B737 captain reported receiving a TA at FL340 while on an ATC vector in the vicinity of ewc.

Attributes
ACN	1420347
Time
Date	201701
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZAU.ARTCC
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Type 333
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict

Narrative:

We were climbing to our cruise altitude of FL350. We were in contact with chicago center. Passing through FL330; chicago told us to stop the climb and level off at FL340 for traffic. We were then given a heading of 140 degrees. I would estimate that we were given direct ewc maybe no more than 60 seconds following the vector; and we proceeded on course. Another minute or so after this; we were given a heading of 180 degrees; approximately 90 degrees off course; and then told to make a 'tight turn.' I immediately complied and banked 30 degrees. On my navigation display I saw an intruder target at our altitude; in a climb; that very quickly became a yellow TA alert with its audible 'traffic; traffic' alert. In retrospect; I could not say how distant the aircraft was; but would guess 5-10 miles away. I could see the lights of the other aircraft through the windshield. I prepared for an RA resolution; but the RA never materialized; and the TCAS symbol changed to a non-threat. The aircraft had now climbed 1000 feet above our altitude; and we were once again cleared direct to ewc. Shortly after this; we were cleared to FL350.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reported receiving a TA at FL340 while on an ATC vector in the vicinity of EWC.

Narrative: We were climbing to our cruise altitude of FL350. We were in contact with Chicago Center. Passing through FL330; Chicago told us to stop the climb and level off at FL340 for traffic. We were then given a heading of 140 degrees. I would estimate that we were given direct EWC maybe no more than 60 seconds following the vector; and we proceeded on course. Another minute or so after this; we were given a heading of 180 degrees; approximately 90 degrees off course; and then told to make a 'tight turn.' I immediately complied and banked 30 degrees. On my navigation display I saw an intruder target at our altitude; in a climb; that very quickly became a yellow TA alert with its audible 'traffic; traffic' alert. In retrospect; I could not say how distant the aircraft was; but would guess 5-10 miles away. I could see the lights of the other aircraft through the windshield. I prepared for an RA resolution; but the RA never materialized; and the TCAS symbol changed to a non-threat. The aircraft had now climbed 1000 feet above our altitude; and we were once again cleared direct to EWC. Shortly after this; we were cleared to FL350.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.