System Safety Study of Minimum TCAS II (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System)

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA138674 | Open PDF

Abstract:

A System Safety study was conducted to assess the overall safety characteristics associated with use of the airborne collision avoidance system called minimum TCAS II Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System. The limitations imposed by incomplete transponder equipage, altimetry instrumentation errors, and suddenly maneuvering intruders were quantified. Other failure mechanisms, including those related to human factors, were also assessed. The role of visual acquisition and a quantitative evaluation of it was explored. The impact on system safety caused by the failure modes and their interrelations was evaluated by means of a fault tree analysis.

Author(s):
Lebron, John E. ; Zeitlin, A. D. ; Spencer, N. A. ; Andrews, J. W. ; Harman, W. H.
Author Organization(s):
MITRE CORP MCLEAN VA METREK DIV
Descriptive Note:
Final rept.
Pagination:
0376

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
MTR-83W241, DOT/FAA/PM-83/36
Contract/Grant Number(s):
DTFA01-84-C-0001
Monitor Series:
83/36, DOT/FAA/PM
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_3.1.1_Maneuver to Engage; JCA_3.1_Maneuver; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_5.3.2_Apply Situational Understanding; JCA_2_Battlespace Awareness; JCA_2.2_Collection; JCA_4.7.2_Installation Services; JCA_4.7_Base and Installations Support; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_6.1.3_Switching and Routing; JCA_6.1_Information Transport; JCA_1.3_Human Capital Management; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_1.3.2_Personnel Management; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_4.3_Maintain; JCA_6.4_Information Assurance
Modernization Areas:
Fully Networked C3
Communities of Interest:
Air Platforms
Descriptor(s):
*AVIATION SAFETY, *COLLISION AVOIDANCE, *AIR TRAFFIC, AIRBORNE, PILOTS, FAILURE, HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING, RELIABILITY, AIR SPACE, ERRORS, FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS, VISUAL PERCEPTION, FLIGHT MANEUVERS, ALTIMETERS, SURVEILLANCE, INTRUSION, AWARENESS, SYSTEM SAFETY, FAULT TREE ANALYSIS, TARGET ACQUISITION, TRANSPONDERS, QUICK REACTION, PERFORMANCE(HUMAN)
Field(s)/Group(s):
Flight Control and Instrumentation, Human Factors Engineering and Man Machine Systems
Keyword(s):
TCAS(TRAFFIC ALERT AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE), MIDAIR COLLISIONS, NMAC(NEAR MIDAIR COLLISIONS)
Report Date:
1983 Dec 01