B737-300
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 205
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Human Factors
After takeoff Departure Control gave us a north northwest left turn heading and clearance to climb to 17;000 FT. While in the climb; I noticed an incoming aircraft at a higher altitude and approximately out of 7;000 FT; we got a TCAS TA. I transmitted on VHF number one that I had the aircraft in sight. After my transmission; we received a descending TCAS RA and Departure Control asked us to stop the climb and level at 8;000 FT. By the time ATC had finished this transmission; we were passing approximately 8;800 FT. We complied with the TCAS RA first until we heard the clear of conflict voice from the TCAS system and then complied with ATC instructions. Later on; I inquired about our previous climbing clearance and she stated that she did not recall giving us a clearance to climb and that there was no problem because there was never a loss of separation between the aircraft. To this I replied to her that we both heard the climbing clearance and replied back with the climbing clearance to 17;000 FT. From the point of view from the cockpit; it appeared that there could have been a lateral loss of separation between the two aircraft had we not called the traffic in sight and complied with TCAS RA.
B737 Captain reports being given a heading and cleared to 17;000 FT by Departure Control after takeoff. Passing 7;000 FT a TCAS TA is followed quickly by an RA. ATC indicates that a clearance to 17;000 FT was never issued.