Global Express (BD700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 9000; Flight Crew Type 1500
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Workload; Troubleshooting
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Aircraft
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.
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.