Collision avoidance
Guest
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Collision avoidance
I'd like to make a plug here for flight safety, both FW and RW.
Modern aircraft (including new generation emergency services helicopters, MD 902/EC135/109 etc) are fitted with TCAS (traffic alert and collision avoidance) equipment. They work on the principal of identifying the position of another a/c by its transponder transmission. it will then track it and determine whether it is a collision threat. It is no substitute for the mark one eyeball but it is definitely the next best thing.
Currently (last 18 months) the British Helicopter Advisory Board (BHAB) through its emergency services sub committee are processing returns from all the HEMS and police units in England and Wales. These returns are not proximity reports (where near misses are correlated by the CAA), but "in vicinity" reports, giving a more vivid picture of traffic that could give cause for concern if not closely monitored.
This year from 10 units alone, there have been 84 'close encounters' where the pilot felt uneasy enough to submit a report. Of these over 70% have been identified through TCAS!!! This means that in pre TCAS days, this was still going on and the pilot was blissfully unaware of the threat! Remember, any of these could quickly go sour and turn into a mid air collision.
The aim of the project is to provide a data bank of information which can be used to promote flight safety at the highest level.
As you are all aware, there are several instances where light FW / helo's have been in collision with military a/c. BHAB are instrumental in persuading the MOD that "attrition rates" do not exist in the civvy world! By flying military hardware low and fast with transponder ON can go a long way to reducing the risks. It is hoped that as a consequence of this research, all/most military a/c will be fitted with a TCAS of some description so that they also may be able to identify traffic, not fitted with the luxury of its own TCAS. In the meantime, to all those out there who have a transponder fitted (and they are not expensive to install), PLEASE, PLEASE fly round with them ON at all times [and with mode 'C' if fitted]. It may save your life one day.
Having said that, I recently overheard a puddle jumper say that he had no intention of switching his transponder on and "... lighting up like a beacon when he was doing a bit of low flying..."!
It makes you wonder...............
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TC
Modern aircraft (including new generation emergency services helicopters, MD 902/EC135/109 etc) are fitted with TCAS (traffic alert and collision avoidance) equipment. They work on the principal of identifying the position of another a/c by its transponder transmission. it will then track it and determine whether it is a collision threat. It is no substitute for the mark one eyeball but it is definitely the next best thing.
Currently (last 18 months) the British Helicopter Advisory Board (BHAB) through its emergency services sub committee are processing returns from all the HEMS and police units in England and Wales. These returns are not proximity reports (where near misses are correlated by the CAA), but "in vicinity" reports, giving a more vivid picture of traffic that could give cause for concern if not closely monitored.
This year from 10 units alone, there have been 84 'close encounters' where the pilot felt uneasy enough to submit a report. Of these over 70% have been identified through TCAS!!! This means that in pre TCAS days, this was still going on and the pilot was blissfully unaware of the threat! Remember, any of these could quickly go sour and turn into a mid air collision.
The aim of the project is to provide a data bank of information which can be used to promote flight safety at the highest level.
As you are all aware, there are several instances where light FW / helo's have been in collision with military a/c. BHAB are instrumental in persuading the MOD that "attrition rates" do not exist in the civvy world! By flying military hardware low and fast with transponder ON can go a long way to reducing the risks. It is hoped that as a consequence of this research, all/most military a/c will be fitted with a TCAS of some description so that they also may be able to identify traffic, not fitted with the luxury of its own TCAS. In the meantime, to all those out there who have a transponder fitted (and they are not expensive to install), PLEASE, PLEASE fly round with them ON at all times [and with mode 'C' if fitted]. It may save your life one day.
Having said that, I recently overheard a puddle jumper say that he had no intention of switching his transponder on and "... lighting up like a beacon when he was doing a bit of low flying..."!
It makes you wonder...............
------------------
TC
Guest
Posts: n/a
TC
Despite what the military say, both RW & FW, a large majority fly around with their transponders in the off position. Or they have switch problems leaving it in the 'I' rather than 3A. Problem is there heirachy is prepared to accept an attrition rate whereas we're not. Unfortunately it will take a couple more dreadful accidents before their hand is forced.
Eyes peeled!
Despite what the military say, both RW & FW, a large majority fly around with their transponders in the off position. Or they have switch problems leaving it in the 'I' rather than 3A. Problem is there heirachy is prepared to accept an attrition rate whereas we're not. Unfortunately it will take a couple more dreadful accidents before their hand is forced.
Eyes peeled!
