Transport Canada is taking action to reduce the risk of mid-airs by requiring installation of collision avoidance equipment (TCAS) as a safety backup to existing ground-based ATC systems. TCAS Systems are of two types. Type 1 advises the bearing and relative altitude of all aircraft within a selected range, and indicates which might pose a potential threat. Type II is more comprehensive and can advise the pilot to execute a vertical escape maneuver to avoid proximate aircraft. The Type II system can also coordinate with similar on-board systems in other aircraft to coordinate escape maneuvers. Gazetted requirements will come into force on July 1, and requires the immediate installation of at least one class of collision avoidance equipment on all recently manufactured aircraft. Operators of large commercial aircraft currently in operation have two years to comply with the new mandate. The media release is at tinyurl.com/27cdbt