Honeywell has expanded its range of Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) products by introducing the TCAS 1500 system. It is said to be a low-cost alternative for light airplane and helicopter operators in need of TCAS I capability for traffic situational awareness and safety of flight. The new system is derived from Honeywell's TCAS 2000 and uses the same receiver/transmitter unit but modified for TCAS I operation. Moreover, it will interface with the same displays, antennas and Honeywell transponders as the TCAS 2000.\rThe avionics manufacturer believes that this effectively offers a TCAS I system that has the simplest and most cost-effective upgrade path to the TCAS 2000 ACAS II system, with no additional charges required to the installation of the aircraft. All that is required are Service Centre firmware upgrades and strap modifications.\rThe system generates advisories on targets up to 15.7 nautical miles (nm) away and can give these advisories on any transponder-equipped aircraft transmitting an altitude code. For aircraft equipped with ATCRBS (air traffic control radar beacon systems), the system can display targets up to 20nm and with Mode S equipped aircraft, the range is up to 40nm.