Narrative:

This is a resubmit due to internet problems. We decided to depart bmq VFR in VMC (clear and 10 mi visibility) and pick up our IFR clearance with ZHU during our climb. I was in the right seat (pilot monitoring) and the first officer was in the left seat (PF). After departing; we turned eastbound climbing. At approximately 5000 ft MSL; the first officer abruptly started to level off. A target had appeared on the TCAS and he felt that we would be too close to that aircraft. Very shortly after leveling off; the TCAS indicated that the other aircraft was at our altitude and closing. Almost immediately thereafter; we received a climb RA. I instructed the first officer to start an immediate climb as directed by the TCAS. We never saw the other aircraft but from the indication on the TCAS screen; we were very close. I contacted ZHU for our IFR clearance and heard another aircraft ask center if we were the aircraft that had departed bmq and passed off their left wing. Center told him that we were the aircraft that had departed bmq and that he was now in contact with us. I asked ZHU who the other aircraft was. He gave us their identify but I have been unable to locate the operator. ZHU also asked if we had received an RA; and I told center that we had. ZHU issued our IFR clearance and the flight continued without event. During the RA maneuver; my attention was directed outside the aircraft for a visual sighting and inside the aircraft to verify that the first officer was maintaining the required climb as directed by the TCAS. I noticed that the TCAS indicated that the other aircraft had zero (0) ft clearance and stayed that way for half the RA climb maneuver. At approximately +400-500 ft above the other aircraft; the RA ceased. The first officer told me that he heard that the other aircraft had reported that it too received an RA. In the last 12 yrs I have received a few RA's. Upon climbing or descending; the target aircraft almost immediately showed an increase in separation. Why this target appeared to have zero clearance throughout almost half the RA maneuver is confusing. I spoke with our chief pilot about the event and he said that this has happened in the past. His recommendation is that we try to receive our IFR clearance prior to departing in VMC. That may cause a delay due to communication logistics but could help prevent a similar event.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LIGHT TRANSPORT JET PILOT REPORTS A NEAR MISS AND A TCAS RA CLIMBING OUT OF BMQ AS RADIO CONTACT WAS BEING ESTABLISHED WITH ATC TO GET AN IFR CLEARANCE.

Narrative: THIS IS A RESUBMIT DUE TO INTERNET PROBS. WE DECIDED TO DEPART BMQ VFR IN VMC (CLEAR AND 10 MI VISIBILITY) AND PICK UP OUR IFR CLRNC WITH ZHU DURING OUR CLB. I WAS IN THE R SEAT (PLT MONITORING) AND THE FO WAS IN THE L SEAT (PF). AFTER DEPARTING; WE TURNED EBOUND CLBING. AT APPROX 5000 FT MSL; THE FO ABRUPTLY STARTED TO LEVEL OFF. A TARGET HAD APPEARED ON THE TCAS AND HE FELT THAT WE WOULD BE TOO CLOSE TO THAT ACFT. VERY SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF; THE TCAS INDICATED THAT THE OTHER ACFT WAS AT OUR ALT AND CLOSING. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER; WE RECEIVED A CLB RA. I INSTRUCTED THE FO TO START AN IMMEDIATE CLB AS DIRECTED BY THE TCAS. WE NEVER SAW THE OTHER ACFT BUT FROM THE INDICATION ON THE TCAS SCREEN; WE WERE VERY CLOSE. I CONTACTED ZHU FOR OUR IFR CLRNC AND HEARD ANOTHER ACFT ASK CTR IF WE WERE THE ACFT THAT HAD DEPARTED BMQ AND PASSED OFF THEIR L WING. CTR TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE THE ACFT THAT HAD DEPARTED BMQ AND THAT HE WAS NOW IN CONTACT WITH US. I ASKED ZHU WHO THE OTHER ACFT WAS. HE GAVE US THEIR IDENT BUT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE OPERATOR. ZHU ALSO ASKED IF WE HAD RECEIVED AN RA; AND I TOLD CTR THAT WE HAD. ZHU ISSUED OUR IFR CLRNC AND THE FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT EVENT. DURING THE RA MANEUVER; MY ATTN WAS DIRECTED OUTSIDE THE ACFT FOR A VISUAL SIGHTING AND INSIDE THE ACFT TO VERIFY THAT THE FO WAS MAINTAINING THE REQUIRED CLB AS DIRECTED BY THE TCAS. I NOTICED THAT THE TCAS INDICATED THAT THE OTHER ACFT HAD ZERO (0) FT CLRNC AND STAYED THAT WAY FOR HALF THE RA CLB MANEUVER. AT APPROX +400-500 FT ABOVE THE OTHER ACFT; THE RA CEASED. THE FO TOLD ME THAT HE HEARD THAT THE OTHER ACFT HAD RPTED THAT IT TOO RECEIVED AN RA. IN THE LAST 12 YRS I HAVE RECEIVED A FEW RA'S. UPON CLBING OR DSNDING; THE TARGET ACFT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SHOWED AN INCREASE IN SEPARATION. WHY THIS TARGET APPEARED TO HAVE ZERO CLRNC THROUGHOUT ALMOST HALF THE RA MANEUVER IS CONFUSING. I SPOKE WITH OUR CHIEF PLT ABOUT THE EVENT AND HE SAID THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. HIS RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE TRY TO RECEIVE OUR IFR CLRNC PRIOR TO DEPARTING IN VMC. THAT MAY CAUSE A DELAY DUE TO COM LOGISTICS BUT COULD HELP PREVENT A SIMILAR EVENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.