Air taxi first officer reported the captain did not report to ATC a malfunctioning TCAS system.

Attributes
ACN	1579186
Time
Date	201809
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 61 Flight Crew Total 4452 Flight Crew Type 33
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

A TCAS system check was performed before flight and indicated ok. During climb; a TCAS fail annunciation was noted by both crew members. I; the second in command and pilot monitoring; stated that a report to ATC was required for TCAS failure; which may or may not result in being unable to operate in rvsm airspace. The pilot in command declined to make a report; stating 'it does this sometimes; probably a weight-on-wheels switch'. I again insisted that it was a requirement; but he reiterated his position that he didn't want the hassle of reporting it and getting it on the record. He then asked what I would do if I were making an oceanic crossing and TCAS failed. I stated that I would report it to ATC as required; which if before coast-out may result in denial of entry into oceanic airspace. He questioned my judgement on this; saying 'sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do for the flight; and just keep quiet.' I then stated that we needed to file a report via the company; which he dismissed. I'm filing this report independently for my own protection.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air taxi First Officer reported the Captain did not report to ATC a malfunctioning TCAS system.

Narrative: A TCAS system check was performed before flight and indicated OK. During climb; a TCAS FAIL annunciation was noted by both crew members. I; the Second in Command and Pilot Monitoring; stated that a report to ATC was required for TCAS failure; which may or may not result in being unable to operate in RVSM airspace. The Pilot in Command declined to make a report; stating 'it does this sometimes; probably a weight-on-wheels switch'. I again insisted that it was a requirement; but he reiterated his position that he didn't want the hassle of reporting it and getting it on the record. He then asked what I would do if I were making an oceanic crossing and TCAS failed. I stated that I would report it to ATC as required; which if before coast-out may result in denial of entry into oceanic airspace. He questioned my judgement on this; saying 'sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do for the flight; and just keep quiet.' I then stated that we needed to file a report via the company; which he dismissed. I'm filing this report independently for my own protection.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.