Flying around the drones

[simMechanic]

New to PE here and twice now I have been under control of ATC and had two were it real world serious TCAS events. Generally if I get a yellow tcas warning it just gets my attention, when it goes red, I move the stick. Is ATC supposed to vector you around these guys or are they more like bugs and you just go through them? Both times I was flying the arerosoft a320, not that it matters much.

Thanks in advance.

[HRutila]

Was it an actual RA or just a depiction of traffic in close proximity? There is a very important difference between the two. You cannot deviate from a clearance unless responding to an actual RA.

Regarding a TCAS resolution advisory, see AIM 4-4-16 b 1

1. Each pilot who deviates from an ATC clearance in response to a TCAS II RA must notify ATC of that deviation as soon as practicable and expeditiously return to the current ATC clearance when the traffic conflict is resolved.

ATC's primary purpose is to prevent a collision between aircraft; however, this capacity is limited between IFR and VFR aircraft, as there is no way for ATC to anticipate where a VFR aircraft may fly. No separation standard exists between IFR and VFR aircraft except within Class B and Class C airspace, and to a limited extent within TRSA airspace. The rules require you as the PIC to be on the lookout for other traffic while in VMC conditions, even while flying on an IFR clearance.

[simMechanic]

It was definitely an RA event. I got the red warnings "CLIMB CLIMB" aural warning. I just let it slide because it's a drone and I figured ATC could not do anything about it. What should I do next time?

[HRutila]

Climb. ATC can't do anything about it in real life either, which is partially why TCAS was invented. Sometimes people climb or descend out of nowhere, or forget to turn their transponder on until they're right next to another plane, or a whole host of things that can cause a midair collision.

[simMechanic]

Ok good to know. Is it ever ok to tell a controller about traffic? Both times I saw this coming well in advance of the event. Should I alert the controller next time?

[HRutila]

Ok good to know. Is it ever ok to tell a controller about traffic? Both times I saw this coming well in advance of the event. Should I alert the controller next time?

Advising a controller you see a target on TCAS is generally not helpful, as this is a regularly occurring phenomenon in Pilotedge and in real life. If you have a specific request like "Request vector around traffic," then that is acceptable.

Even if no traffic advisory or traffic alert is issued by the controller -- and there are a lot of reasons this could happen on Pilotedge and in real life -- your role as pilot in command is to see and avoid traffic. If there is a legitimate conflict with an aircraft, then you are expected to take evasive action to avoid a collision, even if you don't have TCAS onboard.

[simMechanic]

Good to know. Thanks for the advice.