Narrative:

In hold at ryan at FL240 wings level outbound TCASII TA/RA commanded climb up to FL250. Controller said T-38 at FL230, no factor. TCASII showed traffic 1200 ft below when we were at FL250, which means there was traffic at FL238. Other traffic was holding at FL250 but we never saw it and started back to FL240 as soon as TA/RA ended. I have a feeling TCASII saved a very near mid-air in this case even though the controller did not think so. I suggest standard phraseology be implemented to controllers on TCASII events. For example: air carrier X traffic is a T38, 1 mi, 10 O'clock leveling FL230, if TCASII traffic not in sight or the situation dictates, complete maneuver as required, then resume FL240 as soon as possible. Be advised other aircraft holding at FL250 and above.' I have had a number of controllers try to convince me I didn't need to honor TCASII. They need to stop questioning our actions during this critical phase of flight and state only advisory information. Basically TCASII is a nuisance in terminal areas 99.9 percent of the time. I think it's time you guys address this problem. It's only a matter of time before TCASII causes an accident in a terminal area. It doesn't work well due to the rapid climb and dscnts going on because false alerts much too often. You know it and I know it. And we pilots are tired of hearing bs answers to this problem. The fact is, it doesn't work well for the area it was designed most for. How many millions is this costing the public?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG CLBED IN RESPONSE TO A TCASII RA.

Narrative: IN HOLD AT RYAN AT FL240 WINGS LEVEL OUTBOUND TCASII TA/RA COMMANDED CLB UP TO FL250. CTLR SAID T-38 AT FL230, NO FACTOR. TCASII SHOWED TFC 1200 FT BELOW WHEN WE WERE AT FL250, WHICH MEANS THERE WAS TFC AT FL238. OTHER TFC WAS HOLDING AT FL250 BUT WE NEVER SAW IT AND STARTED BACK TO FL240 AS SOON AS TA/RA ENDED. I HAVE A FEELING TCASII SAVED A VERY NEAR MID-AIR IN THIS CASE EVEN THOUGH THE CTLR DID NOT THINK SO. I SUGGEST STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY BE IMPLEMENTED TO CTLRS ON TCASII EVENTS. FOR EXAMPLE: ACR X TFC IS A T38, 1 MI, 10 O'CLOCK LEVELING FL230, IF TCASII TFC NOT IN SIGHT OR THE SIT DICTATES, COMPLETE MANEUVER AS REQUIRED, THEN RESUME FL240 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BE ADVISED OTHER ACFT HOLDING AT FL250 AND ABOVE.' I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CTLRS TRY TO CONVINCE ME I DIDN'T NEED TO HONOR TCASII. THEY NEED TO STOP QUESTIONING OUR ACTIONS DURING THIS CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT AND STATE ONLY ADVISORY INFO. BASICALLY TCASII IS A NUISANCE IN TERMINAL AREAS 99.9 PERCENT OF THE TIME. I THINK IT'S TIME YOU GUYS ADDRESS THIS PROB. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE TCASII CAUSES AN ACCIDENT IN A TERMINAL AREA. IT DOESN'T WORK WELL DUE TO THE RAPID CLB AND DSCNTS GOING ON BECAUSE FALSE ALERTS MUCH TOO OFTEN. YOU KNOW IT AND I KNOW IT. AND WE PLTS ARE TIRED OF HEARING BS ANSWERS TO THIS PROB. THE FACT IS, IT DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR THE AREA IT WAS DESIGNED MOST FOR. HOW MANY MILLIONS IS THIS COSTING THE PUBLIC?

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.