How to - Change Transponder / TCAS Modes via the Surveillance (SURV) MFD Page

SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The Surveillance (SURV) system consists of the following system that perform surveillance functions:

• Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
• Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast - Traffic (ADS-B Traffic)
• Transponder (XPDR)
• Weather Radar (WXR) system
• Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS)

This FAQ will cover the TCAS, ADS-B Traffic and XPDR features of the SURV system. For WXR & TAWS systems, see:

SURV - CONTROLS AND INDICATORS

The SURV system functions can be controlled via

1. SURV Panel on the Pedestal
2. SURV Page on the on the MFD

 
(Click to enlarge image)

1. SURV Panel on the Pedestal

For the purpose of this guide, we are only interested in the TCAS section of this panel.

• ABV pushbutton: Toggles the TCAS ABOVE display mode where traffic between -2700ft and +9900ft relative to the aircraft are shown. It is lit green when active.
• BLW pushbutton: Toggles the TCAS BELOW display mode where traffic between -9900ft and +2700ft relative to the aircraft are shown. It is lit green when active.
• TA ONLY pushbutton: Toggles the Traffic Advisory Only (TA ONLY) display mode where all Resolution Advisories (RA) are inhibited. It is lit white when active.

(Click to enlarge image)

2. SURV Page on the MFD

For the purpose of this guide, we are only interested in the XPDR and TCAS CONTROLS sections of this page.

To access the SURV page on the MFD,

• Select SURV from the MFD Page Options List at the top left corner of the MFD, OR
• Press the SURV shortcut key on the KCCU

(Click to enlarge image)

CHANGING XPDR MODES - MFD SURV CONTROLS PAGE

• SQWK Entry Field: Click to enter your desired squawk code using the KCCU
• MODE toggle: Toggles the Standby (STBY) mode where the XPDR does not transmit to any other station.
  Note: The TCAS display mode and TCAS mode options are disabled in the XPDR STBY mode.
• ALT RPTG toggle: Toggles the altitude data transmission (ALT RPTG) to other stations
• ADS-B RPTG toggle: Toggles the broadcast of your ADS-B data.

(Click to enlarge image)

CHANGING TCAS MODES - MFD SURV CONTROLS PAGE

• (A) TCAS Mode Option List: Toggles between the various TCAS modes as follows,
  - TA/RA: Both Traffic Advisories (TA) and Resolution Advisories (RA) are active.
  - TA Only: Only Traffic Advisories (TA) are active.
  - STBY: Standby (STBY) mode where the TCAS does not perform any function, nor trigger any alerts
  Note: The TCAS Mode Options list is disabled in the XPDR STBY mode.
   
• (B) TCAS Display Mode Option List: Toggles between the various filters for traffic display on ND as follows,
  - NORM: Only traffic between -2700ft to +2700ft relative to the aircraft is shown
  - ABV: Only traffic between -2700ft to +9900ft relative to the aircraft is shown
  - BLW: Only traffic between -9900ft to +2700ft relative to the aircraft is shown
  Note: The TCAS Display Mode Options list is disabled in the XPDR STBY mode.
   
• ADS-B Traffic toggle: Toggles reception of ADS-B traffic data by the TCAS.

(Click to enlarge image)

RESET ALL SURV MODES TO DEFAULT SETTING - MFD SURV PAGE

When clicked, the DEFAULT SETTINGS button automatically sets all the WXR, TAWS, TCAS and XPDR settings to their default position on both MFDs. A confirmation dialog is necessary to confirm selection. For TCAS and XPDR sections, when pressed,

• TCAS Mode is set to TA/RA
• TCAS Display Mode is set to NORM
• XPDR Mode is set to AUTO
• ALT RPTG is set to ON
• ADS-B RPTG is set to ON
• ADS-B TRAFFIC is set to ON

 
(Click to enlarge image)

CHANGING ND TRAFFIC DISPLAY - ADS-B - MFD SURV TRAFFIC PAGE

On the SURV Page, switch to the TRAFFIC tab at the top to receive a list of ADS-B traffic in range of the aircraft (upto 90 maximum).

• FLD ID DISPLAY ON ND toggle: Toggles the TRAF targets on ND between ADS-B and normal TCAS target display mode

(Click to enlarge image)

• ACFT list: Shows the list of aircraft in range and their relevant ADS-B callsign 
• BRG/RNG: Shows the Bearing and Range of the target from your present position
• REL ALT: Shows the relative altitude of the target from your present altitude

(Click to enlarge image)

You can click on any ACFT from this list to bring up the additional information regarding the target.

(Click to enlarge image)

Quote

Note: For online networks like VATSIM/IVAO the ACFT callsign is retrieved from the clients. For default / injected AI Traffic, this data is only available if injected in the sim variable by the software.

Sometimes such traffic may simply appear with their registrations instead of callsign as a result. Currently there is no way to filter out ground vehicles or other such AI "traffic" simobjects from the sim's traffic list either.