Narrative:

We were cleared to 5000 ft. Just as we set 5000 ft in window, TA sounded. I (PNF) looked out window after glancing at TCASII screen. I saw traffic that mcguire alerted us about. He was 1000 ft lower. I looked back at TCASII screen and saw another aircraft approaching 2 mi ring, same altitude. I noticed copilot still level at 3000 ft while he was looking out window. Autoplt was engaged, so I 'touch control system'ed' a right turn away from target, and started climb knowing situation. The target entered the ring triggering RA 'descend, descend.' just as I leveled off, about to descend, I saw traffic off to the left, and I continued right turn. The RA stopped, we continued the climb to 5000 ft. We did know of the second aircraft causing RA. With type ii TCASII, RA's are climb or descend commands only. When given an RA, one is supposed to do exactly what is said, be it 'descend' or 'climb.' options should be available to the pilot to make lateral turns based on pictorial representation on the TCASII screen. When conflicting aircraft is seen left or right, a simple turn the other way will resolve situation, unless closure rate dictate otherwise. However, type ii doesn't compute lateral closure rates so the 'climb' or 'descend' command must be adhered to. Sometimes an initial turn will cancel the 'climb' or 'descend' command if the vertical closure rate is then computed not to be a threat. If the turn does not cancel the vertical commands, as long as the 'climb' or 'descend' is complied with, no harm done. In short, if a correct turn is made initially with the 'climb' or 'descend,' it may cancel the necessity to continue further with the altitude deviation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DH8C CREW HAD TCASII RA IN WRI CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO 5000 FT. JUST AS WE SET 5000 FT IN WINDOW, TA SOUNDED. I (PNF) LOOKED OUT WINDOW AFTER GLANCING AT TCASII SCREEN. I SAW TFC THAT MCGUIRE ALERTED US ABOUT. HE WAS 1000 FT LOWER. I LOOKED BACK AT TCASII SCREEN AND SAW ANOTHER ACFT APCHING 2 MI RING, SAME ALT. I NOTICED COPLT STILL LEVEL AT 3000 FT WHILE HE WAS LOOKING OUT WINDOW. AUTOPLT WAS ENGAGED, SO I 'TOUCH CTL SYS'ED' A R TURN AWAY FROM TARGET, AND STARTED CLB KNOWING SIT. THE TARGET ENTERED THE RING TRIGGERING RA 'DSND, DSND.' JUST AS I LEVELED OFF, ABOUT TO DSND, I SAW TFC OFF TO THE L, AND I CONTINUED R TURN. THE RA STOPPED, WE CONTINUED THE CLB TO 5000 FT. WE DID KNOW OF THE SECOND ACFT CAUSING RA. WITH TYPE II TCASII, RA'S ARE CLB OR DSND COMMANDS ONLY. WHEN GIVEN AN RA, ONE IS SUPPOSED TO DO EXACTLY WHAT IS SAID, BE IT 'DSND' OR 'CLB.' OPTIONS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE PLT TO MAKE LATERAL TURNS BASED ON PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION ON THE TCASII SCREEN. WHEN CONFLICTING ACFT IS SEEN L OR R, A SIMPLE TURN THE OTHER WAY WILL RESOLVE SIT, UNLESS CLOSURE RATE DICTATE OTHERWISE. HOWEVER, TYPE II DOESN'T COMPUTE LATERAL CLOSURE RATES SO THE 'CLB' OR 'DSND' COMMAND MUST BE ADHERED TO. SOMETIMES AN INITIAL TURN WILL CANCEL THE 'CLB' OR 'DSND' COMMAND IF THE VERT CLOSURE RATE IS THEN COMPUTED NOT TO BE A THREAT. IF THE TURN DOES NOT CANCEL THE VERT COMMANDS, AS LONG AS THE 'CLB' OR 'DSND' IS COMPLIED WITH, NO HARM DONE. IN SHORT, IF A CORRECT TURN IS MADE INITIALLY WITH THE 'CLB' OR 'DSND,' IT MAY CANCEL THE NECESSITY TO CONTINUE FURTHER WITH THE ALTDEV.

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.