Notification to Air Traffic Control (ATC) of Deviations From ATC Clearances in Response to Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System Resolution Advisories

This action codifies the previously announced policy extended to pilots during the initial testing of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) during the Limited Implementation Plan for TCAS, and during the actual implementation of TCAS under the TCAS Transition Plan (TTP). This policy permitted pilots to deviate from an air traffic control (ATC) clearance, in non-emergency situations, when responding to a TCAS resolution advisory (RA). The language contained in current regulations suggests that deviation from an ATC clearance is authorized only in an emergency situation. The intended effect of this action is to add the TCAS RA as a reason to deviate from a clearance, and to require that whenever a pilot deviates from an ATC clearance, ATC will be advised as soon as possible.