Airborne Traffic Situational Awareness function (ATSAW)

Question 1

ATSAW Description

Answer 1

The ATSAW function, also called “ADS-B IN” function, enables to display enhanced information
on the surrounding traffic in order to improve the traffic awareness of the flight crew.

Each aircraft, equipped with the ADS-B OUT capability, automatically and continuously transmits traffic
surveillance data to Air Traffic Control (ATC) ground stations and to other aircraft.

The TCAS computer receives and processes this traffic surveillance data.

Question 2

ATSAW source

Answer 2

The TCAS computer provides:

‐ The TCAS function (also called Aircraft Collision Avoidance System or ACAS),

‐ The ATSAW (Airborne Traffic Situational Awareness) function.

Question 3

ATSAW Range

Answer 3

• 30 NM on either sides
• 100 NM longitudinally (depending on aircraft configuration and external conditions),
• 9 900 ft (above and below the aircraft).

Question 4

ATSAW Alerts

Answer 4

does not provide any alerts

Question 5

ATSAW Information

Answer 5

Based on the ADS-B OUT data sent by surrounding aircraft ATSAW provides the following information on these aircraft:

‐ The flight identification
‐ The position
‐ The relative altitude
‐ The vertical trend
‐ The distance
‐ The track
‐ The Ground Speed
‐ The Indicated Air Speed (when available)
‐ The wake vortex category.

Question 6

In Flight: ATSA Airborne (ATSA AIRB)

Answer 6

ATSA AIRB is the use of the ATSAW function when airborne to provide the flight crew with
information regarding the surrounding traffic.

Question 7

In Flight - During cruise: ATSA In Trail Procedure (ATSAW ITP )

Answer 7

ATSAW ITP is the use of the ATSAW function with the In Trail Procedures (ITP).

The ITP enables aircraft in oceanic areas or areas that do not have radar coverage to change flight levels on a more frequent basis with a longitudinal separation that is temporarily reduced during the climb
or descent maneuver.

Question 8

In Flight - During Approach: ATSA Visual Separation on Approach (ATSA VSA)

Answer 8

ATSA VSA is the use of the ATSAW function to provide assistance to the flight crew to visually identify an aircraft during the approach upon ATC request.

Question 9

ATSAW Controls

Answer 9

ATSAW controls are the

TRAFFIC SELECTOR and

the functions available in the MCDU pages dedicated to ATSAW.

Question 10

TCAS Only

Answer 10

The traffic does not transmit ADS-B data, or the ADS-B data of the traffic cannot be correlated
with its TCAS data. The traffic is displayed with TCAS data only.

Question 11

TCAS + ADS-B

Answer 11

The traffic transmits ADS-B data and is within TCAS range. The traffic is displayed with ADS-B
data.

Question 12

ADS-B Only

Answer 12

The traffic transmits ADS-B data and is out of TCAS range. The traffic is displayed with ADS-B
data only.

Question 13

TRAFFIC SELECTOR

Answer 13

There is one TRAFFIC SELECTOR on each side of the cockpit for each flight crewmember.

This rotary selector enables to highlight or select an ATSAW symbol on the ND.

Question 14

TURN TO HIGHLIGHT FUNCTION

Answer 14

The flight crew turns the TRAFFIC SELECTOR in order to highlight an ATSAW symbol on ND.

A blue circle appears around the highlighted traffic.

The flight crew selects the traffic to highlight by turning the TRAFFIC SELECTOR clockwise or
counterclockwise from closest to farthest on The ND.

A flight crewmember can highlight only one aircraft at a time on his/her ND.

A rapid turn of the TRAFFIC SELECTOR removes the highlight.

Question 15

PULL TO SELECT FUNCTION

Answer 15

The flight crew pulls the TRAFFIC SELECTOR to select an ATSAW symbol on the ND.

The symbol’s color on the ND changes to blue when the symbol is selected.

The flight crew can select only one aircraft at a time on the ND. The selected aircraft is the same on
both NDs.

Question 16

PUSH TO DESELECT

Answer 16

The flight crew pushes the TRAFFIC SELECTOR in order to deselect an ATSAW symbol.

Question 17

SELECT TRAFFIC FROM MCDU

Answer 17

The flight crew can also select a traffic, using the “TRAFFIC SELECT” prompt on the
TRAFFIC INFORMATION page of the MCDU.

The TRAFFIC LIST page can display up to 90 aircraft.