Narrative:

A departure controller issued a climb clearance for us that would have had us climb through the assigned altitude and flight path of approaching opposite direction aircraft. During climb after takeoff in a non-radar environment; the departure controller issued us an initial level-off altitude due to inbound opposite direction aircraft; with which we complied. The other aircraft was level 1000 feet above our altitude; and we eventually saw them on TCAS. While we were still closing on the oncoming traffic; the controller gave us a clearance to climb through the altitude and flight path of the opposite direction aircraft!! Because we could see them on TCAS; I rejected the climb clearance and questioned the departure controller about it. The controller apparently switched the other aircraft to another frequency early because they had lost track of their actual position. Within 15 to 20 seconds we visually acquired the opposite direction traffic. Had we blindly accepted the climb clearance it would have been close! There was quite a bit of traffic inbound and outbound. They could use more and better resources; and perhaps better training.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported refusing a climb clearance issued by ATC due to conflicting traffic displayed on TCAS.

Narrative: A Departure controller issued a climb clearance for us that would have had us climb through the assigned altitude and flight path of approaching opposite direction aircraft. During climb after takeoff in a non-radar environment; the departure controller issued us an initial level-off altitude due to inbound opposite direction aircraft; with which we complied. The other aircraft was level 1000 feet above our altitude; and we eventually saw them on TCAS. While we were still closing on the oncoming traffic; the Controller gave us a clearance to CLIMB THROUGH THE ALTITUDE AND FLIGHT PATH of the opposite direction aircraft!! Because we could see them on TCAS; I rejected the climb clearance and questioned the Departure Controller about it. The Controller apparently switched the other aircraft to another frequency early because they had lost track of their actual position. Within 15 to 20 seconds we visually acquired the opposite direction traffic. Had we blindly accepted the climb clearance it would have been close! There was quite a bit of traffic inbound and outbound. They could use more and better resources; and perhaps better training.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.