Narrative:

RA during descent to FL270, for crossing 65 mi south of tvt at FL270. RA occurred at FL287. We leveled at FL280. Observed aircraft on TCASII and visually at FL270, 3 O'clock position, 3 mi. After clearing traffic and advising ATC of the RA, we were cleared to continue descent to FL270. Controller indicated that the FL270 traffic was in someone else's airspace, so there may have been a 'controller-to-controller' communication breakdown. We were unable to comply with crossing restr due to RA. Had we complied, we would have passed within 3 mi of opposite direction traffic at same altitude. (The TCASII system worked!) it was interesting, in this case, that when we received the initial clearance to cross 65 mi south of tvt, we were unclr of the clearance, so we queried the controller to reconfirm the clearance, which he did. Both the first officer and I confirmed with each other the clearance and confirmed the clearance in the FMC. Anyway, the controller didn't disagree with us when we asked him about the clearance to FL270, so he must have recognized his error. No further problems were noted.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B735 FLC INITIATE EVASIVE TCASII MANEUVER DUE TO OBSERVED TFC IN CONFLICT AT SAME ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: RA DURING DSCNT TO FL270, FOR XING 65 MI S OF TVT AT FL270. RA OCCURRED AT FL287. WE LEVELED AT FL280. OBSERVED ACFT ON TCASII AND VISUALLY AT FL270, 3 O'CLOCK POS, 3 MI. AFTER CLRING TFC AND ADVISING ATC OF THE RA, WE WERE CLRED TO CONTINUE DSCNT TO FL270. CTLR INDICATED THAT THE FL270 TFC WAS IN SOMEONE ELSE'S AIRSPACE, SO THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A 'CTLR-TO-CTLR' COM BREAKDOWN. WE WERE UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH XING RESTR DUE TO RA. HAD WE COMPLIED, WE WOULD HAVE PASSED WITHIN 3 MI OF OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC AT SAME ALT. (THE TCASII SYS WORKED!) IT WAS INTERESTING, IN THIS CASE, THAT WHEN WE RECEIVED THE INITIAL CLRNC TO CROSS 65 MI S OF TVT, WE WERE UNCLR OF THE CLRNC, SO WE QUERIED THE CTLR TO RECONFIRM THE CLRNC, WHICH HE DID. BOTH THE FO AND I CONFIRMED WITH EACH OTHER THE CLRNC AND CONFIRMED THE CLRNC IN THE FMC. ANYWAY, THE CTLR DIDN'T DISAGREE WITH US WHEN WE ASKED HIM ABOUT THE CLRNC TO FL270, SO HE MUST HAVE RECOGNIZED HIS ERROR. NO FURTHER PROBS WERE NOTED.

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.