A320 TCAS/ATC Controls

A320 TCAS/ATC Controls
by jerome meriweather

Up to Lighting Control
Left to Engine Start
Down to Flap Control

To View a Control's Description, MouseOver it and ...
Click to "Show" - MouseDown to "Drag" - DoubleClick to "Hide"

Flight Deck Photos and/or Graphic Representation

Above/Below Switches

N - Vertical coverage of 2700' Above and Below airplane altitude.
Above/Below - Vertical coverage of 9900' Above or Below airplane altitude. Opposite altitude remains 2700'.

DEACT
De-Activate

Transponder Code Indicator (Window)
Displays current Transponder Code.

TCAS/XPDR Selector

STBY - TCAS and the transponders are in the warmup cycle. Message "TCAS STBY" will appear in green on upper ECAM.
XPDR - The transponder is ON and TCAS is in the warmup cycle.
TA - The ATC/TCAS system is ON and all Proximate Traffic and Traffic Advisory functions of TCAS are operable. Resolution Advisories and vertical guidance function are inhibited. Target symbols will be visible only when a TA is active.
TA/RA - The ATC/TCAS system is ON and all Proximate Traffic, Traffic Advisory and Resolution Advisory functions of TCAS are operable. Target symbols will be visible only when a TA or RA is active.
TFC - The ATC/TCAS system is ON and all transponder equipped airplanes within 40 nm and the altitude slice selected by the ABOVE/BELOW switch are displayed full time: Other, Proximate, TA and RA traffic.

Code Selector Knob
Selects TCAS/ATC Code.

ATC Fail Light (Red)
Indicates a failure of the selected transponder.

IDENT Button
According to Kevin Camilleri A320 F/O, when a aircraft, during a flight, is handed over to another controller, that controller may request the crew to "IDENT" by saying e.g. "American 590 squawk ident." The crew can push this button which will send a signal to the ground radars and highlight the aircraft on the ATC screen. The controller can then confirm that the target is actually the aircraft he just spoke to.