B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 198
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors
[After departure]; we were leveled off at 10;000 feet for an extended time. After several minutes; I queried the Controller and was informed that we were being held down due to opposite direction traffic [that was] descending to level off 3;000 feet above us. At that time I noticed we had a TCAS FAIL light. I felt a bit vulnerable being 'blinded' in highly congested airspace; and exercising Captain's judgment; elected to cycle the TCAS circuit breaker. The system restored to normal operation for the remainder of flight. After level off at cruise; I began to research in more detail the situation; and realized I may have overstepped my authority. The Aircraft Operation Manual (AOM) does allow a tripped circuit breaker to be reset once if; in the judgment of the Captain; regaining that system is critical to the safe conduct of flight. However; the TCAS breaker was not tripped. I cycled it. Upon further reading; the AOM lists specific criteria when a circuit breaker can be cycled. My situation did not meet the letter of the law. At the time of the occurrence I assumed cycling and tripped could be treated the same. I notified Dispatch and Maintenance upon arrival and wrote up the TCAS system; which was cleared by Maintenance. I also discussed with Chief Pilot on Duty.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737-700 flight crew reported they deviated from SOP when they pulled and reset a TCAS circuit breaker in flight to restore the system to operation.