CLOSE ENCOUNTER FOR FRT SMT X DEPARTING PLB AND MLG Y IN TFC PATTERN AT PBG.

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I WAS IN SMT X DEPARTING PLB ON RWY 19. AFTER TKOF I CONTACTED PBG TWR TO REQUEST CLB. CLRNC ON COURSE TO ALBANY THROUGH THEIR ATA. TWR ADVISED MLT Y ON XWIND FOR RWY 17 AND ASKED IF I HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. I ADVISED PBG TWR I HAD THE TFC. PBG TWR ADVISED VFR CLBOUT APPROVED. AT THIS POINT I BEGAN A CLB FROM 1200 MSL TO MY CRUISING ALT OF 6500 FT. AT 1500 FT I NOTICED THE MLT Y MAKING HIS DOWNWIND TURN DIRECTLY AT ME; A LITTLE TO MY R. AT THIS POINT THERE WAS ABOUT 3 MI SEPARATION BTWN ACFT. I ELECTED TO CONTINUE MY CLB BELIEVING THAT WAS THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION. THE TWR WAS COMMUNICATING WITH THE MLT Y ON UHF SO I COULD NOT HEAR THE TANKER PLT. THE LAST TFC CALL THE TWR MADE TO THE MLT Y WAS; 'TFC 1 O'CLOCK 1 1/2 MI; THROUGH 2000.' AT THIS TIME I WAS THROUGH 2100 FT AND WAS SAFELY ABOVE THE TANKER. WHEN HE PASSED OFF MY R WING I WAS THROUGH 2300 FT AND CLBING. SOME FACTORS THAT MAKE THIS SITUATION HAZARDOUS: CONFLICT OF OPPOSING COURSES; PBG DOWNWIND AND PLB RWY 19 STRAIGHT OUT DEP. SEPARATE RADIO FREQS; PBG IS UHF; PLB IS VHF.