Patent attributes
Systems and methods for automatically disabling the TCAS Broadcast when aircraft join up in formation. A Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) determines if the aircraft is approaching formation flight with other aircraft or flying in formation with other aircraft and disables a TCAS interrogation signal if the aircraft is determined to be approaching a formation or flying in formation. The TCAS receives TCAS interrogation signals from one or more other aircraft and receives aircraft configuration information from one or more other aircraft systems. The TCAS determines the aircraft is approaching formation flight or flying in formation based on the received TCAS interrogation signals, a mode of TCAS operation, and/or the received aircraft configuration information. The TCAS also automatically switches into Traffic Advisory Only mode if the aircraft is determined to be approaching formation flight or flying in formation.
