How far ahead can you plan?
Last week, flying EGFF-EBBR, at about FL120 approaching Alvin, so not that long after take off, asked if we could make FL290 by CPT. We said yes, so cleared to FL290. Quite soon afterwards, told "at request of next sector, stop climb FL280", which we did.
When level at FL280, after about 3-4 minutes a plane flew across our track at FL 290 within a mile of us.
A few months earlier, coming back from EBBR, we had to descend before LAM. About 50 miles later, the same sort of thing happened. An aircraft flew right over the top of us.
My question is - the controller for the sector east of CPT, is their big picture so big that they could see that we would be causing a conflict, 80 miles or so before it happens, and before we are under their control, or is there some computer alert system.
I have heard of STACA, would this be a LTACA?
Thanks