TCASII RA to avoid VFR traffic at 6500 ft.

Attributes
ACN	185133
Time
Date	199107
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mlb
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	185133
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

In descent to mlb about 30 NM north, crew noticed conflicting traffic on TCAS. Crew in medium large transport on 170 degree vectors passing 7000 ft for 6000 ft. Traffic was 12 O'clock, 3 mi, 500 ft. Crew questioned ATC (orlando approach) about traffic and was informed it was VFR traffic 6500 ft. When we were at about 2 mi from traffic, 6700 ft descending, a traffic advisory was given by the TCAS. The copilot commenced hard right turn. Shortly thereafter an RA was given by TCAS which commanded a 3000 FPM descent. The copilot followed commands on TCAS as shown on vsi. When RA extinguished and traffic cleared, leveled aircraft at 5200 ft, then climbed back to assigned altitude of 6000 ft. The concern here is that ATC (orlando approach) did not call the traffic in the first place, and then when questioned by the crew about TCAS information, never gave any traffic clearance commands and never acted concerned. Without TCAS and prompt pilot actions, this could very well have been a midair. In fact, after the incident the controller did not act concerned.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII RA TO AVOID VFR TFC AT 6500 FT.

Narrative: IN DSCNT TO MLB ABOUT 30 NM N, CREW NOTICED CONFLICTING TFC ON TCAS. CREW IN MLG ON 170 DEG VECTORS PASSING 7000 FT FOR 6000 FT. TFC WAS 12 O'CLOCK, 3 MI, 500 FT. CREW QUESTIONED ATC (ORLANDO APCH) ABOUT TFC AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS VFR TFC 6500 FT. WHEN WE WERE AT ABOUT 2 MI FROM TFC, 6700 FT DSNDING, A TFC ADVISORY WAS GIVEN BY THE TCAS. THE COPLT COMMENCED HARD R TURN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER AN RA WAS GIVEN BY TCAS WHICH COMMANDED A 3000 FPM DSCNT. THE COPLT FOLLOWED COMMANDS ON TCAS AS SHOWN ON VSI. WHEN RA EXTINGUISHED AND TFC CLRED, LEVELED ACFT AT 5200 FT, THEN CLBED BACK TO ASSIGNED ALT OF 6000 FT. THE CONCERN HERE IS THAT ATC (ORLANDO APCH) DID NOT CALL THE TFC IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THEN WHEN QUESTIONED BY THE CREW ABOUT TCAS INFO, NEVER GAVE ANY TFC CLRNC COMMANDS AND NEVER ACTED CONCERNED. WITHOUT TCAS AND PROMPT PLT ACTIONS, THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN A MIDAIR. IN FACT, AFTER THE INCIDENT THE CTLR DID NOT ACT CONCERNED.

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.