Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
With MIA Center; climbing thru FL360 for FL380. Traffic displayed on TCAS at 1:00 heading directly toward us and descending toward our altitude. Flight crew inquired and ATC Controller advised 'There is no traffic'. Pilot Flying was hand flying and turned slightly north of course to increase spacing from TCAS displayed traffic. TCAS showed traffic passed approximately 3 miles from us on a Southeast course near our altitude. We did get visual on the traffic. Pilot Monitoring inquired again with ATC and was advised that traffic was beyond 5 miles. Our TCAS displayed well within 5 miles; near 3 miles. Our ground speed at the time was 471 KTS which would most likely be somewhere in excess of 900 KTS closure rate. I believe that if Pilot Flying had not turned away impact could have occurred. Suggestions; proficiency analysis on said Controller.
About 40 ESE of SRQ during climb from FL360 to FL380; as assigned by ATC; we received TA traffic. On TCAS traffic showed at our one o'clock; at our altitude; moving right to left. I was set at the 10 mile map mode on my navigation display. I inquired ATC about traffic at our altitude and he responded that we had no traffic ahead of us. We spotted the traffic and it had moved just to the left of our nose. Captain turned gently about 5 to 10 degrees right for a period of less than 20 seconds as aircraft passed. I inquired with ATC about the now sighted traffic again and he responded that traffic had required 5 mile separation. It appeared to the Captain and I that the aircraft was probably closer than 5 miles by sight and TCAS readout. We resumed normal course.
Air Carrier; with ZMA climbing to FL380; described a TCAS RA event; turning slightly from the observed traffic; the reporter noting that a certain impact would have occurred had not the turn been initiated.