The amount of traffic in the air especially in some parts of the world is very high. This was not the case that night in Switzerland.
The TCAS symbols often change on a normal flight from clear white to solid white. Indicating that the other A/C is fairly close within 1000' or so. Occationally they change from Solid White to Solid Yellow. This is highlighted by an oral TRAFFIC.
This is a great big wake up call and will wake the dead.
If it then goes red then you are instructed to climb or descend, it's called a resolution advisory. I've had 1 RA go off not on my A/C but on frquency. Both pilots were trying to negoicate with ATC a resuce plan before each A/C was told to climb or descend. In busy airspace the controller c.ocked up apologised and informed everyone that he was going to file a report.
Everyone at all stages new what was happening and acted professionally, didn't panic, didn't need to panic.
Accidents don't happen becasue of one thing. They are a chain of events. 5 men got it wrong, 2 russian, the DHL lads and the controller.
We can see everone on TCAS(Radar) and the bottom line is that it's the Captains ultimate responsability to ensure the safe operation and seperation of that A/C. In clear conditions at night or during the day, that means looking out of the window and visually identifying to teh best of his abilities the other A/C.
We are trained to follow proceedures but at the end of the day if a pilot thinks that following procedure will endanger the A/C he should and will do exactly what he thinks is nessessary. That is why pilots flyy A/c and not computers.
I don't trust journalists, whatever conlcusions they draw and publish lets hope they try to match the same professional standard that every airline pilot that I have ever met works to.
Last edited by Suggs; 5th July 2002 at 11:31.