Narrative:

While approaching fll on the mrlin 4 STAR, south of tripl intersection, established on the vkz 029 degree radial, we received from ZMA a clearance to descend and maintain 11000 ft. I, the PNF, read the clearance back. Our next altitude assignment from ZMA was an amended altitude of FL180. I read back the clearance, level at FL180. The captain noted traffic at our altitude and closing on us (white TCASII symbol). Traffic became amber target, TA alert. Traffic became red target, RA alert. Captain responded to the alert and descended as directed by the TCASII. Simultaneously with our actions, ZMA issued an immediate descent to 11000 ft for traffic. I read back the clearance and reported our RA. Immediately following the above, ZMA controllers were switched. Male voice to female voice. I believe that there was training going on and the male was relieved by his superior, the female voice. The sector was extremely busy and the female ZMA controller did an outstanding job of handling our situation, the other airplane involved, and all the other aircraft she was responsible for. We thanked her and complimented her on a job well done. I truly believe that it is imperative that when altitudes are read back to center, if they are not correct or not read back at all or blocked, center must challenge us (the pilots). It is my suspicion that ZMA (male controller) blocked my transmission, my readback of FL180. With no response from center after my readback, I am sure my readbacks are correct -- just a thought.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DSNDING B737 EXPERIENCED RA WITH LEVEL TFC WHILE APPARENT ZMA CTLR TRAINING WAS IN PROGRESS.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING FLL ON THE MRLIN 4 STAR, S OF TRIPL INTXN, ESTABLISHED ON THE VKZ 029 DEG RADIAL, WE RECEIVED FROM ZMA A CLRNC TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 11000 FT. I, THE PNF, READ THE CLRNC BACK. OUR NEXT ALT ASSIGNMENT FROM ZMA WAS AN AMENDED ALT OF FL180. I READ BACK THE CLRNC, LEVEL AT FL180. THE CAPT NOTED TFC AT OUR ALT AND CLOSING ON US (WHITE TCASII SYMBOL). TFC BECAME AMBER TARGET, TA ALERT. TFC BECAME RED TARGET, RA ALERT. CAPT RESPONDED TO THE ALERT AND DSNDED AS DIRECTED BY THE TCASII. SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH OUR ACTIONS, ZMA ISSUED AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO 11000 FT FOR TFC. I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND RPTED OUR RA. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ABOVE, ZMA CTLRS WERE SWITCHED. MALE VOICE TO FEMALE VOICE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS TRAINING GOING ON AND THE MALE WAS RELIEVED BY HIS SUPERIOR, THE FEMALE VOICE. THE SECTOR WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND THE FEMALE ZMA CTLR DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF HANDLING OUR SIT, THE OTHER AIRPLANE INVOLVED, AND ALL THE OTHER ACFT SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR. WE THANKED HER AND COMPLIMENTED HER ON A JOB WELL DONE. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WHEN ALTS ARE READ BACK TO CTR, IF THEY ARE NOT CORRECT OR NOT READ BACK AT ALL OR BLOCKED, CTR MUST CHALLENGE US (THE PLTS). IT IS MY SUSPICION THAT ZMA (MALE CTLR) BLOCKED MY XMISSION, MY READBACK OF FL180. WITH NO RESPONSE FROM CTR AFTER MY READBACK, I AM SURE MY READBACKS ARE CORRECT -- JUST A THOUGHT.

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.