It
looks like the AA pilot was right in that the LJ came within 300 feet,
but since they were both "seeing and avoiding", is that technically an
FAR violation?

No. Although you can still have a near miss if one of the pilots felt
the other got too close.

If I recall the recording correctly. didn't both aircraft have the other in
view? If so, then the MD80 was just as much at fault in the case of a near
miss?


i.e., was the controller still obligated to provide
separation?

None whatsoever.

That's why I'll only call traffic to ATC if I'm reasonably sure I'll *keep*
site of the traffic.

- Andrew