FK100 flight crew responds to TCASII RA while descending into clt.

Attributes
ACN	441888
Time
Date	199907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : shine
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tower : egcc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : shine
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	441888
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Airspace Structure

Narrative:

Air carrier flight abc descending into clt on shine arrival (departed from bna). Center cleared us to cross shine at 11000 ft and 250 KTS. Crossing traffic at 12 O'clock resulted in center having us level off at 15000 ft. Level at 15000 ft, we spotted the other airplane and told the controller. She told us to continue the descent to cross shine at 11000 ft (and I think something like 'keeping the other airplane in sight'). At 14000 ft descending (approximately), a TA popped up at 12 O'clock. The PNF queried the controller about it just as we got the 'climb, climb' RA. I disengaged the autoplt and started the climb as the controller stated 'that's VFR traffic at 13500 ft.' (I've got news for the FAA, ATC, and everyone else on the ground: the VFR targets count too!) how can center hold us to allow 1 target to safely pass (the IFR one), and then when we spot him, have us descend through the altitude of another target (the VFR one) that only she knew about? Not to mention that our attention was directed to the first (IFR) target passing off our right, and away from the VFR target at 12 O'clock. Unacceptable! TCASII saved us!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FK100 FLC RESPONDS TO TCASII RA WHILE DSNDING INTO CLT.

Narrative: ACR FLT ABC DSNDING INTO CLT ON SHINE ARR (DEPARTED FROM BNA). CTR CLRED US TO CROSS SHINE AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS. XING TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK RESULTED IN CTR HAVING US LEVEL OFF AT 15000 FT. LEVEL AT 15000 FT, WE SPOTTED THE OTHER AIRPLANE AND TOLD THE CTLR. SHE TOLD US TO CONTINUE THE DSCNT TO CROSS SHINE AT 11000 FT (AND I THINK SOMETHING LIKE 'KEEPING THE OTHER AIRPLANE IN SIGHT'). AT 14000 FT DSNDING (APPROX), A TA POPPED UP AT 12 O'CLOCK. THE PNF QUERIED THE CTLR ABOUT IT JUST AS WE GOT THE 'CLB, CLB' RA. I DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND STARTED THE CLB AS THE CTLR STATED 'THAT'S VFR TFC AT 13500 FT.' (I'VE GOT NEWS FOR THE FAA, ATC, AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE GND: THE VFR TARGETS COUNT TOO!) HOW CAN CTR HOLD US TO ALLOW 1 TARGET TO SAFELY PASS (THE IFR ONE), AND THEN WHEN WE SPOT HIM, HAVE US DSND THROUGH THE ALT OF ANOTHER TARGET (THE VFR ONE) THAT ONLY SHE KNEW ABOUT? NOT TO MENTION THAT OUR ATTN WAS DIRECTED TO THE FIRST (IFR) TARGET PASSING OFF OUR R, AND AWAY FROM THE VFR TARGET AT 12 O'CLOCK. UNACCEPTABLE! TCASII SAVED US!

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.