Narrative:

While level at an intermediate altitude of 15;000 MSL ATC advised us of a saab 340 at 10 O'clock position at 15 miles. As the traffic came closer; we called the traffic in sight. The saab was assigned 16;000 MSL. The saab pilots also advised they had us in sight. The controller told us to maintain visual separation and cleared us to climb and maintain FL320. We initiated the climb and as we went through approximately 16;000 we received a RA. The vertical speed indicator showed a green band to approximately 500 ft per minute down and a red band up from 0 to a climb. Since we were already established in a climb between 1;500-2;000 FPM we believed we would be clearly above the traffic by the time we were near it. Visually; it appeared the saab was in level flight; but the closer we came to the traffic; it appeared the saab was climbing. (A few minutes after we passed the aircraft we found out they were climbing due to a RA). We never heard the saab pilots responding to an RA or a report of leaving their assigned altitude due to an RA on the radio with minneapolis center. Since we had the traffic in sight; we maintained visual contact and continued the climb while maintaining separation visually. I believed if we had complied with the TCAS instruction we would have put the aircraft in a 0 to negative G situation to avoid the traffic as well as put our aircraft at or close to their assigned altitude. The closest I saw the aircraft on TCAS was a vertical separation of 300 ft and outside the three NM band. Another thing I would like to point out: a few times when I looked at the TCAS it was difficult to see due to the sun shining on the display.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An MD80; cleared to climb while maintaining visual separation from a SAAB 340; triggered a TCAS RA with one another. The MD80 flight crew opted to disregard the TCAS descend command and; instead; tried to outclimb the SAAB which was; in turn; climbing in response to the RA.

Narrative: While level at an intermediate altitude of 15;000 MSL ATC advised us of a Saab 340 at 10 O'clock position at 15 miles. As the traffic came closer; we called the traffic in sight. The Saab was assigned 16;000 MSL. The Saab pilots also advised they had us in sight. The Controller told us to maintain visual separation and cleared us to climb and maintain FL320. We initiated the climb and as we went through approximately 16;000 we received a RA. The vertical speed indicator showed a green band to approximately 500 FT per minute down and a red band up from 0 to a climb. Since we were already established in a climb between 1;500-2;000 FPM we believed we would be clearly above the traffic by the time we were near it. Visually; it appeared the Saab was in level flight; but the closer we came to the traffic; it appeared the Saab was climbing. (A few minutes after we passed the aircraft we found out they were climbing due to a RA). We never heard the Saab pilots responding to an RA or a report of leaving their assigned altitude due to an RA on the radio with Minneapolis Center. Since we had the traffic in sight; we maintained visual contact and continued the climb while maintaining separation visually. I believed if we had complied with the TCAS instruction we would have put the aircraft in a 0 to negative G situation to avoid the traffic as well as put our aircraft at or close to their assigned altitude. The closest I saw the aircraft on TCAS was a vertical separation of 300 FT and outside the three NM band. Another thing I would like to point out: a few times when I looked at the TCAS it was difficult to see due to the sun shining on the display.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.