TCAS RA during climb

1. Scenario

I was the First Officer of HL123, and we were climbing to our assigned altitude after departure. While we were passing approximately FL238, TCAS first generated a Traffic Advisory and then a Resolution Advisory because another aircraft was descending close to our altitude.

ATC instructed us to maintain FL240, but the TCAS issued a climb RA. The Captain immediately followed the RA, and I monitored the flight instruments and informed ATC that we were responding to a TCAS RA.

After a few seconds, TCAS announced “Clear of conflict.” We returned to our assigned altitude and informed ATC that we were clear of conflict and resuming normal operations.

The incident showed the importance of following TCAS instructions, maintaining situational awareness, and communicating clearly with ATC.

2. Quick Understanding Check

1. What warning did TCAS generate?
2. Why did the crew follow TCAS instead of the ATC instruction?
3. What did the crew report after the conflict was resolved?

3. Key Verbs

comply

뜻: 따르다, 준수하다

• We complied with the TCAS resolution advisory immediately.
• Pilots must comply with an RA even if ATC gives a conflicting instruction.

maintain

뜻: 유지하다

• We maintained situational awareness throughout the event.
• ATC instructed us to maintain FL240.

monitor

뜻: 계속 확인하다

• I monitored the flight instruments during the RA.
• We monitored the conflicting traffic on TCAS.

advise

뜻: 알리다

• We advised ATC that we were responding to a TCAS RA.
• We advised ATC after we were clear of conflict.

follow

뜻: 따르다

• We followed the TCAS command immediately.
• The Captain followed the RA guidance.

resolve

뜻: 해결되다

• The conflict was resolved safely.
• TCAS helped resolve the loss of separation risk.

return

뜻: 돌아가다

• We returned to our assigned altitude.
• After the RA, we returned to normal flight.

resume

뜻: 재개하다

• We resumed normal operations.
• We resumed our climb after the conflict was resolved.

separate

뜻: 분리하다

• TCAS provided vertical separation.
• ATC separated other traffic after our report.

prioritize

뜻: 우선시하다

• We prioritized collision avoidance.
• During an RA, pilots must prioritize TCAS commands.

confirm

뜻: 확인하다

• We confirmed that we were clear of conflict.
• ATC confirmed our assigned altitude.

coordinate

뜻: 조율하다, 협조하다

• We coordinated with ATC after the RA.
• Effective CRM helped the crew coordinate their duties.

4. Useful Expressions

5. Common Mistakes

❌ We obeyed TCAS.
✅ We complied with the TCAS resolution advisory.

❌ TCAS said climb.
✅ TCAS issued a climb resolution advisory.

❌ We listened TCAS.
✅ We followed the TCAS RA.

❌ Conflict finished.
✅ The conflict was resolved.

6. Key Vocabulary

7. Grammar Focus — Past Perfect

Use Past Perfect when one past event happened before another past event.

• We had been cleared to FL240 when TCAS issued an RA.
• After the conflict had been resolved, we returned to our assigned altitude.

Simple version is also acceptable:

• After the conflict was resolved, we returned to our assigned altitude.

8. Model Answer — Q1

Shortly after departure, we received a TCAS Resolution Advisory during the climb. We had been cleared to FL240, but while we were passing approximately FL238, TCAS generated a Traffic Advisory followed by a climb Resolution Advisory because another aircraft was close to our altitude.

Although ATC instructed us to maintain FL240, we immediately complied with the TCAS RA because collision avoidance has priority during an RA. The Captain followed the RA guidance, and I monitored the flight instruments and advised ATC that we were responding to a TCAS RA.

After a few seconds, TCAS announced “Clear of conflict.” We returned to our assigned altitude and informed ATC that we were clear of conflict and resuming normal operations.

The nature of the incident was a temporary loss of separation risk. However, by following the TCAS instruction, maintaining situational awareness, and communicating clearly with ATC, we managed the situation safely.

9. Model Answer — Q2

From a pilot’s perspective, ATC handled the situation professionally. They acknowledged our TCAS RA report and avoided giving unnecessary instructions while we were following the RA. This helped reduce our workload and allowed us to focus on collision avoidance.

One possible improvement could be earlier traffic information before the RA occurred. However, once we reported the RA, ATC’s response was calm and appropriate. Overall, their handling supported a safe outcome.

10. Follow-up Questions

1. Why should pilots follow TCAS RA even if ATC gives a different instruction?
2. What should the Pilot Monitoring report to ATC?
3. What does “clear of conflict” mean?
4. Would you continue the flight after a TCAS RA?
5. What did you learn from this event?

11. Shadowing Sentences

1. We complied with the TCAS resolution advisory immediately.
2. TCAS issued a climb RA.
3. Our first priority was collision avoidance.
4. I monitored the flight instruments.
5. We advised ATC that we were responding to a TCAS RA.
6. The conflict was resolved safely.
7. We returned to our assigned altitude.
8. We resumed normal operations.
9. ATC handled the situation professionally.
10. Situational awareness was essential throughout the event.

12. Speaking Challenge

Speak for 90–120 seconds.

Describe a situation in which your aircraft received a TCAS Resolution Advisory. Explain what happened, how the crew responded, and how ATC handled the situation.

Try to include:

• complied with the TCAS RA
• conflicting traffic
• clear of conflict
• returned to assigned altitude
• maintained situational awareness
• advised ATC

13. Review Quiz

Fill in the blanks

1. We ________ with the TCAS RA immediately.
2. TCAS issued a climb ________.
3. After we were clear of conflict, we returned to our ________ altitude.

Answers:

1. complied
2. Resolution Advisory
3. assigned