CRJ200 Flight Crew reported traffic conflict during initial climb required evasive action to avoid. The Flight Crew stopped their climb until the traffic passed; then resumed normal operations.
Synopsis
CRJ200 Flight Crew reported traffic conflict during initial climb required evasive action to avoid. The Flight Crew stopped their climb until the traffic passed; then resumed normal operations.
Narrative
Our flight departed from the airport and we were climbing via runway heading as we checked in with our Center controller. He asked if we were on course and I; as Pilot Monitoring; replied back saying we were on runway heading but could be on course if he wanted. He then cleared us direct to a fix on our flight plan. We had previously been told about this traffic at 4;000 ft. and I mentioned about the traffic to my First Officer who was Pilot Flying as we saw him on TCAS. Center said once we are clear of the traffic he will be able to clear us to a higher altitude. As we turned on course direct to our fix; this put us directly aligned with our opposite Cessna traffic. My First Officer was hand flying and we were IMC as I was finishing the after take-off check. We start to level off at 3;000 ft. just as we come within a couple miles of our traffic when I see that the traffic is about 700 ft. above us and descending. We immediately get a 'traffic; traffic' aural sound followed by 'Descend; descend'. We initiate the descent; with me noting our traffic for a split second was 400 ft. above us before returning to a higher number. The Cessna pilot on frequency said; 'That was really close! I informed Center we had an RA with that traffic and we were returning to 3;000 ft. Center replied back saying thanks and we would get higher altitude shortly. Center had verified with the Cessna traffic that they were at 4;000 ft. which the Cessna replied back saying they were. We got handed off to a different frequency and continued our flight to our destination. The main cause of this event was the other traffic not maintaining their assigned altitude. As we were climbing on runway heading I had noticed this traffic on TCAS. When ATC cleared us on course direct to X fix; I noted that this would put us near that traffic. Looking back at the flight; we could have delayed our turn on course with ATC to provide better separation with them."
Second reporter narrative
Our flight departed from ZZZ Runway XX (Used to be YY) as we were climbing via runway heading as we checked in with our Center controller. He asked if we were on course and the Pilot Monitoring replied back saying we were on runway heading but could be on course if he wanted. ATC then cleared us direct to our first fix; ZZZZZ; on our flight plan. We had previously been told about this traffic at 4;000 ft. and saw him on our TCAS. Center said once we are clear of the traffic he will be able to clear us to a higher altitude. As I began a right turn to ZZZZZ we were passing through 2;000 ft.; turned on course direct to our fix; this put us directly aligned with our opposite Cessna traffic. We were IMC as I had already called for climb sequence and the 'after take-off check'. We started to level off at 3;000 ft. just as we come within a couple miles of our traffic when the CP mentioned the traffic was no longer at 4000 ft.; in a decent about 700 ft. above us. We immediately get a 'traffic; traffic' aural sound followed by 'Descend; descend'. We initiate the descent; with me noting our traffic for a split second was 400 ft. above us before returning to a higher number. The Cessna pilot on frequency said; 'That was really close! I informed Center we had an RA with that traffic and we were returning to 3;000 ft. Center replied back saying thanks and we would get higher altitude shortly. Center had verified with the Cessna traffic that they were at 4;000 ft. which the Cessna replied back saying they were. We got handed off to a different frequency and continued our flight to our destination.The main cause of this event was the other traffic not maintaining their assigned altitude. We should have declined the turn and I; as the Pilot Flying; should have refused the turn even after we said we would start the turn. I could have gotten the power back to slow our climb given the situation was moving fast. By simply reducing speed and rate of climb the situation would have been much less hectic and may have even avoided the RA all together."
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.