Narrative:

Received a TCAS advisory at FL310, southbound over anali intersection, havana fir. Initial indication was a TA of opposite direction traffic at 12 O clock 15 miles at plus 100 ft. This was followed by an right/a to descend at 1500 to 2000 FPM. RA was complied with to FL299 and other aircraft was sighted visually as it was passing above. After returning to FL310 it was confirmed by other aircraft that they were also cleared at FL310. They also received an RA and complied by climbing to FL320. During the RA maneuver, havana issued a turn for us to heading 150 - current heading was about 220 - but we were already complying with TCAS maneuver. We saw him pass overhead at FL320 when we reached FL299 with very little course separation the phrase 'radar contact' used to be reassuring, now 'TCAS test ok' is even better. While climbing on UG765 we were handed off from merida center to havana center. Havana center was very difficult to understand. We had to ask havana to repeat the clearance several times. The first officer and I both have experience working in mexican and cuban airspace and we both looked to each other for any understanding. After the third read back we both heard what sounded like, maintain FL310 and turn left to 020 degrees. I read back in slow, clear english 'maintain FL310 and turn left to 020 degrees.' if that was not what havana wanted they should have called us back. We turned and leveled off. After a short period the TCAS gave us a resolution alert and we were told to climb. We climbed to about 32500 ft as the target went by to the right of us on TCAS. We started back down to FL310 when havana called us back and cleared us to FL330. That was the end of the event.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION DC9 AT FL310 ON UG765 IN MUFH AIRSPACE TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO RESOLVE CONFLICT.

Narrative: RECEIVED A TCAS ADVISORY AT FL310, SOUTHBOUND OVER ANALI INTERSECTION, HAVANA FIR. INITIAL INDICATION WAS A TA OF OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC AT 12 O CLOCK 15 MILES AT PLUS 100 FT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY AN R/A TO DESCEND AT 1500 TO 2000 FPM. RA WAS COMPLIED WITH TO FL299 AND OTHER ACFT WAS SIGHTED VISUALLY AS IT WAS PASSING ABOVE. AFTER RETURNING TO FL310 IT WAS CONFIRMED BY OTHER ACFT THAT THEY WERE ALSO CLEARED AT FL310. THEY ALSO RECEIVED AN RA AND COMPLIED BY CLIMBING TO FL320. DURING THE RA MANEUVER, HAVANA ISSUED A TURN FOR US TO HDG 150 - CURRENT HEADING WAS ABOUT 220 - BUT WE WERE ALREADY COMPLYING WITH TCAS MANEUVER. WE SAW HIM PASS OVERHEAD AT FL320 WHEN WE REACHED FL299 WITH VERY LITTLE COURSE SEPARATION THE PHRASE 'RADAR CONTACT' USED TO BE REASSURING, NOW 'TCAS TEST OK' IS EVEN BETTER. WHILE CLIMBING ON UG765 WE WERE HANDED OFF FROM MERIDA CENTER TO HAVANA CENTER. HAVANA CENTER WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. WE HAD TO ASK HAVANA TO REPEAT THE CLEARANCE SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST OFFICER AND I BOTH HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING IN MEXICAN AND CUBAN AIRSPACE AND WE BOTH LOOKED TO EACH OTHER FOR ANY UNDERSTANDING. AFTER THE THIRD READ BACK WE BOTH HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE, MAINTAIN FL310 AND TURN LEFT TO 020 DEGREES. I READ BACK IN SLOW, CLEAR ENGLISH 'MAINTAIN FL310 AND TURN LEFT TO 020 DEGREES.' IF THAT WAS NOT WHAT HAVANA WANTED THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED US BACK. WE TURNED AND LEVELED OFF. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD THE TCAS GAVE US A RESOLUTION ALERT AND WE WERE TOLD TO CLIMB. WE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 32500 FT AS THE TARGET WENT BY TO THE RIGHT OF US ON TCAS. WE STARTED BACK DOWN TO FL310 WHEN HAVANA CALLED US BACK AND CLEARED US TO FL330. THAT WAS THE END OF THE EVENT.

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.