TCAS Rule Revised To Include Cargo Airplanes

Virtually all cargo-dedicated airplanes will be required to have traffic alert and collision avoidance systems type II (TCAS II) installed by December 31 next year under rulemaking published last month. Under a previous rule, the TCAS requirement was based on passenger seating capacity and therefore excluded cargo-only airplanes. The new rule uses airplane weight as the basis for collision avoidance system requirements and applies to cargo airplanes with mtows of 33,000 pounds or more. All piston-powered airplanes, regardless of weight, conducting operations under FAR Parts 121 or 125 are also now required to have TCAS I.