Europe Finishes Second Phase of Mandatory TCAS Installation

Europe has completed the second phase its mandatory installation of TCAS II (traffic alert and collision avoidance system), which extended its equipage requirement to  smaller civil aircraft weighing more than 5700kg or having more than 19 passenger seats.

TCAS II, also referred to as ACAS II (airborne collision avoidance system), provides the same traffic advisories (TAs) of TCAS I, but also provides vertical resolution advisories (RAs) on how to maneuver to avoid a collision.

According to Eurocontrol, more than 95% of the aircraft affected by the Phase 2 regulations have now completed installation of TCAS II, and installation is currently in progress on the small number of outstanding aircraft.

John Law, who manages Eurocontrol's Mode S and ACAS program, said the completion of Phase 2 means that Europe's airspace "now has the greatest proportion of commercial air transport and business aviation aircraft fitted with TCAS II."  05-14-2006.

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