Widebody transport aircraft at cruise sights opposite direction traffic, TCASII activates.

Attributes
ACN	317203
Time
Date	199509
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : miq
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : svzm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : atlantic enroute : other oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute : other oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	317203
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 50
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While in cruise FL350 approximately 20 NM south of miq VOR, observed lights of opposite direction aircraft. Noted on TCASII that he was climbing through FL341. Started right turn, shortly afterwards, received a TA followed by an RA shortly thereafter. Oncoming aircraft leveled at FL345 and started descent. Notified miq center of conflict at which point other aircraft idented themselves as air carrier Y. Miq center stated that air carrier Y was supposed to be at FL330. Air carrier Y declared they had been cleared to FL350 and had confirmed it with miq. Miq center stated that there should have been 20 NM separation. Never request a wrong way altitude in central and south america, they just might give it to you.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB ACFT AT CRUISE SIGHTS OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC, TCASII ACTIVATES.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FL350 APPROX 20 NM S OF MIQ VOR, OBSERVED LIGHTS OF OPPOSITE DIRECTION ACFT. NOTED ON TCASII THAT HE WAS CLBING THROUGH FL341. STARTED R TURN, SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, RECEIVED A TA FOLLOWED BY AN RA SHORTLY THEREAFTER. ONCOMING ACFT LEVELED AT FL345 AND STARTED DSCNT. NOTIFIED MIQ CTR OF CONFLICT AT WHICH POINT OTHER ACFT IDENTED THEMSELVES AS ACR Y. MIQ CTR STATED THAT ACR Y WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT FL330. ACR Y DECLARED THEY HAD BEEN CLRED TO FL350 AND HAD CONFIRMED IT WITH MIQ. MIQ CTR STATED THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 20 NM SEPARATION. NEVER REQUEST A WRONG WAY ALT IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, THEY JUST MIGHT GIVE IT TO YOU.

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.