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An MD88 captain reported that ATC advised him to climb through another aircraft's altitude while maintaining visual separation. As a result of complying with this directive, a series of RA's were experienced by both aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 450956 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199910 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | LA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16300 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-88 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | climbout : vacating altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 4500 |
| ASRS Report | 450956 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : separated traffic flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 5000 vertical : 700 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
During climb out of monroe, we were instructed to stop the climb at 16000 ft, due to traffic. At 16000 ft we received several TA's about the other aircraft at 17000 ft from the ATC controller. When both aircraft had each other in sight, ATC advised us to climb through the other aircraft's altitude to FL230 and to keep visual separation. When it appeared that the other aircraft would pass behind us, we started to climb. We immediately got a TA from the TCASII followed by an RA to stop climb then another RA to descend. We were only about 16300 ft when we decided to return to 16000 ft. Other aircraft advised of their TCASII activation. We advised ATC that climbing through their altitude was not a good idea. We were instructed to maintain 16000 ft at that time. Other aircraft remained at 17000 ft and passed behind us. I feel this type of clearance by ATC should not be used. It is very hard for 2 aircraft to judge closure rates. The controller has a much better picture than we do as pilots.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD88 CAPT RPTED THAT ATC ADVISED HIM TO CLB THROUGH ANOTHER ACFT'S ALT WHILE MAINTAINING VISUAL SEPARATION. AS A RESULT OF COMPLYING WITH THIS DIRECTIVE, A SERIES OF RA'S WERE EXPERIENCED BY BOTH ACFT.
Narrative: DURING CLBOUT OF MONROE, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO STOP THE CLB AT 16000 FT, DUE TO TFC. AT 16000 FT WE RECEIVED SEVERAL TA'S ABOUT THE OTHER ACFT AT 17000 FT FROM THE ATC CTLR. WHEN BOTH ACFT HAD EACH OTHER IN SIGHT, ATC ADVISED US TO CLB THROUGH THE OTHER ACFT'S ALT TO FL230 AND TO KEEP VISUAL SEPARATION. WHEN IT APPEARED THAT THE OTHER ACFT WOULD PASS BEHIND US, WE STARTED TO CLB. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT A TA FROM THE TCASII FOLLOWED BY AN RA TO STOP CLB THEN ANOTHER RA TO DSND. WE WERE ONLY ABOUT 16300 FT WHEN WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO 16000 FT. OTHER ACFT ADVISED OF THEIR TCASII ACTIVATION. WE ADVISED ATC THAT CLBING THROUGH THEIR ALT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 16000 FT AT THAT TIME. OTHER ACFT REMAINED AT 17000 FT AND PASSED BEHIND US. I FEEL THIS TYPE OF CLRNC BY ATC SHOULD NOT BE USED. IT IS VERY HARD FOR 2 ACFT TO JUDGE CLOSURE RATES. THE CTLR HAS A MUCH BETTER PICTURE THAN WE DO AS PLTS.
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.