TCASII ATC traffic conflict.

Attributes
ACN	307102
Time
Date	199506
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pmd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17500 msl bound upper : 17500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	307102
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 10000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We had departed burbank for slc on the van nuys 7 departure. We were cleared up to FL190 and cleared to intercept the 038 degree radial off palmdale. Then we were given a frequency change from socal departure to ZLA. I switched frequencys and called receiving no answer. Right at that moment a target appeared on TCASII at about our 11 O'clock and 5 mi at 17500 ft. We were at 17000 ft climbing. I advised my first officer who was flying to be ready for an evasive maneuver. Sure enough TCASII said climb climb. So we began a climbing right turn and I switched back to socal who at that very instant was sounding very stressed while sending us back to ZLA. Switching back to center we finally got him. He stated he had been trying to contact, us and because he couldn't, he had to turn the other traffic. He asked if we had TCASII and if we had begun evasive maneuvers. He seemed quite upset. I do not know how much time elapsed from the 1ST frequency change until we finally talked to ZLA but it sure seems to me that if I'm cleared up to 19000 ft why is he letting somebody down in front of me until we have established communication. Possibly the other traffic was VFR. TCASII is a great tool.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII ATC TFC CONFLICT.

Narrative: WE HAD DEPARTED BURBANK FOR SLC ON THE VAN NUYS 7 DEP. WE WERE CLRED UP TO FL190 AND CLRED TO INTERCEPT THE 038 DEG RADIAL OFF PALMDALE. THEN WE WERE GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE FROM SOCAL DEP TO ZLA. I SWITCHED FREQS AND CALLED RECEIVING NO ANSWER. RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT A TARGET APPEARED ON TCASII AT ABOUT OUR 11 O'CLOCK AND 5 MI AT 17500 FT. WE WERE AT 17000 FT CLBING. I ADVISED MY FO WHO WAS FLYING TO BE READY FOR AN EVASIVE MANEUVER. SURE ENOUGH TCASII SAID CLB CLB. SO WE BEGAN A CLBING R TURN AND I SWITCHED BACK TO SOCAL WHO AT THAT VERY INSTANT WAS SOUNDING VERY STRESSED WHILE SENDING US BACK TO ZLA. SWITCHING BACK TO CTR WE FINALLY GOT HIM. HE STATED HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT, US AND BECAUSE HE COULDN'T, HE HAD TO TURN THE OTHER TFC. HE ASKED IF WE HAD TCASII AND IF WE HAD BEGUN EVASIVE MANEUVERS. HE SEEMED QUITE UPSET. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH TIME ELAPSED FROM THE 1ST FREQ CHANGE UNTIL WE FINALLY TALKED TO ZLA BUT IT SURE SEEMS TO ME THAT IF I'M CLRED UP TO 19000 FT WHY IS HE LETTING SOMEBODY DOWN IN FRONT OF ME UNTIL WE HAVE ESTABLISHED COM. POSSIBLY THE OTHER TFC WAS VFR. TCASII IS A GREAT TOOL.

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.