Less than legal separation on oceanic track to hnl.

Attributes
ACN	144592
Time
Date	199004
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 34000 msl bound upper : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific enroute airway : r577
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 8400 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	144592
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying eastbound on R577 at FL340. This is an east only route. On frequency 128.95 overheard comment about wrong-way traffic at FL340. Entered the radio conversation and was told unk aircraft crossed etnic, westbound, estimated FL340. Estimated we would meet traffic in 15 mins. Increased visibility watch and set radar for maximum return. Saw lights of unknown traffic to our north. Radar indicated traffic was 20 mi north of R577. Traffic appeared to be about our altitude (FL340), but uncertain at that distance. We announced our sighting on air-to-air (128.95) and advised ATC through hnl (HF radio)--and just when you thought it was safer over the water! Comments: 1) important to monitor air-to-air (and emergency) VHF frequencys and to evaluate whether or not reported situations are of concern to your own operation. 2) not certain, but I think that no other crew advised ATC of the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN LEGAL SEPARATION ON OCEANIC TRACK TO HNL.

Narrative: FLYING EBND ON R577 AT FL340. THIS IS AN E ONLY RTE. ON FREQ 128.95 OVERHEARD COMMENT ABOUT WRONG-WAY TFC AT FL340. ENTERED THE RADIO CONVERSATION AND WAS TOLD UNK ACFT CROSSED ETNIC, WBND, ESTIMATED FL340. ESTIMATED WE WOULD MEET TFC IN 15 MINS. INCREASED VIS WATCH AND SET RADAR FOR MAX RETURN. SAW LIGHTS OF UNKNOWN TFC TO OUR N. RADAR INDICATED TFC WAS 20 MI N OF R577. TFC APPEARED TO BE ABOUT OUR ALT (FL340), BUT UNCERTAIN AT THAT DISTANCE. WE ANNOUNCED OUR SIGHTING ON AIR-TO-AIR (128.95) AND ADVISED ATC THROUGH HNL (HF RADIO)--AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFER OVER THE WATER! COMMENTS: 1) IMPORTANT TO MONITOR AIR-TO-AIR (AND EMER) VHF FREQS AND TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT RPTED SITUATIONS ARE OF CONCERN TO YOUR OWN OPERATION. 2) NOT CERTAIN, BUT I THINK THAT NO OTHER CREW ADVISED ATC OF THE SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.