Narrative:

We had been given 220 degree heading by departure to intercept col 350 degree radial, flight plan climb to 10000 ft (from 6000 ft). First officer flying aircraft. I was heads down to look up col frequency for manual set up to intercept and we got flight director flag. I was resetting and as we climbed through 7000 ft, ATC asked what was our altitude. I said 7000 ft for 10000 ft. He said expedite back to 6000 ft, left turn to 140 degrees, traffic 12 O'clock, 4 mi descending to 7000 ft. I took control of aircraft closed throttles, disconnected automatic throttle, extended speed brake, turned aircraft. Because of the great speed brake on this aircraft. We were back at 6000 ft in about 15 seconds and we saw, the traffic above us about 1 mi away. We never received a TCASII alert, probably because we were in climb and traffic was north a descent and we were several mi apart when ATC alertly called us and made the changes. Also note the 10000 ft clearance and 220 degree heading, were given by another frequency! I would like to see all standard departures from major airports put on the sids, i.e., this 350 degree radial from col seems to be a common intercept point from ewr area south but it is not on the SID and with EFIS cockpit if it's not put in before takeoff, one must take several steps to find frequencys and enter (which distracts both pilots until entries are complete).

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING CLBOUT ATC CTLR INSTRUCTED AN MLG FLC TO MAKE A RAPID DSCNT AND TURN TO AVOID ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: WE HAD BEEN GIVEN 220 DEG HDG BY DEP TO INTERCEPT COL 350 DEG RADIAL, FLT PLAN CLB TO 10000 FT (FROM 6000 FT). FO FLYING ACFT. I WAS HEADS DOWN TO LOOK UP COL FREQ FOR MANUAL SET UP TO INTERCEPT AND WE GOT FLT DIRECTOR FLAG. I WAS RESETTING AND AS WE CLBED THROUGH 7000 FT, ATC ASKED WHAT WAS OUR ALT. I SAID 7000 FT FOR 10000 FT. HE SAID EXPEDITE BACK TO 6000 FT, L TURN TO 140 DEGS, TFC 12 O'CLOCK, 4 MI DSNDING TO 7000 FT. I TOOK CTL OF ACFT CLOSED THROTTLES, DISCONNECTED AUTO THROTTLE, EXTENDED SPD BRAKE, TURNED ACFT. BECAUSE OF THE GREAT SPD BRAKE ON THIS ACFT. WE WERE BACK AT 6000 FT IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND WE SAW, THE TFC ABOVE US ABOUT 1 MI AWAY. WE NEVER RECEIVED A TCASII ALERT, PROBABLY BECAUSE WE WERE IN CLB AND TFC WAS N A DSCNT AND WE WERE SEVERAL MI APART WHEN ATC ALERTLY CALLED US AND MADE THE CHANGES. ALSO NOTE THE 10000 FT CLRNC AND 220 DEG HDG, WERE GIVEN BY ANOTHER FREQ! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL STANDARD DEPS FROM MAJOR ARPTS PUT ON THE SIDS, I.E., THIS 350 DEG RADIAL FROM COL SEEMS TO BE A COMMON INTERCEPT POINT FROM EWR AREA S BUT IT IS NOT ON THE SID AND WITH EFIS COCKPIT IF IT'S NOT PUT IN BEFORE TKOF, ONE MUST TAKE SEVERAL STEPS TO FIND FREQS AND ENTER (WHICH DISTRACTS BOTH PLTS UNTIL ENTRIES ARE COMPLETE).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.