What does a Resolution Advisory (RA) provide that a TA does not?

• A. Vertical restriction or manoeuvre to maintain or increase separation
• B. Amber circle
• C. Initial TCAS RA call
• D. Information about aircraft within 25 seconds from point of closest contact

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the difference between a traffic advisory and a resolution advisory in TCAS. A TA only warns you that another aircraft may pose a threat and provides awareness of its position relative to you. It does not tell you exactly how to change your flight path. A Resolution Advisory, however, gives a concrete vertical maneuver to resolve the conflict—a commanded climb or descent (a vertical restriction or maneuver) intended to maintain or increase separation from the intruder. That explicit, actionable instruction is what TA lacks, and it’s why the correct choice is the vertical maneuver to maintain or increase separation. The amber circle is a symbol associated with TA, not the RA’s distinctive function. The initial RA call may occur during an RA, but the defining feature is the prescribed maneuver itself. Information about aircraft within a near-term window is part of traffic awareness, not the RA’s unique offering.