FLC OF AN SMT JET FAILED TO MAKE ALT TIME RESTR DUE TO LACK OF ACFT PERFORMANCE OR PLT TECHNIQUE IN OPERATING THE ACFT.

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WE WERE LEVEL AT FL290; AN INTERMEDIATE ALT; WHEN CTR CLRED US TO FL330; PROVIDED WE COULD MAKE IT IN 2 MINS. AS SECOND IN COMMAND; AND PNF; I ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL AND REPEATED THE DATA TO THE CAPT; ADDING A STATEMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT WE'D HAVE TO DO SOME SERIOUS CLBING TO MAKE 4000 FT IN 2 MINS. I EXPECTED THE CAPT TO COME BACK WITH A REJECTION OF THE CLRNC; BUT INSTEAD HE INDICATED WE COULD MAKE IT. EXERCISING MY INQUIRY SKILLS; I SAID IN EFFECT THAT A PRETTY HEFTY CLB RATE WOULD BE NEEDED FOR 4000 FT IN 2 MINS; BUT HE AGAIN SAID NO SWEAT. I THOUGHT PERHAPS HE WAS PLANNING TO PULL THE NOSE UP; USE MAX PWR; AND ZOOM CLB. CTR CALLED AGAIN CONFIRMING THE CLB AND I ACKNOWLEDGED THE 2 MIN RESTR. BY NOW; WE HAD CLBED THROUGH ABOUT FL310; AND I INDICATED WITH THAT WITH LESS THAN A MIN TO GO; WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE FL330. AT THAT TIME THE CAPT REALIZED THE SIT AND AGREED THAT WE COULD NOT MAKE THE RESTR. HE THOUGHT WE HAD 10 MINS; NOT 2; TO MAKE THE CLB. I QUICKLY TOLD CTR THAT WE COULD NOT COMPLY AND NEEDED A VECTOR FOR THE XING TFC. CTR IMMEDIATELY GAVE US A TURN OF 30 DEGS L AND TOLD US TO DO THE BEST WE COULD ON THE CLB. ABOUT THAT TIME; THE CONFLICTING TFC CALLED LEVEL AT FL290; HAVING BEEN IN A DSCNT. ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER WE WERE PASSING FL320 WHEN THE TFC WENT DIRECTLY UNDER US; WITH 3000 FT SEPARATION. SINCE THE STANDARD FOR SEPARATION ABOVE FL290 IS 4000 FT; I ASSUME SOME TYPE OF 'VIOLATION' OCCURRED. THE CTLR THANKED THE AIRLINE CREW FOR THEIR HELP; WITH AN APPARENT SIGH OF RELIEF. HE MENTIONED NOTHING TO US ABOUT A PROB. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE COCKPIT RESOURCE MGMNT WORK; BUT MISUNDERSTANDINGS STILL OCCUR. THE CAPT THOUGHT HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE THE CLB RESTR; AND I THOUGHT MY STATEMENTS ABOUT THE UNLIKELIHOOD OF MAKING THE RESTRS WERE PRETTY CLR. I SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE STATED UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT 'WE CANNOT MAKE 4000 FT IN 2 MINS; RECOMMEND WE REJECT THE CLRNC.'