A bd-700 took evasive action to a TCAS RA while on a VFR approach to vny as the pilots attempted to ...

Narrative:

We were approaching vny VFR on a repositioning flight and decided we would test our egpws systems pop-up display. Originally we were going to go east over san gabriel mountains but because of lower visibility decided not a good idea and thus went VFR and requested an extended downwind leg to activate egpws in good visibility. We were approved extended downwind leg by vny tower. Maintained 2;300 ft MSL; 160 KTS and were all set. Vny tower then came back at us with; 'turn 15 degrees right' in a right downwind leg; knowing that this would turn us toward final approach. Had a difficult time verifying with them that it was not 15 left. Clarified we turned the 15 right. Then he came back and told us to turn base but we had been cleared extended downwind for the test; and did not intend to land until test was complete. We attempted again clarification when we got a TA/RA from TCAS. As we were starting to turn base; and immediately complied with the RA; it cleared conflict pretty quick. It was an aircraft that he was trying to sequence behind our downwind on a base entry. Another controller came on frequency and told us to resume downwind which now had us more toward the left downwind. It did give us a couple of chances to try our egpws in visual conditions but we had to climb higher and maneuver unexpectedly. Corrective actions: though efficient; don't try seeing if a system will test or activate while in class D airspace; exit class D first. Good solid communication with ATC would better clarify the whole picture.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BD-700 took evasive action to a TCAS RA while on a VFR approach to VNY as the pilots attempted to delay the approach in order to activate the EGPWS for a VMC test.

Narrative: We were approaching VNY VFR on a repositioning flight and decided we would test our EGPWS systems pop-up display. Originally we were going to go east over San Gabriel Mountains but because of lower visibility decided not a good idea and thus went VFR and requested an extended downwind leg to activate EGPWS in good visibility. We were approved extended downwind leg by VNY Tower. Maintained 2;300 FT MSL; 160 KTS and were all set. VNY Tower then came back at us with; 'turn 15 degrees right' in a right downwind leg; knowing that this would turn us toward final approach. Had a difficult time verifying with them that it was not 15 left. Clarified we turned the 15 right. Then he came back and told us to turn base but we had been cleared extended downwind for the test; and did not intend to land until test was complete. We attempted again clarification when we got a TA/RA from TCAS. As we were starting to turn base; and immediately complied with the RA; it cleared conflict pretty quick. It was an aircraft that he was trying to sequence behind our downwind on a base entry. Another Controller came on frequency and told us to resume downwind which now had us more toward the left downwind. It did give us a couple of chances to try our EGPWS in visual conditions but we had to climb higher and maneuver unexpectedly. Corrective actions: though efficient; don't try seeing if a system will test or activate while in Class D Airspace; exit Class D first. Good solid communication with ATC would better clarify the whole picture.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1007290
Time
Date	201204
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	VNY.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Global Express (BD700)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 9000 Flight Crew Type 1500
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

A bd-700 took evasive action to a TCAS RA while on a VFR approach to vny as the pilots attempted to delay the approach in order to activate the egpws for a VMC test.