TCAS - efficient or not

[Lily88]

Dear Captains,

I am going to be flying from Brisbane to Los Angeles (13 hours straight) in a day or so.

I have a lot of paranoid thoughts about what could go wrong and researching online seems to be making it worse! I am having headaches and chest pain before even boarding this flight!

Questions:

1. A TCAS system only seems to work when the approaching plane has *at least* a transponder emitting data. What if somebody switched off the transponder on that plane, how would my plane avoid colliding into it? Why don't planes have Radar on it, which brings me to my next question.

2. We are flying over the Pacific ocean, most of this area is not covered by ground Radar.. right?

3. What if something goes wrong with the plane, we are flying over a wide ocean, where would we land. I have been reading about diversion airports / ETOPS between my destination.. I can't find concrete info about how many of these spots are located in our way and how easy/soon can a plane reach it! Are they even functional airports?

4. My plane is a Qantas 747-400, but I read this model is old. Is there any such thing as "primary Radar" device on it?

5. Also, I read that few years ago an incident of water leakage caused an electric outage in ALL of the planes systems! If such an event occurs, how far can this plane glide and can it actually land on water or is that just a best case scenario!

6. Do all planes ping the satellites? Can the pinging be switched off like a Transponder?

7. Pilots can't see through clouds, will we be flying above the clouds for the most part? Does it help that it's during the day?

8. Is there less traffic on this route?

9. How can ATC track us?

Worried,

[wishiwasupthere]

If this isn't a wind up, take a chill pill and have a good glass of scotch before hand. Millions have gone before you and millions will go after. Your drive to the airport will be the most dangerous part.

[Liklik balus]

Dear, dear Lily88,

If you have so many serious doubts about flying may I suggest you request a refund for the flight and spend the rest of your life in bed.

[Di_Vosh]

G'day Lily,

What I'd suggest you do is to go on a "fear of flying" course.

There are plenty of references via Google and there is also a reference on the Qantas website.

DIVOSH!

[tail wheel]

Fear of flying course: Fearless Flyers Inc. (http://www.fearlessflyers.com.au/)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Woomera/Closed.gif

[tail wheel]

Bend a lot was about to post the following when I closed the thread:

1. A TCAS system only seems to work whenthe approaching plane has *at least* a transponder emitting data. What ifsomebody switched off the transponder on that plane, how would my plane avoidcolliding into it? Why don't planes have Radar on it, which brings me to mynext question.

* Since MH 370 the transponders have been modified - switching it off now justturns the display lights off, transponder is still emitting data.

2. We are flying over the Pacific ocean, most of this area is not covered byground Radar.. right?

* A deal was done with Uncle Sam it's covered by space radar.

3. What if something goes wrong with the plane, we are flying over a wideocean, where would we land. I have been reading about diversion airports /ETOPS between my destination.. I can't find concrete info about how many ofthese spots are located in our way and how easy/soon can a plane reach it! Arethey even functional airports?

* The Chinese had this concern and have almost finished runways on the man madeislands, all within gliding distance.

4. My plane is a Qantas 747-400, but I read this model is old. Is there anysuch thing as "primary Radar" device on it?

* It would have been fully refurbished after a brief retirement, Iunderstand the refurb included Primary Radar installation.

5. Also, I read that few years ago an incident of water leakage caused anelectric outage in ALL of the planes systems! If such an event occurs, how farcan this plane glide and can it actually land on water or is that just a bestcase scenario!

* All planes carry Selley's No More Gaps in the First Aid Box. (Chinese ManMade Islands)

6. Do all planes ping the satellites? Can the pinging be switched offlike a Transponder?

* Yes the ping includes aircraft lat/long data.

7. Pilots can't see through clouds, will we be flying above the clouds for themost part? Does it help that it's during the day?

* Pilots are trained to see through clouds (that is the main cost of a ATPL),some elect to do extra training to see at night time. Ask your Cabin Crew ifyour Captain paid for this extra training if your flight is at night.

8. Is there less traffic on this route?

* If you are flying in a Qantas 747-400 all traffic will give you a widebirth, closer to USA you will possible get an escort.

9. How can ATC track us?

* The higher up you go the further you can see, ATC is in a tower. You are 100%visually tracked.

I think Lily88 knows a little more about aviation than he suggests......... :hmm: