A300
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 113; Flight Crew Total 15000
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
During descent into the Tower Controlled Airspace (TCA) from the east; our clearance was to maintain 10;000 FT and a heading of 255 degrees. Level at 10;000 FT; we were asked to visually identify Learjet traffic at our 2 o'clock position. The Lear was at 9;000 FT and on ATC vectors heading southbound. We saw the Learjet on the TCAS at approximately our 2 o'clock position and 6 miles and started to acquire the traffic visually. As the Lear traffic approached our position; now 2 o'clock and three miles the Lear traffic called us insight; followed by Approach Control clearing them to climb through our altitude and to maintain visual separation with us. Instantly we were on high alert because this seemed like a conflicting clearance. As the Lear started to climb and rapidly approached our position/altitude; our TCAS commanded an RA CLIMB at 2;500 FT/minute. The First Officer had the traffic insight and realized that IF he followed the TCAS it would very likely cause a midair collision or near miss situation with the Lear traffic. When the Captain realized the close proximity of the traffic; he agreed with the pilot flying; (First Officer) in maintaining level flight at 10;000 FT. The Learjet climbed over us and came dangerously close. As the Lear climbed through 10;000 FT our TCAS then gave us a reversal- RA DESCEND. When I alerted ATC to our RA CLIMB/DESCEND he replied; 'You were to maintain visual separation with that traffic.' To which I replied; 'I NEVER called the traffic insight!' His reply was; 'it only takes one aircraft to call visual separation.' Ultimately; this was a situation that was induced by Approach Control and then aggravated by the Learjet crew. Airport traffic was light in the TCA and if ATC would have waited another minute or so; before climbing the Lear traffic; there would not have been a separation conflict.
Air Carrier described a TCAS RA between himself and a Lear who was reportedly maintaining Visual Separation with him.