I’m wondering why the TCAS display is seperate from the main compass arc on the Navigation display, when on most aircraft it is superimposed directly on it…?

Beats me. It would be sooooo much nicer to have it integrated with the Nav. display rather than the seperate screen. The screen blocks access to the system pages below which can be annoying at times. Now with more airports requesting that we taxi with the transponder on the system is more likely to indicate TA’s (yellow targets) which locks the TCAS screen on top preventing any access to the system pages for both the CA and FO. This leads pilots to turn off the AUTO mode in order to check the systems before takeoff. Not the best system.

I also forgot to add that to the right of the gear handle are 2 warning lights that are for the Clear Ice detection system. The XR’s have detectors on the upper surface of the wing to detect ice formation while sitting on the ground. This isn’t meant to detect ice accumulation due to precepitation but ice that will for due to the aircraft being cold soaked after a long flight at altitude and landing in warmer/moist air. This is a problem for the MD-80’s and they have to manually inspect their wings after/before each flight.

I haven’t heard of them being bird scarers but they do have a much higher visibility due to the shifting light pattern rather than the steady burn of normal light systems.

They are used in the air only. The Southwest 737’s shown are exiting the runway, or preparing for takeoff, and haven’t turned off their landing lights yet.

Southwest has used them for as long as I can remember. You can also see them on Lear series jets. Obviously they are a day only use item. 🙂