Widebody transport aircraft has TCASII RA at intermediate cruise.

Attributes
ACN	254902
Time
Date	199310
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rbv airport : n90
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : n90
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	254902
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were departing jfk international airport, talking to new york departure at intermediate cruise altitude of 17000 ft when TCASII gave us an RA to descend to about 1500 FPM descent rate. I initiated descent and the TCASII readout said the traffic was plus 200 ft above us at 17000 ft. ATC said that there was VFR traffic in our vicinity. Unable to get prior approval for descent from ATC because of controller talking to other aircraft. I leveled off at 16000 ft and TCASII stopped giving RA. We told controller of our evasive action and descent to 16000 ft and that traffic conflict was over with. He acknowledged and gave us a further climb to 23000 ft (FL230). I paused at 16000 ft until traffic was 10 NM north of us, while we were on a southwest course. I then initiated further climb to our clearance altitude of FL230. No further conflicts noted. During the whole traffic conflict visual reference to the other aircraft was not obtained. I am very happy we had TCASII equipment on board!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB ACFT HAS TCASII RA AT INTERMEDIATE CRUISE.

Narrative: WE WERE DEPARTING JFK INTL ARPT, TALKING TO NEW YORK DEP AT INTERMEDIATE CRUISE ALT OF 17000 FT WHEN TCASII GAVE US AN RA TO DSND TO ABOUT 1500 FPM DSCNT RATE. I INITIATED DSCNT AND THE TCASII READOUT SAID THE TFC WAS PLUS 200 FT ABOVE US AT 17000 FT. ATC SAID THAT THERE WAS VFR TFC IN OUR VICINITY. UNABLE TO GET PRIOR APPROVAL FOR DSCNT FROM ATC BECAUSE OF CTLR TALKING TO OTHER ACFT. I LEVELED OFF AT 16000 FT AND TCASII STOPPED GIVING RA. WE TOLD CTLR OF OUR EVASIVE ACTION AND DSCNT TO 16000 FT AND THAT TFC CONFLICT WAS OVER WITH. HE ACKNOWLEDGED AND GAVE US A FURTHER CLB TO 23000 FT (FL230). I PAUSED AT 16000 FT UNTIL TFC WAS 10 NM N OF US, WHILE WE WERE ON A SW COURSE. I THEN INITIATED FURTHER CLB TO OUR CLRNC ALT OF FL230. NO FURTHER CONFLICTS NOTED. DURING THE WHOLE TFC CONFLICT VISUAL REF TO THE OTHER ACFT WAS NOT OBTAINED. I AM VERY HAPPY WE HAD TCASII EQUIP ON BOARD!

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.