Narrative:

We were departing jfk international airport, talking to new york departure at intermediate cruise altitude of 17000 ft when TCASII gave us an RA to descend to about 1500 FPM descent rate. I initiated descent and the TCASII readout said the traffic was plus 200 ft above us at 17000 ft. ATC said that there was VFR traffic in our vicinity. Unable to get prior approval for descent from ATC because of controller talking to other aircraft. I leveled off at 16000 ft and TCASII stopped giving RA. We told controller of our evasive action and descent to 16000 ft and that traffic conflict was over with. He acknowledged and gave us a further climb to 23000 ft (FL230). I paused at 16000 ft until traffic was 10 NM north of us, while we were on a southwest course. I then initiated further climb to our clearance altitude of FL230. No further conflicts noted. During the whole traffic conflict visual reference to the other aircraft was not obtained. I am very happy we had TCASII equipment on board!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB ACFT HAS TCASII RA AT INTERMEDIATE CRUISE.

Narrative: WE WERE DEPARTING JFK INTL ARPT, TALKING TO NEW YORK DEP AT INTERMEDIATE CRUISE ALT OF 17000 FT WHEN TCASII GAVE US AN RA TO DSND TO ABOUT 1500 FPM DSCNT RATE. I INITIATED DSCNT AND THE TCASII READOUT SAID THE TFC WAS PLUS 200 FT ABOVE US AT 17000 FT. ATC SAID THAT THERE WAS VFR TFC IN OUR VICINITY. UNABLE TO GET PRIOR APPROVAL FOR DSCNT FROM ATC BECAUSE OF CTLR TALKING TO OTHER ACFT. I LEVELED OFF AT 16000 FT AND TCASII STOPPED GIVING RA. WE TOLD CTLR OF OUR EVASIVE ACTION AND DSCNT TO 16000 FT AND THAT TFC CONFLICT WAS OVER WITH. HE ACKNOWLEDGED AND GAVE US A FURTHER CLB TO 23000 FT (FL230). I PAUSED AT 16000 FT UNTIL TFC WAS 10 NM N OF US, WHILE WE WERE ON A SW COURSE. I THEN INITIATED FURTHER CLB TO OUR CLRNC ALT OF FL230. NO FURTHER CONFLICTS NOTED. DURING THE WHOLE TFC CONFLICT VISUAL REF TO THE OTHER ACFT WAS NOT OBTAINED. I AM VERY HAPPY WE HAD TCASII EQUIP ON BOARD!

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.