Center controller vectors gave medium large transport flight crew TCASII alerts. No avoidance requir...

Attributes
ACN	189804
Time
Date	199109
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ott
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	189804
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial 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	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Approximately 15 DME southwest of ott VOR on the STAR into bwi we were given clearance to cross ott VOR at or below 9000 ft with descent to 5000 ft. Just after ott VOR at 9000 ft we received a TCASII alert not to descend with traffic at 12 O'clock head on below us. At the same moment ATC gave us a left turn to 050 degree and wanted us down to 5000 ft. We had a visual on the traffic and started down and left to 050 degree when we got another TCASII alert of oncoming traffic at 12 O'clock and about our altitude. We also had a visual on this target as well. We were on a ferry flight with the captain at the controls. Although no real evasion was made by any of the aircraft involved and safety was not at issue, I feel the TCASII alerts put us in conflict with what ATC wanted us to do. The volume of the TCASII alerts should be lowered so we as crew can hear ATC instructions as well when everything is happening all at the same time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CENTER CTLR VECTORS GAVE MLG FLC TCASII ALERTS. NO AVOIDANCE REQUIRED.

Narrative: APPROX 15 DME SW OF OTT VOR ON THE STAR INTO BWI WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS OTT VOR AT OR BELOW 9000 FT WITH DSCNT TO 5000 FT. JUST AFTER OTT VOR AT 9000 FT WE RECEIVED A TCASII ALERT NOT TO DSND WITH TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK HEAD ON BELOW US. AT THE SAME MOMENT ATC GAVE US A L TURN TO 050 DEG AND WANTED US DOWN TO 5000 FT. WE HAD A VISUAL ON THE TFC AND STARTED DOWN AND L TO 050 DEG WHEN WE GOT ANOTHER TCASII ALERT OF ONCOMING TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK AND ABOUT OUR ALT. WE ALSO HAD A VISUAL ON THIS TARGET AS WELL. WE WERE ON A FERRY FLT WITH THE CAPT AT THE CTLS. ALTHOUGH NO REAL EVASION WAS MADE BY ANY OF THE ACFT INVOLVED AND SAFETY WAS NOT AT ISSUE, I FEEL THE TCASII ALERTS PUT US IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT ATC WANTED US TO DO. THE VOLUME OF THE TCASII ALERTS SHOULD BE LOWERED SO WE AS CREW CAN HEAR ATC INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL WHEN EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

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.

Center controller vectors gave medium large transport flight crew TCASII alerts. No avoidance required.