they provide critical information like altitude and identity, surpassing the limitations of PSR by offering a more complete understanding of airspace dynamics.

<p>Using three satellites allows for a more precise determination of the aircraft's location, eliminating the ambiguity of two possible positions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The formula is <code>D = V * ΔT</code>, where D represents distance, V is the speed of light, and ΔT is the signal delay time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because the aircraft can be anywhere on the intersection of two circles, each representing the possible locations at the given distances from the two satellites.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The user segment refers to the user receiving GPS signals, such as an aircraft or a ground station.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The signal delay provides information about the distance between the satellite and the user, based on the speed of light and the time it takes for the signal to travel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The distance is calculated by multiplying the speed of light by the time it takes for the satellite signal to arrive at the user, known as the signal delay.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It demonstrates the need for at least three satellites to precisely locate the aircraft, as the ambiguity of two possible positions is resolved with a third satellite.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It determines distance by measuring the time it takes for a satellite signal to reach a user and then applying the known speed of light to calculate the distance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>CAS is designed to prevent aircraft collisions by providing alerts and guidance to pilots. Its standardization ensures that all systems operate in a consistent manner, regardless of aircraft type or location, allowing for seamless communication and interoperability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two main components are the constellation of satellites orbiting Earth and the GPS receiver. The satellites transmit signals containing their precise position, timing information and other data. The receiver, in turn, calculates its location, altitude, time, and speed by precisely measuring the time it takes to receive the signal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Atomic clocks are essential in GPS satellites because they provide incredibly precise timekeeping, which is crucial for determining the distance between the satellite and a GPS receiver. This precise timing data allows accurate calculation of the receiver's location, altitude and time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>International standardization of CAS ensures seamless interoperability between aircraft from different countries and manufacturers, preventing potential misinterpretations and complications. This leads to improved safety by enhancing communication and cooperation among pilots and air traffic controllers, contributing to a safer and more efficient air traffic management system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>GPS works by using a network of satellites to calculate the position of a receiver. By measuring the time it takes for signals from multiple satellites to reach the receiver, the distance to each satellite can be calculated. These distances are then used to determine the receiver's position using triangulation. This process is explained in the 'Working Principle of GPS' sections on pages 26 and 28.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>SPS (Standard Positioning Service) is the civilian signal freely accessible to the public, offering less precise positional accuracy. PPS (Precise Positioning Service) is the military signal, providing higher accuracy and is only accessible to authorized government agencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A minimum of 4 satellites are required for triangulation to determine a receiver's location; having multiple satellites in communication with a receiver increases the accuracy and reliability of the system. The text indicates that the satellites orbit the Earth at an inclination of 55° to the equator, ensuring that a least 4 satellites are in radio communication with any point on the planet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The speed of GPS signals, which is a constant 3×108m/s, is multiplied by the time it takes for the signal to reach the receiver to calculate the distance between them. The exact satellite position data, including the time, is transmitted to the receiver as part of the satellite message.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Satellites are positioned in orbits inclined 55° to the equator, ensuring that a minimum of 4 satellites are in radio communication with any point on the planet, providing continuous and reliable coverage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) provides a significant reduction in collision risk, making the system invaluable for enhancing aviation safety. This value translates to financial advantages, as insurance premiums are reduced for aircraft equipped with TCAS due to the lower risk profile.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Receivers are made for aircraft, ships, ground vehicles, and for hand carrying by individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The screen shows the destination, distance to go, and ground speed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Navigation by general aviation and commercial aircraft.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Minor inaccuracies in synchronizing the satellite atomic clocks cause satellite clock errors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ephemeris Errors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They are caused by distortion of the transmitted signal as it travels from the satellite to the receiver.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Local Area Augmentation System.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>ILS-style display.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pilots are usually trained to obey ATC instructions. However, in the specific case of a conflict between a TCAS-RA advisory and an ATC instruction, the TCAS-RA advisory takes priority. This is due to the TCAS system's real-time collision avoidance capabilities, making it a higher priority than ATC instructions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Non-threatening traffic is displayed as an open white diamond on the TCAS display, while proximate traffic is displayed as a filled white diamond. The aural warning for proximate traffic is 'Traffic, Traffic.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When a Resolution Advisory (RA) is issued, the TCAS display changes from a filled white diamond to a filled red square. The aural advisory is 'Descend, Descend'. A red trapezoid on the Flight Director indicates forbidden aircraft pitch.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The TCAS display provides additional information about the traffic, including the relative altitude of the other aircraft. This information is displayed next to the traffic symbol. For example, if the traffic is 300ft higher than the own aircraft, the display will show '+03' next to the traffic symbol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TCAS is a system designed to prevent aircraft collisions. It interrogates transponders to gather data about the altitude, identity, and positions of surrounding aircraft.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>40 nautical miles</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TCAS determines bearing based on the direction of the antenna, and altitude information is obtained from the interrogated transponder's reply.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TCAS uses the time elapsed between interrogation and reply to determine the distance of a target aircraft.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The top and bottom antennas are used to ensure that TCAS can detect threats above and below the aircraft.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>TCAS uses a series of calculations considering factors like range, altitude separation, and the relative closing speed of the aircraft.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two types of alerts are a Traffic Advisory (TA) and a Resolution Advisory (RA).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A Traffic Advisory (TA) is visually indicated by a solid yellow circle on the display and accompanied by the aural prompt &quot;Traffic Traffic.&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A Resolution Advisory (RA) is visually indicated by a red square on the display and accompanied by a voice command such as &quot;Descend Descend&quot; or &quot;Climb Climb.&quot; The specific maneuver required will also be displayed on the cockpit display.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human Machine Interface (HMI) refers to how TCAS communicates with the pilot. It includes the visual display of traffic information, aural prompts for alerts, and the suggested avoidance action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Due to the high speeds involved in air travel, a pilot must respond to a Resolution Advisory (RA) promptly. Quick action is crucial to avoid collisions, especially when TCAS determines that a collision threat is imminent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

TCAS involves communication between all aircraft with transponders.

TCAS interrogates other aircraft and receives responses several times per second.

TCAS builds a three-dimensional map using aircraft position, altitude, and range.

TCAS predicts future positions to detect potential collision threats.

SSR interacts with aircraft transponders to gather identity and altitude information.

Pilots must have high trust in TCAS during conflicts with ATC.

Resolution Advisories (RAs) from TCAS take precedence over ATC instructions when they conflict.

Shown as an open white diamond on TCAS, indicating no danger relative to own aircraft.

Displayed as a filled diamond with 'Traffic, Traffic' warning; relative altitude shown.

Changes from white diamond to filled red square; includes aural advisories and pitch indicators.

Using time and velocity to calculate distance from satellites.

The part of GPS that includes the satellite signals received by users.

A simplified GPS positioning model using only two satellite distances.

The range from a satellite to an object, measured in kilometers.

Finding an object's location using distances from multiple satellites.

The point at which multiple distance circles from satellites meet.

The time difference in receiving signals from satellites, impacting distance calculations.

Calculating distance based on the time delay of satellite signals using V×ΔT.

Devices used for navigation in aircraft, ships, vehicles, or by individuals.

Shows destination, distance to go, and ground speed.

Speed of the vehicle relative to the ground.

Common uses of GPS in aviation include navigation for commercial and general aircraft.

Improves the accuracy of GPS for landing through ground stations.

Inaccuracies in satellite atomic clock synchronization affect GPS accuracy.

Errors caused by slight variations in satellite positions as they orbit Earth.

Distortions in signals as they travel from satellite to receiver due to the atmosphere.

A system that helps prevent mid-air collisions by providing timely alerts to pilots.

Traffic Collision Avoidance System; detects and alerts pilots about potential collisions.

A satellite-based system for determining accurate location and time anywhere on Earth.

A group of satellites working together to provide global coverage, like GPS satellites.

The free GPS signal available for public use; less accurate than military signals.

The military-only GPS signal providing higher accuracy than SPS.

Determining the height above sea level using GPS data.

GPS signals travel at a constant speed of approximately 300,000 km/s.

GPS satellites are inclined at 55° to ensure coverage over the planet.

GPS satellites carry atomic clocks to maintain accurate time for location calculations.

SSR interrogates transponders to obtain identity and altitude data.

Mode A transponder provides aircraft identity information.

Mode C transponder provides altitude information of the aircraft.

Mode S transponder transmits comprehensive data, including identity and altitude.

TCAS has a minimum surveillance range of 40 nautical miles.

Non-threat traffic appears as an open white diamond on TCAS display.

A TA signifies potential hazard; shown as a solid yellow circle.

An RA indicates immediate collision threat with a red square symbol.

HMI includes displays for traffic, aural prompts, and required maneuvers.