Narrative:

We received a TCASII 'traffic' call. The target was 20 mi at our 11 O'clock position, 500 ft below, indicating a climb. We then received an 'RA' to 'climb.' as we followed SOP's, the target constantly indicated 500 ft below. We leveled at FL285 per 'RA' commands. Traffic passed level at FL280, a KC135 with 4 F16's in trail. The tanker was within 2 mi, the F16's all appeared to be 500 ft below, at FL280. We reported the 'RA' to a bewildered ZKC on frequency 132.25. Captain also spoke with mci watch supervisor and dispatch. Supplemental information from acn 589391: we began looking for the traffic and I was waiting to break in on the radio to inquire about it when the traffic alert turned into a resolution alert, initially commanding a 2000 FPM rate of climb. When clear of the conflict, we returned to FL280. When the whole picture became clear, we realized that a tanker was opposite direction to us at virtually the same altitude. I asked ATC if we were 'in a refueling track or something.' after a slight hesitation, the answer was 'altrev' followed by a traffic alert call. I estimated the closest point of passage to be approximately 500 ft vertically and 2-3 mi horizontally. The TCASII system worked and we responded as we've been trained.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW INITIATE TCASII MANEUVER DUE TO OPPOSITE DIRECTION K35A TANKER AND FIGHTER AT FL280 UNDER ZKC CTL. CTLR ERROR ADMITTED.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED A TCASII 'TFC' CALL. THE TARGET WAS 20 MI AT OUR 11 O'CLOCK POS, 500 FT BELOW, INDICATING A CLB. WE THEN RECEIVED AN 'RA' TO 'CLB.' AS WE FOLLOWED SOP'S, THE TARGET CONSTANTLY INDICATED 500 FT BELOW. WE LEVELED AT FL285 PER 'RA' COMMANDS. TFC PASSED LEVEL AT FL280, A KC135 WITH 4 F16'S IN TRAIL. THE TANKER WAS WITHIN 2 MI, THE F16'S ALL APPEARED TO BE 500 FT BELOW, AT FL280. WE RPTED THE 'RA' TO A BEWILDERED ZKC ON FREQ 132.25. CAPT ALSO SPOKE WITH MCI WATCH SUPVR AND DISPATCH. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 589391: WE BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE TFC AND I WAS WAITING TO BREAK IN ON THE RADIO TO INQUIRE ABOUT IT WHEN THE TFC ALERT TURNED INTO A RESOLUTION ALERT, INITIALLY COMMANDING A 2000 FPM RATE OF CLB. WHEN CLR OF THE CONFLICT, WE RETURNED TO FL280. WHEN THE WHOLE PICTURE BECAME CLR, WE REALIZED THAT A TANKER WAS OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO US AT VIRTUALLY THE SAME ALT. I ASKED ATC IF WE WERE 'IN A REFUELING TRACK OR SOMETHING.' AFTER A SLIGHT HESITATION, THE ANSWER WAS 'ALTREV' FOLLOWED BY A TFC ALERT CALL. I ESTIMATED THE CLOSEST POINT OF PASSAGE TO BE APPROX 500 FT VERTLY AND 2-3 MI HORIZLY. THE TCASII SYS WORKED AND WE RESPONDED AS WE'VE BEEN TRAINED.

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.