TCAS RA's
 

Coming out of CLT tonight we had an phantom RA right after takeoff. It showed a target right on top of us, same altitude with instructions to "monitor vertical speed", then "descend, descend", "descend faster". Needless to say scared the **** outta me and the captain but we were in VMC and nobody within 2 miles of our position. This also happened a couple of weeks back doing a visual approach. Anyone have any idea why this might happen or have this happen to them ?

False RAs
 

Years ago we got an advisory to beware of false TCAS indications when flying near the big Navy base at Norfolk; apparently radar/RF emissions from ships. Any DOD facilities near CLT?

Not that I'm aware of, no. The "phantom" stayed centered wherever we went until we turned the TCAS off, any chance it could have picked up our own transponder as an intruding aircraft ? It's the only other thing I can think of ....

I know the systems are only remotely similiar but I have had the same thing happen with Garmin 430s with the traffic function. Seemed to happen a lot doing tight turns. Scared the crap out of me a few times before i realized what was happening. From my limited knowledge of TCAS systems it might be a similar phenomenom.

Sounds like a software problem, I'd write it up - then file an FSAP or NASA report.

I've seen it too on the CRJ, always on 3-5 mile final in major metro areas. I suppose their might be some ground based emitter that causes that at that low altitude. I always follow the RA on the assumption that it might be a helo or a lost student pilot.

Do not disregard the RA even if you think it is bogus.

We got a phantom (as opposed to an F4 Phantom) near JAX. At FL360, we got a sudden indication of an aircraft approaching at high speed from 3:00. Just as suddenly, it disappeared. We got a TA, but no RA.

That may have been a software problem also since we got two other TAs on the same trip.