A ZSE controller described a TCAS RA event after both aircraft were issued traffic information and v...

Narrative:

A dash 8 was northbound from sea to canada level at 12;000. An A6 departs nuw southeast bound climbing to 9;000 requesting FL230. I climbed the A6 to 11;000 and told him about his traffic and told the dash 8 about his traffic. The A6 then said he has traffic in sight. I ask if he could maintain visual separation from that traffic; and he said yes and that he would offset to the east. I told him to maintain visual separation from the dash 8; climb and maintain FL230. Then I told the dash 8 that the A6 was maintaining visual separation from him and will be climbing through his altitude. The dash 8 subsequently responds to an RA and climbed; the aircraft pass; and the dash 8 returned to his previously cleared altitude. It would be nice if companies didn't insist that their pilots always respond to an RA in controlled situations when the aircraft are known.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A ZSE Controller described a TCAS RA event after both aircraft were issued traffic information and visual separation was initiated. The reporter indicated TCAS response requirements do not match up with ATC rules.

Narrative: A Dash 8 was northbound from SEA to Canada level at 12;000. An A6 departs NUW southeast bound climbing to 9;000 requesting FL230. I climbed the A6 to 11;000 and told him about his traffic and told the Dash 8 about his traffic. The A6 then said he has traffic in sight. I ask if he could maintain visual separation from that traffic; and he said yes and that he would offset to the east. I told him to maintain visual separation from the Dash 8; climb and maintain FL230. Then I told the Dash 8 that the A6 was maintaining visual separation from him and will be climbing through his altitude. The Dash 8 subsequently responds to an RA and climbed; the aircraft pass; and the Dash 8 returned to his previously cleared altitude. It would be nice if companies didn't insist that their pilots always respond to an RA in controlled situations when the aircraft are known.

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.

Attributes
ACN	923789
Time
Date	201012
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZSE.ARTCC
State Reference	WA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Intruder (A6)
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

A ZSE controller described a TCAS RA event after both aircraft were issued traffic information and visual separation was initiated. The reporter indicated TCAS response requirements do not match up with ATC rules.