ACSS introduces T2CAS traffic and terrain collision avoidance system

ACSS, an L-3 Communications & Thales Company, has introduced its Traffic and Terrain Collision Avoidance System (T2CAS) at the Paris Air Show, a safety avionics system that integrates aircraft performance-based Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS) capability into ACSS's Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). Current TCAS II operators can upgrade their existing system to incorporate the T2CAS capability. This new product, which will be available in late 2002, provides aviation customers with a combination of functionality, along with optional GPS and Windshear. It also meets all the terrain safety standards required by the TAWS mandate (TSO C151a and C117a standards).

"T2CAS can be applied to any aircraft to avoid Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) and give operators time to clear the hazard with plenty of margin." said Joe Hoffman, president of ACSS.

T2CAS incorporates an important safety function, which provides avoidance alerts based on actual aircraft performance data rather than based on standard climb rates and an assumption that all critical functions are performing properly. For example, if one engine on an aircraft goes out while it is approaching a mountain, T2CAS will factor in the decreased performance while accurately alerting pilots of any necessary avoidance manoeuvres.

Through T2CAS, aircraft operators can add TAWS without adding a LRU, if the TCAS 2000 is already part of their safety avionics package. T2CAS is also backward compatible for operators using ACSS's first generation TCAS II.

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