MD80 crew ignored a TCASII RA, because the conflicting aircraft was in sight.

Attributes
ACN	624260
Time
Date	200407
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	624260
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	624262
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued advisory flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were on a northerly vector (position ord 100 degree radial, 20 DME) toward the final approach course for runway 27L at ord. We were notified of traffic off to our left. We then received a TCASII TA. I looked to our left and saw traffic at or slightly below our altitude, heading toward us (constant bearing, decreasing range) and climbing. We then received 'climb, RA.' however, we could see the other airplane clearly and it was the opinion of both the captain and myself that complying with the climb RA would have compromised the safe operation of the flight, so we maintained our altitude at 7000 ft. We then received a 'descend' RA and we commenced a descent. We then received a 'monitor vertical speed,' RA showing red for any climb, and a green arc for a gradual descent. We told ATC that we were descending and at approximately 6800 ft we were cleared to 6000 ft. We then received a 'clear of conflict' message from the TCASII. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. Supplemental information from acn 624262: approach pointed out traffic at 10 O'clock position climbing -- has you in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW IGNORED A TCASII RA, BECAUSE THE CONFLICTING ACFT WAS IN SIGHT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A NORTHERLY VECTOR (POS ORD 100 DEG RADIAL, 20 DME) TOWARD THE FINAL APCH COURSE FOR RWY 27L AT ORD. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF TFC OFF TO OUR L. WE THEN RECEIVED A TCASII TA. I LOOKED TO OUR L AND SAW TFC AT OR SLIGHTLY BELOW OUR ALT, HEADING TOWARD US (CONSTANT BEARING, DECREASING RANGE) AND CLBING. WE THEN RECEIVED 'CLB, RA.' HOWEVER, WE COULD SEE THE OTHER AIRPLANE CLEARLY AND IT WAS THE OPINION OF BOTH THE CAPT AND MYSELF THAT COMPLYING WITH THE CLB RA WOULD HAVE COMPROMISED THE SAFE OP OF THE FLT, SO WE MAINTAINED OUR ALT AT 7000 FT. WE THEN RECEIVED A 'DSND' RA AND WE COMMENCED A DSCNT. WE THEN RECEIVED A 'MONITOR VERT SPD,' RA SHOWING RED FOR ANY CLB, AND A GREEN ARC FOR A GRADUAL DSCNT. WE TOLD ATC THAT WE WERE DSNDING AND AT APPROX 6800 FT WE WERE CLRED TO 6000 FT. WE THEN RECEIVED A 'CLR OF CONFLICT' MESSAGE FROM THE TCASII. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 624262: APCH POINTED OUT TFC AT 10 O'CLOCK POS CLBING -- HAS YOU IN SIGHT.

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.