Narrative:

Departing buffalo runway 23 with a clearance to turn (left) to 180 degrees because of an air show approximately 5 mi west of buffalo. At 400 ft AGL we initiated a turn (to 180 degrees) and at 1000 ft AGL began flap retraction and accelerated at approximately 2600 ft MSL. TCASII indicated a TA and then (almost immediately thereafter) an RA (at 11 O'clock position and +500 ft) directing us to descend. We initiated an immediate descent, but stopped the descent at approximately 1600 ft MSL (900 ft AGL). TCASII was still directing a descent. We elected to turn west (230 degrees away from the traffic) because of our low altitude. ATC began to query us and directed us to climb and turn toward 180 degree heading. We initiated a slow climb (because of a pressurization problem, 'automatic fail' and then a 'pack fail'). On climb out and turn back toward 180 degrees a second TA appeared at approximately 3-4 mi and +700 ft. We asked ATC about the traffic and were told he did not show any traffic. We then initiated a left turn to avoid the traffic. The controllers attitude was cavalier and resistant to providing any relevant traffic information. After the second TA we initiated a turn (toward 180 degrees) and continued the climb. Summary: ATC was complacent about providing TA's and became a hindrance to resolving the problem. The TCASII worked well but needed intervention because we were close to the ground and in a turn.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-400 FLC RESPONDS TO TCASII RA WHILE DEPARTING BUF.

Narrative: DEPARTING BUFFALO RWY 23 WITH A CLRNC TO TURN (L) TO 180 DEGS BECAUSE OF AN AIR SHOW APPROX 5 MI W OF BUFFALO. AT 400 FT AGL WE INITIATED A TURN (TO 180 DEGS) AND AT 1000 FT AGL BEGAN FLAP RETRACTION AND ACCELERATED AT APPROX 2600 FT MSL. TCASII INDICATED A TA AND THEN (ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER) AN RA (AT 11 O'CLOCK POS AND +500 FT) DIRECTING US TO DSND. WE INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT, BUT STOPPED THE DSCNT AT APPROX 1600 FT MSL (900 FT AGL). TCASII WAS STILL DIRECTING A DSCNT. WE ELECTED TO TURN W (230 DEGS AWAY FROM THE TFC) BECAUSE OF OUR LOW ALT. ATC BEGAN TO QUERY US AND DIRECTED US TO CLB AND TURN TOWARD 180 DEG HDG. WE INITIATED A SLOW CLB (BECAUSE OF A PRESSURIZATION PROB, 'AUTO FAIL' AND THEN A 'PACK FAIL'). ON CLBOUT AND TURN BACK TOWARD 180 DEGS A SECOND TA APPEARED AT APPROX 3-4 MI AND +700 FT. WE ASKED ATC ABOUT THE TFC AND WERE TOLD HE DID NOT SHOW ANY TFC. WE THEN INITIATED A L TURN TO AVOID THE TFC. THE CTLRS ATTITUDE WAS CAVALIER AND RESISTANT TO PROVIDING ANY RELEVANT TFC INFO. AFTER THE SECOND TA WE INITIATED A TURN (TOWARD 180 DEGS) AND CONTINUED THE CLB. SUMMARY: ATC WAS COMPLACENT ABOUT PROVIDING TA'S AND BECAME A HINDRANCE TO RESOLVING THE PROB. THE TCASII WORKED WELL BUT NEEDED INTERVENTION BECAUSE WE WERE CLOSE TO THE GND AND IN A TURN.

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.