Garmin GTS 855 User Manual

GTS 8XX Series

Pilot’s Guide
Traffic Advisory System

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December 2009 Printed in the U.S.A.

LIMITED WARRANTY

This Garmin product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for two years from
the date of purchase. Within this period, Garmin will, at its sole option, repair or replace any components
that fail in normal use. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts
and labor, provided that the customer shall be responsible for any transportation cost. This warranty does
not cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accident, or unauthorized alterations or repairs.

THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED HEREIN ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY LIABILITY ARISING UNDER
ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, STATUTORY OR
OTHERWISE. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY FROM STATE TO
STATE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL GARMIN BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT OR
FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Garmin retains the exclusive right to repair or replace the unit or software, or to offer a full refund of the
purchase price, at its sole discretion. SUCH REMEDY SHALL BE YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR
ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY.

To obtain warranty service, contact your local Garmin Authorized Service Center. For assistance in
locating a Service Center near you, visit the Garmin web site at http://www.garmin.com or contact
Garmin Customer Service at 800-800-1020.

Garmin GTS 8XX Series Traffic Advisory System

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WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, AND NOTES

WARNING: The GTS 8XX Series Traffic Advisory System (TAS and TCAS I)
is intended for advisory use only to aid the pilot in visually acquiring
traffic. No avoidance maneuvers should be based solely upon TAS traffic
information. It is the responsibility of the pilot in command to see and
maneuver to avoid traffic.

NOTE: Pilots should be aware of TAS/TCAS system limitations. TAS/TCAS
systems require intruder transponders to respond to system interrogations.
If an intruder transponder does not respond to interrogations due to
antenna shading or marginal transponder performance, it will not be
displayed, or display may be intermittent. Pilots should remain vigilant
for traffic at all times when using TAS/TCAS systems for non-transponder
equipped airplanes or unresponsive airplanes.

TSO COMPLIANCE

GTS Unit Product Description Applicable TSO

GTS 800 Low Power TAS C147, C166a
GTS 820 High Power TAS C147, C166a
GTS 850 TCAS I C118, C166a

Table 1 GTS 8XX Series Family TSO Compliance

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Contents

LIMITED WARRANTY ........................................................................................i

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes .......................................................................ii

TSO Compliance..............................................................................................ii

Product Description ........................................................................................2

Compatible Display Units .................................................................................. 4

GTS 800........................................................................................................... 5

GTS 820........................................................................................................... 5

GTS 850........................................................................................................... 5

Antennas ......................................................................................................... 5

General Antenna Information .................................................................... 5

GTS 8XX Series Antenna Configurations .................................................... 6

GA 58 Directional Antenna ........................................................................ 6

Bottom Mounted Directional Antenna (optional) ........................................ 6

Bottom Mounted Monopole Antenna (optional) ......................................... 7

GPA 65 PA / LNA Module (GTS 820 & 850 only) ............................................... 7

Operation .......................................................................................................8

GTS 8XX Series Traffic ....................................................................................... 8

Theory of Operation .......................................................................................... 8

TAS/TCAS Surveillance Volume .................................................................. 8

TAS/TCAS Symbology ................................................................................ 9

GTS 8XX Series Sensitivity Level ............................................................... 11

Traffic Advisory (TA) Alerting Conditions ................................................... 12

TAS/TCAS Alerts ...................................................................................... 13

System Test ............................................................................................. 14

Power-Up .............................................................................................. 15

System Status ......................................................................................... 15

Q and A .........................................................................................................17

Glossary ........................................................................................................19

Index .............................................................................................................20

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The GTS 8XX Series Traffic Advisory System (TAS) and Traffic Collision
Avoidance System (TCAS I) uses active interrogations of Mode A/C/S transponders
to provide Traffic Advisories to the pilot independent of the air traffic control
system. The system also uses passive surveillance by means of an Automatic
Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver which is enabled when
installed with an ADS-B link transmit class of equipment.

Figure 1 GTS 8XX LRU

The GTS 8XX Series of Traffic Advisory System (TAS) or Traffic Alert and
Collision Avoidance System (TCAS I) microprocessor-based sub-systems products
consist of the GTS 800, GTS 820 and GTS 850. The GTS 800 TAS product consists
of one LRU which has low power (40 Watts) transmit capability, and one GA 58,
or other Garmin-approved, directional antenna. The GTS 820 TAS and GTS 850
TCAS I products include one LRU paired with one GPA 65 PA/LNA Amplifier
Module, which allows high power (250W) transmit capability, and one GA 58 or
other Garmin-approved directional antenna. An optional second antenna may also
be installed with these systems. The optional second bottom mounted antenna
may be omnidirectional or a Garmin approved directional antenna.

For targets equipped with a 1090 MHz ADS-B transmit class of equipment, the
GTS 8XX series combines active (interrogated) and passive (ADS-B) surveillance
data to enhance the accuracy of target position on the display. The systems use
Garmin’s CLEAR CASTM technology to correlate ADS-B and actively interrogated
targets to provide pilots with the most accurate target position. Passive ADS-B
surveillance is enabled when the GTS 8XX is installed with an ADS-B transmit
class of equipment.

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The GTS 8XX Series provides for expanded audio messaging in an ATC-like
verbal format: “Traffic. One o’clock. High (or Low or Same Altitude). Two miles.”
If surveillance bearing information is not available on the intruder, “Traffic, No
Bearing” is called out.

Bearing may be derived from either the top or bottom directional antenna
depending upon which antenna hears the response. A directional antenna is used
to derive bearing to the intruder aircraft, which is displayed with relative altitude
to own aircraft. Top antenna transmitted interrogations are directional, reducing
the number of transponders that receive the interrogation thus reducing potential
garble on the 1090 MHz band.

Note: GTS 8XX is used throughout this manual to refer to the GTS 800,
820, or 850 products. When a feature is unique to the GTS 800, 820, or
850 it will be specifically referenced as such.

Product GTS 800 GTS 820 GTS 850

Traffic Advisory System (TAS) X X
Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System

X

(TCAS I)
LRU X X X
GPA 65 PA/LNA X X
1090 ES ADS-B Receiver X X X
Transmit Power (Watts) 40 250 250
Top-Mounted Garmin-Approved Directional

X X X

Antenna
Optional Bottom-Mounted Garmin-Approved

X X X

Directional or Omnidirectional Antenna

Table 2 GTS 8XX Series Family Product Description

The GTS 8XX Series does not contain a display, but transmits traffic data to a
Garmin or third party multi-function display that is capable of displaying traffic
data. More information is located in the installation manual. The GTS 8XX Series
supplies data to a traffic display to indicate the presence and location of intruder
aircraft. The information provides the crew with the intruder’s range, bearing,
and, for altitude reporting intruders, relative altitude and vertical trend. TCAS I
symbology as defined in the FAA Advisory Circular entitled “Airworthiness

Garmin GTS 8XX Series Traffic Advisory System

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Approval of Traffic and Collision Avoidance Systems (Active TCAS I)” is utilized
to depict traffic information.

Compatible Display Units

The following table lists compatible display units. As products may
continually be added to the list of compatible display units, always refer to the
GTS 8XX Installation Manual for a complete list. Some displays may require
the purchase and installation of additional modules and/or software to support
traffic displays. Check with your installer to ensure an existing display supports
traffic prior to installation.

Manufacturer Model

Garmin GMX 200/MX20
Garmin GNS 400/500 Series
Garmin GNS 400W/500W Series
Garmin GNS 480
Garmin GDU 620
Avidyne EX500 (MFD Only)
Honeywell Bendix/King KMD 550/850
Sandel SN3500/SN4500

Table 3 GTS 8XX Series Compatible Display Units

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