Pilots.....?

Question

Other than contact with air traffic controllers, how do commercial airline pilots avoid collisons with other aircraft during flight? Do planes have radar?

Answer 1

We do have a TCAS system as mentioned above.  It provided information to us in the form ov vertical guidance to avoid other traffic.  For instance, if we are descending and it senses another aircraft below us it might start out with an "Adjust Vertical Speed" callout, and then start yelling "Climb, Climb, Climb."

The most important tool we have though is our eyes.  We always  clear the area in the traffic pattern before turning, we see and avoid VFR traffic, always make sure final is clear, etc.  All the stuff private pilots do in order to make sure they avoid other aircraft, we do as well.  this is because the TCAS system is limited to Mode-C transponder-equipped aircraft.  If there is an aircraft out there that does not have a transponder, TCAS cannot read its altitude, and cannot give us any information.

Answer 2

A lot of aircraft now have TCAS, which is a Traffic & Collision Avoidance radar which will bleat at the pilots if it spots a possible "conflict" and give verbal instructions such as "Climb" or "Descend".

Other than that, outside of controlled airspace it's a question of being on the right track and the good old Mark l eyeball.  There are also quadrantal rules, which dictate what altitudes in even thousands or with 500ft additions the aircraft should be on according to what course it's following.

Answer 3

TCAS helps them to descend or ascend to prevent the collision.

Answer 4

TCAS is not radar it shows traffic location nd alttitude

Answer 5

As mentioned  above, larger passenger airliners (not GA) will have TCAS. This will tell you the whereabouts of other traffic, how high or low they are compared to you, whether they are climbing or descending, how far away from you etc etc...

It will even tell you whether it is a traffic alert by changing colours from white to orange or red depending on the severity of the aircraft proximity.

Answer 6

TCAS is NOT radar.  It receives and performs a ‘Direction-Find’ and also decodes the altitude information that is sent from the transponders of nearby aircraft.  Those transponders are responding to ‘requests’ from ground based radars and active TCAS systems.  The TCAS looks for potential conflicts by calculating the directions, altitudes and approximate distances from the host aircraft.  

Above 18,000 feet, where airlines spend most of their time, all airplanes are under the control of air traffic control so separation is essentially assured.

Answer 7

Yes, most large airplanes have radar but it is used more for weather detection than for spotting other aircraft.  Some newer aircraft have proximity warning systems that warn the pilots if another aircraft is getting too close.

Answer 8

I like what Jason said.  Commercial and airline pilots use several means of avoiding collisions - TCAS, ATC, and their eyes.  Good answer, Jason.

Answer 9

Sequencing by ATC is the primary means of separating aircraft. The type of radar airliners are equipped with is for weather avoidance only, not for locating other airplanes. Most jet and turboprop aircraft are now equipped with a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) which helps prevent imminent collisions by providing both a visual cockpit display and an aural warning, but it is not a perfect system, especially in extremely busy airspace, and it does not pick up all aircraft.  In "visual meteorological conditions", the number one rule is therefore SEE AND AVOID.  During "instrument conditions" it is entirely up to ATC to keep airplanes safely separated, which is why you often experience long delays and late flights during bad weather.