From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_DATE autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,75204a877ff42ffc,start X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1995-01-03 14:27:42 PST Path: nntp.gmd.de!Germany.EU.net!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!paladin.american.edu!auvm!PSAVAX.PWFL.COM!CONDIC Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Message-ID: Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 10:59:46 EST Sender: Ada programming language From: CONDIC@PSAVAX.PWFL.COM Subject: Re: Avionic Proximity Warning Date: 1995-01-03T10:59:46-05:00 List-Id: From: Marin David Condic, 407.796.8997, M/S 731-93 Subject: Re:Avionic Proximity Warning Original_To: PROFS%"SMTP@PWAGPDB" Original_cc: CONDIC Bob Wells #402 writes: > >What is the name of this piece of equipment that tells a pilot the >evasive action he should take to avoid a possible collision with >another detected plane? Such advice is given locally, and is totally >independent of any ATC instruction (making it a bit dangerous IMHO). > I worked on programming such a radio device called TCAS which (if the two remaining brain cells are still functioning after the New Year's parties...) stood for Traffic Collision Avoidance System. Our implementation was for a radio called ICNIA and was written in JOVIAL. (Other implementations could have - and probably were done in just about any other language. It's a radio protocol. Not a specific piece of hardware.) Basically, it worked by having two planes trade off positional information and if they agreed that they were in immanent danger of collision (something under a mile, if memory serves) they'd take a vote on which direction each plane should move in. Its independence from ATC instruction wasn't dangerous in the sense that it only went off when the danger was immanent and presumably, this meant that the pilots or air traffic controllers had already screwed things up. The airlines *did* refuse to give full authority over the airframe to the TCAS (enabling a flight control to take automatic evasive action) and insisted that it provide only a "suggestion" to the pilot because they were worried about liability. I don't know if they were right or wrong on this, but other devices on airplanes can and do take authority away from the pilot under some conditions. Hope this enlightens. Pax, Marin Marin David Condic, Senior Computer Engineer ATT: 407.796.8997 M/S 731-93 Technet: 796.8997 Pratt & Whitney, GESP Internet: CONDICMA@PWFL.COM P.O. Box 109600 Internet: MDCONDIC@AOL.COM West Palm Beach, FL 33410-9600 =============================================================================== "You spend a billion here and a billion there. Sooner or later it adds up to real money." -- Everett Dirksen ===============================================================================