ACFT HAS TCASII RA AT HIGH ALT.

Narrative

I WAS THE FO AND PF ACR FLT XY; A LOCKHEED L-1011-50 FROM JFK TO SJU ON JUL/XX/94. AFTER GIVING OUR POS RPT OVER PRISS AT FL290 ON A 523; WE REQUESTED A CLB TO ANY HIGHER ALT UP TO FL370. A FEW MINS LATER; NY ARINC RETURNED WITH A CLRNC FROM NY OCEANIC ATC TO: 'MAINTAIN FL290 TO LADUE; THEN CLB TO AND MAINTAIN FL370.' AFTER PASSING LADUE (CONFIRMED BY XING RADIAL/DME FROM BDA); I INITIATED A 1500 FPM CLB TO FL370 AND RPTED LEAVING FL290 TO ARINC. AFTER PASSING FL300 WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA WHICH QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO AN RA FROM A TARGET AHEAD AT FL310 OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND CLOSING. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSCNT BACK TO FL290. OUR CLOSEST POINT TO THE OTHER ACFT WAS 500 FT BELOW WITH 2-3 MI SEPARATION. WE WERE ABOUT 1000 FT BELOW WHEN WE PASSED. NY ARINC CONFIRMED OUR PREVIOUS CLRNC; THEN PATCHED US THROUGH TO ATC. ATC NOTED THE INCIDENT AND CLRED US TO MAINTAIN FL290 UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED BY ZSU. CAUSE: ATC CLRNC. SOLUTION: RADAR AND SATELLITE VHF COMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS OCEANIC RTE. SAFETY DEMANDS WE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FACILITIES. HF PATCH FROM ARINC TO ATC IS TOO SLOW AND SUBJECT TO ERRORS. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY.