@angryrat and Don'thangup: Absolutely.
1) TCAS RA's are a coordinated response between two conflicting aircraft. The TCAS units actually talk to each other and agree a course of action. One says, 'OK I will climb', the other says 'fair enough, I will descend' (or whatever). But the point is there is agreement and a coordinated response. This is far more exact, quicker and safer than a vocal exchange between aircraft and ATC, neither of whom - by definition - have spotted the conflict approaching until it is too late.
2) TCAS targets displayed on the ND or equivalent can be up to 30 degrees in error in azimuth. So are you really looking at the correct aircraft??
3) We can only see forwards from our cockpits and about 135 degrees to the right and left. We have very limited views below, and directly above. TCAS targets can be behind, above, below you or otherwise invisible to you. Many pilots seem only to think that the only conflict will be between two aircraft approaching each other more or less head-on.
4) Unless the sky is gin clear with no cloud, an intruder could very well be hidden from view.
5) As has been mentioned, very few of us have been trained in combat or avoidance manoeuvres (other than TCAS RA's). Even those that have are not in current combat practice, and our aircraft are not nimble fast jets either.
6) (And this is a note to self): There have been many cases of crews mishandling TCAS RA's. Time spent trying to spot an intruder aircraft would be much better spent looking inside at the PFD/ND and mentally rehearsing the RA manoeuvre.
Last edited by Uplinker; 10th Nov 2016 at 11:53.