Where’s The Traffic?

A recent discussion with a friend who happens to be an aviation attorney got me thinking about how pilots put too much faith in cockpit traffic alert systems. Without spilling the beans on privileged client/attorney speak, he spoke of a lawsuit he was working that arose from an ugly mid-air collision involving an aircraft well-equipped with high-end traffic alerting gear. It’s the type of accident provoking lots of emotion since it sadly took some lives. From what I could gather, there were some fingers wrongly pointed at the traffic system manufacturer, as if the traffic system failed at its intended job.

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots often over-rely on cockpit traffic alert systems, which are aids and not foolproof substitutes for maintaining visual lookout, as evidenced by accidents where system failure was wrongly blamed.
• Understanding the specific traffic system's technology (e.g., TCAS, TAS, TIS-B), its operating theory, and inherent limitations (e.g., lack of resolution advisories, display lag, frequency issues) is crucial for correct interpretation and use.
• Reliable performance of traffic alert systems is highly dependent on proper installation, including optimal antenna placement and managing interference, with poor installation significantly compromising accuracy and effectiveness.

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