Narrative:

I was PF. We were at FL310; cleared direct to rwf. Earlier; we had asked for FL330; and the controller said they had to make some coords. About 10 mins later; we were cleared to FL330. With the autoplt on; I rolled the trim for a climb. As we started to climb; I looked down at the TCAS and saw a plane indicating 900 ft above us. I looked ahead; and saw the navigation lights of a plane coming directly at us. I initiated a descent just as the TCAS gave an audible 'traffic...traffic' alert. We were almost back down to FL310 when the aircraft crossed over us. This whole incident took only 15-20 seconds or so. No RA was issued. I asked ATC if they had the traffic that had crossed overhead. She said 'yes.' we heard another voice on the frequency (I assume the other plane) say 'thanks guys.' once we were clear of the traffic; we were again cleared to FL330.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 FLT CREW WAS ISSUED A CLB INTO OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC.

Narrative: I WAS PF. WE WERE AT FL310; CLRED DIRECT TO RWF. EARLIER; WE HAD ASKED FOR FL330; AND THE CTLR SAID THEY HAD TO MAKE SOME COORDS. ABOUT 10 MINS LATER; WE WERE CLRED TO FL330. WITH THE AUTOPLT ON; I ROLLED THE TRIM FOR A CLB. AS WE STARTED TO CLB; I LOOKED DOWN AT THE TCAS AND SAW A PLANE INDICATING 900 FT ABOVE US. I LOOKED AHEAD; AND SAW THE NAV LIGHTS OF A PLANE COMING DIRECTLY AT US. I INITIATED A DSCNT JUST AS THE TCAS GAVE AN AUDIBLE 'TFC...TFC' ALERT. WE WERE ALMOST BACK DOWN TO FL310 WHEN THE ACFT CROSSED OVER US. THIS WHOLE INCIDENT TOOK ONLY 15-20 SECONDS OR SO. NO RA WAS ISSUED. I ASKED ATC IF THEY HAD THE TFC THAT HAD CROSSED OVERHEAD. SHE SAID 'YES.' WE HEARD ANOTHER VOICE ON THE FREQ (I ASSUME THE OTHER PLANE) SAY 'THANKS GUYS.' ONCE WE WERE CLR OF THE TFC; WE WERE AGAIN CLRED TO FL330.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.