Aircraft has TCASII RA at high altitude.

Attributes
ACN	277679
Time
Date	199407
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bda
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30500 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011 Tri-Star All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute airway : a523
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	277679
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Operational Error

Narrative:

I was the first officer and PF air carrier flight xy, a lockheed L-1011-50 from jfk to sju on jul/xx/94. After giving our position report over priss at FL290 on a 523, we requested a climb to any higher altitude up to FL370. A few mins later, ny arinc returned with a clearance from ny oceanic ATC to: 'maintain FL290 to ladue, then climb to and maintain FL370.' after passing ladue (confirmed by crossing radial/DME from bda), I initiated a 1500 FPM climb to FL370 and reported leaving FL290 to arinc. After passing FL300 we received a TCASII TA which quickly progressed to an RA from a target ahead at FL310 opposite direction and closing. I immediately began a descent back to FL290. Our closest point to the other aircraft was 500 ft below with 2-3 mi separation. We were about 1000 ft below when we passed. Ny arinc confirmed our previous clearance, then patched us through to ATC. ATC noted the incident and cleared us to maintain FL290 until further advised by ZSU. Cause: ATC clearance. Solution: radar and satellite VHF communications are available on this oceanic route. Safety demands we have access to those facilities. HF patch from arinc to ATC is too slow and subject to errors. We need to communicate directly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT HAS TCASII RA AT HIGH ALT.

Narrative: I WAS THE FO AND PF ACR FLT XY, A LOCKHEED L-1011-50 FROM JFK TO SJU ON JUL/XX/94. AFTER GIVING OUR POS RPT OVER PRISS AT FL290 ON A 523, WE REQUESTED A CLB TO ANY HIGHER ALT UP TO FL370. A FEW MINS LATER, NY ARINC RETURNED WITH A CLRNC FROM NY OCEANIC ATC TO: 'MAINTAIN FL290 TO LADUE, THEN CLB TO AND MAINTAIN FL370.' AFTER PASSING LADUE (CONFIRMED BY XING RADIAL/DME FROM BDA), I INITIATED A 1500 FPM CLB TO FL370 AND RPTED LEAVING FL290 TO ARINC. AFTER PASSING FL300 WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA WHICH QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO AN RA FROM A TARGET AHEAD AT FL310 OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND CLOSING. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSCNT BACK TO FL290. OUR CLOSEST POINT TO THE OTHER ACFT WAS 500 FT BELOW WITH 2-3 MI SEPARATION. WE WERE ABOUT 1000 FT BELOW WHEN WE PASSED. NY ARINC CONFIRMED OUR PREVIOUS CLRNC, THEN PATCHED US THROUGH TO ATC. ATC NOTED THE INCIDENT AND CLRED US TO MAINTAIN FL290 UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED BY ZSU. CAUSE: ATC CLRNC. SOLUTION: RADAR AND SATELLITE VHF COMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS OCEANIC RTE. SAFETY DEMANDS WE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FACILITIES. HF PATCH FROM ARINC TO ATC IS TOO SLOW AND SUBJECT TO ERRORS. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY.

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.