I still can't believe anyone who flies professionally is still advocating not following an RA.
This argument about ex mil pilots seeing and understanding better is a total red herring and shows a total lack of understanding of accident avoidance.
TCAS IS THE FINAL DEFENCE AGAINST A MID AIR COLLISION AND AN RA MUST ALWAYS BE FOLLOWED.
If you have a TCAS RA, 1) ATC have failed to separate you. 2) Your SA ref listening to other ac if on freq and knowing where they are has failed to separate you. 3) You have failed to acquire and visually separate yourself from other ac. 4) Every other method of separating you from other aircraft has failed.
Yes there is a possibility the RA has been caused by a high ROD/climb and if both aircraft adhere to their clearance separation will be maintained but you cannot assume that. Follow the RA.
TCAS is inhibited below 1000ft, and there is an SOP to not follow a TCAS descend RA below this height. A TCAS RA is not a violent manoeuvre.
Less well known is the reason behind the SOP radio call of "xxxxxx TCAS RA" which should be made in a timely, clear and unambiguous way when an RA is initiated. It is an instruction to ATC (and other AC) to cease all transmissions until the clear of conflict call is made to allow the manoeuvring crew(s) to concentrate on complying with the RA and prevent conflicting ATC avoiding instructions.
Again, in my best wide body jet shouty instructor / examiner voice
ALWAYS FOLLOW A TCAS RA.
You are in the last chance saloon and failing to follow an RA has killed far more people than it has saved. TCAS 2 is very reliable and rarely malfunctions.
Last edited by Locked door; 10th Nov 2016 at 15:03.