TCASII traffic alert approaching FL290 while climbing from FL230 to FL330.

Attributes
ACN	430845
Time
Date	199903
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gij.vortac
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc tower : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 167 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 745
ASRS Report	430845
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 2000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Departing east from ord at FL230, we contacted the high sector of ZAU on frequency 127.62. ZAU cleared us to climb to FL330. I repeated the cleared altitude, FL330, to ZAU. I set the cleared altitude in the MCP and advised the captain per company SOP, and the captain started the climb from FL230 to FL330. Approaching FL290, we received a traffic alert from the TCASII for a nwbound aircraft at FL310. The captain leveled off at FL290 and avoided the conflict by 2000 ft. The ZAU frequency was extremely congested. Obviously the controller was very busy. It took a few mins to be able to talk to the controller and get a reclrnc to climb.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII TFC ALERT APCHING FL290 WHILE CLBING FROM FL230 TO FL330.

Narrative: DEPARTING E FROM ORD AT FL230, WE CONTACTED THE HIGH SECTOR OF ZAU ON FREQ 127.62. ZAU CLRED US TO CLB TO FL330. I REPEATED THE CLRED ALT, FL330, TO ZAU. I SET THE CLRED ALT IN THE MCP AND ADVISED THE CAPT PER COMPANY SOP, AND THE CAPT STARTED THE CLB FROM FL230 TO FL330. APCHING FL290, WE RECEIVED A TFC ALERT FROM THE TCASII FOR A NWBOUND ACFT AT FL310. THE CAPT LEVELED OFF AT FL290 AND AVOIDED THE CONFLICT BY 2000 FT. THE ZAU FREQ WAS EXTREMELY CONGESTED. OBVIOUSLY THE CTLR WAS VERY BUSY. IT TOOK A FEW MINS TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE CTLR AND GET A RECLRNC TO CLB.

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.