International B727-200 crew responded to TCASII RA at FL290.

Attributes
ACN	433206
Time
Date	199904
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : alb.vortac
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : eduu.artcc
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	433206
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While on a heading of approximately 110 degrees and at FL290, I heard 2 radio xmissions that were unreadable. A third transmission was barely readable, and it was instructions from the controller to turn 20 degrees left. At that time, TCASII issued a TA and immediately afterwards an RA to 'descend, descend now.' a descent was begun, and at FL285 the TCASII commanded 'monitor vertical speed' and then 'clear of conflict.' these events were immediately reported to the controller and the aircraft was returned to FL290. In my opinion, language was not the problem. I think poor equipment used by the controller or improper use of the ground equipment made the transmission unreadable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INTL B727-200 CREW RESPONDED TO TCASII RA AT FL290.

Narrative: WHILE ON A HDG OF APPROX 110 DEGS AND AT FL290, I HEARD 2 RADIO XMISSIONS THAT WERE UNREADABLE. A THIRD XMISSION WAS BARELY READABLE, AND IT WAS INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE CTLR TO TURN 20 DEGS L. AT THAT TIME, TCASII ISSUED A TA AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS AN RA TO 'DSND, DSND NOW.' A DSCNT WAS BEGUN, AND AT FL285 THE TCASII COMMANDED 'MONITOR VERT SPD' AND THEN 'CLR OF CONFLICT.' THESE EVENTS WERE IMMEDIATELY RPTED TO THE CTLR AND THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO FL290. IN MY OPINION, LANGUAGE WAS NOT THE PROB. I THINK POOR EQUIP USED BY THE CTLR OR IMPROPER USE OF THE GND EQUIP MADE THE XMISSION UNREADABLE.

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.