Narrative:

While en route to empty intersection on a phl-ind leg, indy center gave me descent instructions to flight level 310 from 330. While the first officer commenced a gradual descent to 310 I queried center regarding another aircraft I had visually at 11 O'clock and approximately 2 mi who appeared to be at flight level 310 by stating 'indy center, I assume that we have radar sep by you with the traffic I have at 11 O'clock.' a brief silence ensued followed by instructions to return immediately to FL330. No further reference was made by center of the incident. This all occurred on frequency 132.82.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN ACR AND ANOTHER IFR ACFT. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE TO EMPTY INTXN ON A PHL-IND LEG, INDY CENTER GAVE ME DSCNT INSTRUCTIONS TO FLT LEVEL 310 FROM 330. WHILE THE F/O COMMENCED A GRADUAL DSCNT TO 310 I QUERIED CENTER REGARDING ANOTHER ACFT I HAD VISUALLY AT 11 O'CLOCK AND APPROX 2 MI WHO APPEARED TO BE AT FLT LEVEL 310 BY STATING 'INDY CENTER, I ASSUME THAT WE HAVE RADAR SEP BY YOU WITH THE TFC I HAVE AT 11 O'CLOCK.' A BRIEF SILENCE ENSUED FOLLOWED BY INSTRUCTIONS TO RETURN IMMEDIATELY TO FL330. NO FURTHER REFERENCE WAS MADE BY CENTER OF THE INCIDENT. THIS ALL OCCURRED ON FREQ 132.82.

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