Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Confusion; Distraction; Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
We saw a small Cessna sized GA plane approaching us from the south. Just as ATC was advising us of the plane; we got a TA followed immediately by an RA to climb. I clicked off the autopilot and tried to follow the TCAS advisory on the PFD but was unable to see the advisory because of sun glare off my white uniform shirt reflecting a very bright setting sun. The glare in the PFD was so bright I could not make out the Vertical Speed Red Advisory indication so I simply pulled back to effect a climb and disconnected the autothrottles and added power. My First Officer communicated with ATC that we were in a TCAS climb. We were soon clear of conflict but I still was unable to clearly see my PFD and as we started the recovery; the plane dipped below and crossing altitude for ESDEE by 400 FT.
An air carrier Captain flying a PHX arrival into the sun followed a TCAS RA climb; but because of his white shirt's glare in the PFD; was unable to see the Vertical Speed TCAS advisory and so executed an escape maneuver to assure separation.