TRACON controller described a TCAS RA event after traffic separated by VFR requirements and having o...

Narrative:

A BE1900 was enroute. A helicopter was crossing northeast bound (right to left) at 105; VFR. Traffic was issued multiple times to the BE1900. The helicopter was being worked by an adjacent approach control. The developmental issued a 20 degree turn to the BE1900 to avoid the aircraft crossing and the potential for a TCAS event. The BE1900 could not hear the controller instructions over the TCAS alert in the cockpit. The BE1900 replied that they were responding to a TCAS RA and were climbing. The BE1900 climbed to approximately 115 before resuming ATC instructions. While TCAS is an extremely useful tool; the air carriers have to change their regulations whereby a pilot must comply with an RA; especially in instances where visual separation is being applied or when a controller has aircraft properly separated. This is an almost daily occurrence in our area. Further; TCAS equipment should never be so loud as to drown out a controller's instructions. This could have been a much worse event if circumstances were different.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACON Controller described a TCAS RA event after traffic separated by VFR requirements and having one another in sight took evasive action; the Controller questioning TCAS responses when involved traffic has one another in sight.

Narrative: A BE1900 was enroute. A helicopter was crossing northeast bound (right to left) at 105; VFR. Traffic was issued multiple times to the BE1900. The helicopter was being worked by an adjacent Approach Control. The Developmental issued a 20 degree turn to the BE1900 to avoid the aircraft crossing and the potential for a TCAS event. The BE1900 could not hear the Controller instructions over the TCAS Alert in the cockpit. The BE1900 replied that they were responding to a TCAS RA and were climbing. The BE1900 climbed to approximately 115 before resuming ATC instructions. While TCAS is an extremely useful tool; the air carriers have to change their regulations whereby a pilot must comply with an RA; especially in instances where visual separation is being applied or when a Controller has aircraft properly separated. This is an almost daily occurrence in our area. Further; TCAS equipment should never be so loud as to drown out a Controller's instructions. This could have been a much worse event if circumstances were different.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	997899
Time
Date	201203
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Departure Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude

TRACON controller described a TCAS RA event after traffic separated by VFR requirements and having one another in sight took evasive action; the controller questioning TCAS responses when involved traffic has one another in sight.