An IFR B737 responded to a 'climb' RA when passing over VFR traffic previously pointed out by ATC as...

Attributes
ACN	887930
Time
Date	201005
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SAT.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	STAR MARCS 9
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 164
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 156
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC
Miss Distance	Horizontal 0 Vertical 400

Narrative:

On the marcs 9 arrival into sat; ATC called out traffic that was at about our 2 o'clock at 5500 MSL. We were level at 6000 MSL. We were westbound on the arrival with a low sun angle and haze making visual identification very difficult. We identified the target on TCAS and it appeared to be 500 ft below our altitude. As the target neared us; it appeared it would pass directly underneath us. As our flight paths crossed; TCAS showed the traffic at 400 ft below us resulting in a RA to climb; which we immediately did. As we climbed approximately 300 ft; the TCAS stopped commanding a climb and shortly after that announced clear of conflict. ATC was notified immediately as we began the RA. The controller responded; 'yeah that was the traffic I have been telling you about for almost five miles.' he was almost inferring that we didn't need to climb for a resolution. We returned to our assigned altitude and resumed the arrival.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An IFR B737 responded to a 'climb' RA when passing over VFR traffic previously pointed out by ATC as being 500 FT below them. The Controller expressed umbrage as to the flight crew's response to the RA.

Narrative: On the MARCS 9 Arrival into SAT; ATC called out traffic that was at about our 2 o'clock at 5500 MSL. We were level at 6000 MSL. We were westbound on the arrival with a low sun angle and haze making visual identification very difficult. We identified the target on TCAS and it appeared to be 500 FT below our altitude. As the target neared us; it appeared it would pass directly underneath us. As our flight paths crossed; TCAS showed the traffic at 400 FT below us resulting in a RA to climb; which we immediately did. As we climbed approximately 300 FT; the TCAS stopped commanding a climb and shortly after that announced clear of conflict. ATC was notified immediately as we began the RA. The Controller responded; 'Yeah that was the traffic I have been telling you about for almost five miles.' He was almost inferring that we didn't need to climb for a resolution. We returned to our assigned altitude and resumed the arrival.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

An IFR B737 responded to a 'climb' RA when passing over VFR traffic previously pointed out by ATC as being 500 ft below them. The controller expressed umbrage as to the flight crew's response to the RA.