Matt,
You said:
the RPT’s TCAS had not detected us yet I clearly had it in sight. I thought these things were to be better then our eyes. But I guess not.
That is exactly why I, and many others, have been saying to the Smith family all along: TCAS IS NOT INVINCIBLE and must not be used as a primary means of defence against collisions, as it is currently made out to be. If you had been at Mount Isa (no radar)and not seen the B117 coming straight at you instead of being laterally displaced, what would have happened?
I have on many occasions had the TCAS not pick up other aircraft. Smith doesn't understand that. All very good in theory, but in the real world, which he doesn't have a lot of experience in, things are not as rosey as the glossy brouchures.