Air carrier widebody transport given higher altitude with conflicting traffic at same altitude on oceanic route resulting in less than standard separation.

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Attributes
ACN	90388
Time
Date	198807
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 34000 msl bound upper : 36000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : pacific enroute : other oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	90388
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 60000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

After passing anele (R463 to sfo) at 32000', we requested FL340. About amity we received clearance to FL340. As we were then light enough for 36000', we requested FL360. On reaching FL340 we received clearance to FL360 and climbed to 36000'. About absol we received clearance to descend immediately to FL340. Reaching FL340 widebody transport Y passed 1/2 mi right at 36000'. We had assumed since we were assigned 32000', a wbound altitude on R463, that due to some traffic blockage on R465, center was using all altitudes available on R463 regardless of normal flow direction and were surprised at how quickly we received clearance to FL360 (within 3 mins of request). Don't know what caused the lapse on the part of hnl center to have assigned 36000' to 2 aircraft. Glad they caught their error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB GIVEN HIGHER ALT WITH CONFLICTING TRAFFIC AT SAME ALT ON OCEANIC ROUTE RESULTING IN LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: AFTER PASSING ANELE (R463 TO SFO) AT 32000', WE REQUESTED FL340. ABOUT AMITY WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL340. AS WE WERE THEN LIGHT ENOUGH FOR 36000', WE REQUESTED FL360. ON REACHING FL340 WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL360 AND CLBED TO 36000'. ABOUT ABSOL WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND IMMEDIATELY TO FL340. REACHING FL340 WDB Y PASSED 1/2 MI RIGHT AT 36000'. WE HAD ASSUMED SINCE WE WERE ASSIGNED 32000', A WBOUND ALT ON R463, THAT DUE TO SOME TFC BLOCKAGE ON R465, CENTER WAS USING ALL ALTS AVAILABLE ON R463 REGARDLESS OF NORMAL FLOW DIRECTION AND WERE SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL360 (WITHIN 3 MINS OF REQUEST). DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE LAPSE ON THE PART OF HNL CENTER TO HAVE ASSIGNED 36000' TO 2 ACFT. GLAD THEY CAUGHT THEIR ERROR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.