Incident Overview
On 18 January 2025, at approximately 23:58 UTC, a Boeing 737-800, registration LV-KCE, operating as BONDI 5062 (FBZ 5062), experienced a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Resolution Advisory (RA) while climbing after departing from El Palomar Airport (SADP), Argentina, on a flight to Mendoza. The aircraft was following Standard Instrument Departure (SID) PALOMAR 9 with transition NEPIS. The incident involved a second Boeing 737-800, call sign DOMINICAN 6263 (DWI 6263), which was en route from Punta Cana to Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini Airport.
Sequence of Events
FBZ 5062 departed and was initially cleared to climb to Flight Level (FL) 050. After transfer to TMA BAIRES control, it was cleared to FL140 with restrictions due to other traffic. After the first turn of the SID, the crew requested and received approval to proceed direct to NEPIS. During climb, at approximately FL120, the crew reduced the rate of climb to 500 feet per minute to avoid potential traffic. Shortly after, the TCAS issued a Traffic Advisory (TA). At FL130, a Resolution Advisory activated with the command “LEVEL OFF, LEVEL OFF.” The crew executed the maneuver and stabilized the aircraft at FL128. Immediately thereafter, the converging aircraft crossed FBZ 5062’s path at FL140.
Radar data and communications indicated the following distances between the two aircraft:
- At 23:58:16, FBZ 5062 at FL116 was 7.4 nautical miles (NM) from DWI 6263 at FL133.
- At 23:58:36, FBZ 5062 at FL127 was 4.42 NM from DWI 6263 at FL136.
- At 23:58:56, FBZ 5062 at FL131 was 1.46 NM from DWI 6263 at FL139.
- At 23:58:59, FBZ 5062 at FL130 was 0.70 NM from DWI 6263 at FL140.
At 23:59:00, FBZ 5062 remained at FL130 with a horizontal distance of 0.70 NM and vertical separation of 1000 feet below DWI 6263, at which point the TCAS RA activated. The crew of FBZ 5062 executed an evasive maneuver in accordance with standard operating procedures. DWI 6263 did not register a TCAS RA and continued its planned climb.
Investigative Findings
The investigation, based on radar records, air traffic control communications, and operator-provided information, concluded that no imminent collision condition existed. The separations between the two aircraft remained within the margins established by the rules of the airspace in which the event occurred. No damage to either aircraft was reported.
Conclusion
The incident was classified as an occurrence without safety effect. The aircraft involved, LV-KCE, sustained no damage.