On 1/14/2011 5:02 PM, Randy wrote:
Yesterday, while on a 15 mile final in a B777, we
has a Cessna 182 pass 300 feet below us.
We got a traffic alert from ATC and a warning on
our TCAS (Traffic Collision Alert System). This is
very similar to the FLARM. From about 1/2 mile, we
finally had him visually as we flew over him. If the
pilot was looking out his window, there is no way he
could have missed seeing us.
When we get an alert from our TCAS, it really helps
us to locate the position of the threat, otherwise we
we don't need to look at it.
Everyone General Aviation/Glider pilot should have
a PCAS or FLARM. A midair with a commercial aircraft
will have devastating consequences for all of us.




Randy

If you are flying a 777 outside of Class A or Class B airspace, you need
to be looking out the window too. If you are flying IFR, ATC is only
providing separation services with other IFR aircraft. It is the
pilot's responsibility in both IFR and VFR aircraft to visually see and
avoid each other.

TCAS was never designed as the primary collision avoidance system. It
is not foolproof and was designed as a last line of defense when
everything else fails. That's how it should be getting used.

--
Mike Schumann