How often does this happen?

[G-UNIT]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4694932.stm

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Probably depends who you talk to...

[G-UNIT]

Excuse my ignorance

aren't military a/c equipped with acas or similar? Whould the NATS controllers have seen this conflict? Surely something would have been flashing red somewhere?

[TATC]

Originally Posted by G-UNIT

aren't military a/c equipped with acas or similar? Whould the NATS controllers have seen this conflict? Surely something would have been flashing red somewhere?

The report says that the aircraft werent transponding so TCAS wouldnt work as it relies on transpnders.

[PPRuNe Radar]

G-UNIT

If this statement in the BBC piece is correct .....

Because they were critically short of fuel, the (US) aircraft climbed through their cleared flight level, without transponding, entered controlled airspace and conflicted with the Embraer 145

..... then neither TCAS or controllers Conflict Alert tools would work. Both require the aircraft to be transponding so the tools know an aircraft is there and at what altitude.

[BOAC]

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=210320

[Angrel]

yeah the big transports like hercs do have TCAS. fighter jets generally dont though.

[chevvron]

Yes but fighters DO have AI radar. You'd think they'd be monitoring that wouldn't you?

[Hippy]

Originally Posted by Angrel

yeah the big transports like hercs do have TCAS. fighter jets generally dont though.

'big transports like hercs', bit of an oxymoron isn't it? Sort of like 'military controllers'
Anyway, that aside, your point is moo, cos a switched-on transponder on a fighter will trigger the TCAS on the big transport.

[BDiONU]

Originally Posted by chevvron

Yes but fighters DO have AI radar. You'd think they'd be monitoring that wouldn't you?

The quote from the AAIB in the story says:
"Also poor use was made of the highly sophisticated aids available to the crews in monitoring fuel loads, monitoring ground position and using airborne radar."


HTH
BD