Large transport has TCASII RA on approach due opposite direction departure.

Attributes
ACN	180118
Time
Date	199106
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ind
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1400 msl bound upper : 1400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ind
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	180118
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Due to a thunderstorm northeast of ind, an medium large transport was cleared to depart on runway 23L. Ind approach advised us of its departure, and we had the traffic in sight. As we approached 2200' MSL, our TCASII issued an RA: 'descend, descend now.' although we had the medium large transport in sight, we quickly checked inside the cockpit to see if the RA was indeed for the medium large transport or for some other aircraft. After confirming on the TCASII the location of the RA, we were back outside to reconfirm that it was in fact the medium large transport. I called the tower after landing and told them of the RA, and they were unimpressed, since it was 'VFR.' I guess the reason I am writing this is that I think opp direction departures should not be permitted if they will cause RA's. VFR or not, it will still cause a crew to divert its attention on the approach for an additional traffic search and reconfirmation of traffic. Besides, just having 'descend, descend now' at 1400' AGL is kinda scary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT HAS TCASII RA ON APCH DUE OPPOSITE DIRECTION DEP.

Narrative: DUE TO A TSTM NE OF IND, AN MLG WAS CLRED TO DEPART ON RWY 23L. IND APCH ADVISED US OF ITS DEP, AND WE HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. AS WE APCHED 2200' MSL, OUR TCASII ISSUED AN RA: 'DSND, DSND NOW.' ALTHOUGH WE HAD THE MLG IN SIGHT, WE QUICKLY CHKED INSIDE THE COCKPIT TO SEE IF THE RA WAS INDEED FOR THE MLG OR FOR SOME OTHER ACFT. AFTER CONFIRMING ON THE TCASII THE LOCATION OF THE RA, WE WERE BACK OUTSIDE TO RECONFIRM THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE MLG. I CALLED THE TWR AFTER LNDG AND TOLD THEM OF THE RA, AND THEY WERE UNIMPRESSED, SINCE IT WAS 'VFR.' I GUESS THE REASON I AM WRITING THIS IS THAT I THINK OPP DIRECTION DEPS SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED IF THEY WILL CAUSE RA'S. VFR OR NOT, IT WILL STILL CAUSE A CREW TO DIVERT ITS ATTN ON THE APCH FOR AN ADDITIONAL TFC SEARCH AND RECONFIRMATION OF TFC. BESIDES, JUST HAVING 'DSND, DSND NOW' AT 1400' AGL IS KINDA SCARY.

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.