Definition
A Traffic Advisory is an alert issued by an aircraft's Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) when another aircraft (the intruder) is approaching closely enough to warrant the pilot's attention, but is not yet considered an immediate collision threat. The TA notifies the crew of the intruder's range, relative altitude, and bearing so they can visually acquire the traffic and prepare for a possible Resolution Advisory (RA) if the situation worsens. A TA is announced aurally with 'Traffic, Traffic' and shown visually on the traffic display.
Plain English
A heads-up from the aircraft's collision avoidance system that another aircraft is getting close. It is a warning, not an instruction to maneuver — the pilots should look for the traffic and be ready to act if the system escalates the alert.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter TAs on TCAS-equipped aircraft through cockpit displays and alert messages, often during instrument flying or in busy airspace.
Derivation
Advisory' comes from the Latin 'advisare,' meaning to consider or take counsel. In aviation, an advisory is information offered for the pilot's awareness rather than a command — which matches the role of a TA: it informs, it does not direct.
Why Pilots Care
They give early notice of nearby traffic so the pilot can visually locate it and maintain safe separation.
Intuition Check
Do not read advisory as optional chatter or as a command. A TA is a serious alert to look for nearby traffic, but it is not an instruction to climb, descend, or turn.
Example Sentence 1
When the TCAS issued a Traffic Advisory, the captain scanned outside and quickly spotted the other aircraft about two miles off the right wing.
Example Sentence 2
The TCAS issued a TA for an aircraft two miles ahead climbing toward our flight level.