Narrative:

In descent to mlb about 30 mi north, crew noticed conflicting traffic on TCAS. Crew in medium large transport on 170 degree vectors passing 7000 ft for 6000 ft. Traffic was 12 O'clock, 3 mi, 500 ft. Crew questioned ATC (orlando approach) about traffic and was informed it was VFR traffic at 6500 ft. At about 2 mi from traffic, 6700 ft descending, a traffic advisory was given by the TCAS, pilot commenced hard right turn. Shortly thereafter an RA was given by TCAS which commanded a 3000 FPM descent. Pilot followed commands on TCAS as shown on vsi. When RA extinguished and traffic cleared, leveled aircraft at 5200 ft, then climbed back to 6000 ft. The concern here is that ATC (orlando approach) didn't call the traffic in the first place, and then when questioned by the crew about TCAS information, never gave any traffic clearance commands and never acted concerned. Without TCAS and prompt pilot actions, this could very well have been a midair. In fact, after the incident the controller did not act concerned. This brings the following questions to mind: is the controller properly trained and qualified? Is the controller motivated? Where is his supervisor? Have the controllers relaxed now that TCAS is installed in most airliners?

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEV OVERSHOT IN RESPONSE TO TCASII RA.

Narrative: IN DSCNT TO MLB ABOUT 30 MI N, CREW NOTICED CONFLICTING TFC ON TCAS. CREW IN MLG ON 170 DEG VECTORS PASSING 7000 FT FOR 6000 FT. TFC WAS 12 O'CLOCK, 3 MI, 500 FT. CREW QUESTIONED ATC (ORLANDO APCH) ABOUT TFC AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS VFR TFC AT 6500 FT. AT ABOUT 2 MI FROM TFC, 6700 FT DSNDING, A TFC ADVISORY WAS GIVEN BY THE TCAS, PLT COMMENCED HARD R TURN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER AN RA WAS GIVEN BY TCAS WHICH COMMANDED A 3000 FPM DSCNT. PLT FOLLOWED COMMANDS ON TCAS AS SHOWN ON VSI. WHEN RA EXTINGUISHED AND TFC CLRED, LEVELED ACFT AT 5200 FT, THEN CLBED BACK TO 6000 FT. THE CONCERN HERE IS THAT ATC (ORLANDO APCH) DIDN'T CALL THE TFC IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THEN WHEN QUESTIONED BY THE CREW ABOUT TCAS INFO, NEVER GAVE ANY TFC CLRNC COMMANDS AND NEVER ACTED CONCERNED. WITHOUT TCAS AND PROMPT PLT ACTIONS, THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN A MIDAIR. IN FACT, AFTER THE INCIDENT THE CTLR DID NOT ACT CONCERNED. THIS BRINGS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO MIND: IS THE CTLR PROPERLY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED? IS THE CTLR MOTIVATED? WHERE IS HIS SUPVR? HAVE THE CTLRS RELAXED NOW THAT TCAS IS INSTALLED IN MOST AIRLINERS?

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.