Method and device for detecting an environning aircraft

A method of detecting nearby aircraft, intended for an aircraft (A) situated on or close to an airport, according to which:

• A/ a detection mode is activated that is implemented by at least one radar (2) which is on board the aircraft (A), which is capable of performing a scan of the surrounding space, and which can detect, in said detection mode, a moving nearby aircraft;
• and
• B/ when a detection mode of the radar (2) is activated, the following operations are performed automatically:
• a) a scan area (ZB) is determined which depends on a runway (P2) of the airport;
• b) scan commands for the radar (2) are determined that make it possible to have said radar (2) scan said scan area (ZB);
• c) these scan commands are transmitted to said radar (2) so that it performs a scan of all of said scan area (ZB), and does so in said detection mode;
• and
• d) if said radar (2) detects, in this scan, the presence of at least one nearby aircraft, a corresponding indication is presented to a pilot of the aircraft (A),
• wherein:
• said radar (2) is an air-air mode radar which is capable of detecting a nearby aircraft that is in flight;
• and
• said scan area (ZB) comprises at least one vertical area (Z1) of space that is situated to one side of the runway (P2), and the positioning of which is defined relative to the center line (L2) of the runway (P2).