Narrative:

Flying eastbound on R577 at FL340. This is an east only route. On frequency 128.95 overheard comment about wrong-way traffic at FL340. Entered the radio conversation and was told unk aircraft crossed etnic, westbound, estimated FL340. Estimated we would meet traffic in 15 mins. Increased visibility watch and set radar for maximum return. Saw lights of unknown traffic to our north. Radar indicated traffic was 20 mi north of R577. Traffic appeared to be about our altitude (FL340), but uncertain at that distance. We announced our sighting on air-to-air (128.95) and advised ATC through hnl (HF radio)--and just when you thought it was safer over the water! Comments: 1) important to monitor air-to-air (and emergency) VHF frequencys and to evaluate whether or not reported situations are of concern to your own operation. 2) not certain, but I think that no other crew advised ATC of the situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN LEGAL SEPARATION ON OCEANIC TRACK TO HNL.

Narrative: FLYING EBND ON R577 AT FL340. THIS IS AN E ONLY RTE. ON FREQ 128.95 OVERHEARD COMMENT ABOUT WRONG-WAY TFC AT FL340. ENTERED THE RADIO CONVERSATION AND WAS TOLD UNK ACFT CROSSED ETNIC, WBND, ESTIMATED FL340. ESTIMATED WE WOULD MEET TFC IN 15 MINS. INCREASED VIS WATCH AND SET RADAR FOR MAX RETURN. SAW LIGHTS OF UNKNOWN TFC TO OUR N. RADAR INDICATED TFC WAS 20 MI N OF R577. TFC APPEARED TO BE ABOUT OUR ALT (FL340), BUT UNCERTAIN AT THAT DISTANCE. WE ANNOUNCED OUR SIGHTING ON AIR-TO-AIR (128.95) AND ADVISED ATC THROUGH HNL (HF RADIO)--AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFER OVER THE WATER! COMMENTS: 1) IMPORTANT TO MONITOR AIR-TO-AIR (AND EMER) VHF FREQS AND TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT RPTED SITUATIONS ARE OF CONCERN TO YOUR OWN OPERATION. 2) NOT CERTAIN, BUT I THINK THAT NO OTHER CREW ADVISED ATC OF THE SITUATION.

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.