Narrative:

At about XX10 local time on mar/xx/94 en route from phl to jfk on the jfk 210 degree radial, 30 mi out at 9000 ft, we were instructed by ZNY to descend to 8000 ft. I went off frequency to take care of the cabin and company calls in preparation for landing. ATC issued VFR traffic at 12 O'clock, 7500 ft, 3 mi north of ziggy intersection. My first officer was flying and noticed the traffic was closing on the TCASII but could not visually spot the traffic. He told ATC he would like a turn to deviate from the traffic. ATC suggested a right turn would be best. The traffic had been climbing according to the TCASII and was now approaching our altitude. As my first officer initiated the turn he began pointing out the window, informing me there was traffic approaching. I stopped my cabin announcement and began looking for the traffic. The TCASII then issued an RA which told us to descend. We had to vacate 8000 ft. ATC told us the traffic was now 1 mi away and closing. As soon as we had began our descent I spotted the traffic passing to our left and above us. We stopped the descent at 7200 ft. I informed ATC of our TCASII RA instruction and that we had to descend through 8000 ft. He understood it was TCASII related and told us no need to call the center, but that he was required to submit a report. TCASII played an important part for us today. However, again I have to stress that with today's airspace as busy as it is, it's important that all aircraft flying through or near busy areas such as new york should be working with ATC. We in the airlines have to all the time. GA pilots should be reminded of how busy these areas are and of the potential risk it causes to themselves and others when they don't use the system!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN LTT ACR ACFT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION AND DSNDED IN RESPONSE TO A TCASII RA.

Narrative: AT ABOUT XX10 LCL TIME ON MAR/XX/94 ENRTE FROM PHL TO JFK ON THE JFK 210 DEG RADIAL, 30 MI OUT AT 9000 FT, WE WERE INSTRUCTED BY ZNY TO DSND TO 8000 FT. I WENT OFF FREQ TO TAKE CARE OF THE CABIN AND COMPANY CALLS IN PREPARATION FOR LNDG. ATC ISSUED VFR TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK, 7500 FT, 3 MI N OF ZIGGY INTXN. MY FO WAS FLYING AND NOTICED THE TFC WAS CLOSING ON THE TCASII BUT COULD NOT VISUALLY SPOT THE TFC. HE TOLD ATC HE WOULD LIKE A TURN TO DEVIATE FROM THE TFC. ATC SUGGESTED A R TURN WOULD BE BEST. THE TFC HAD BEEN CLBING ACCORDING TO THE TCASII AND WAS NOW APCHING OUR ALT. AS MY FO INITIATED THE TURN HE BEGAN POINTING OUT THE WINDOW, INFORMING ME THERE WAS TFC APCHING. I STOPPED MY CABIN ANNOUNCEMENT AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE TFC. THE TCASII THEN ISSUED AN RA WHICH TOLD US TO DSND. WE HAD TO VACATE 8000 FT. ATC TOLD US THE TFC WAS NOW 1 MI AWAY AND CLOSING. AS SOON AS WE HAD BEGAN OUR DSCNT I SPOTTED THE TFC PASSING TO OUR L AND ABOVE US. WE STOPPED THE DSCNT AT 7200 FT. I INFORMED ATC OF OUR TCASII RA INSTRUCTION AND THAT WE HAD TO DSND THROUGH 8000 FT. HE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS TCASII RELATED AND TOLD US NO NEED TO CALL THE CTR, BUT THAT HE WAS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A RPT. TCASII PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART FOR US TODAY. HOWEVER, AGAIN I HAVE TO STRESS THAT WITH TODAY'S AIRSPACE AS BUSY AS IT IS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL ACFT FLYING THROUGH OR NEAR BUSY AREAS SUCH AS NEW YORK SHOULD BE WORKING WITH ATC. WE IN THE AIRLINES HAVE TO ALL THE TIME. GA PLTS SHOULD BE REMINDED OF HOW BUSY THESE AREAS ARE AND OF THE POTENTIAL RISK IT CAUSES TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS WHEN THEY DON'T USE THE SYS!

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.