Air carrier flight crew received a TCASII RA and responded.

Attributes
ACN	308500
Time
Date	199506
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : air
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 23000 flight time type : 5200
ASRS Report	308500
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were en route from cmh to phl. We got about 30 mi east of bellaire when ZOB advised us that they were holding for arrival at phl. He sent us back to 'air' to hold west on J-80 at FL330 with right turns. In the second turn outbound we got an RA on TCASII which announced 'climb, climb.' we began an immediate climb to FL335. At that point TCASII announced clear of conflict and we descended back to FL330. At that point the controller asked us if we were level at FL330 and we replied with an affirmative, however, we received an RA and climbed to FL335. Neither the captain nor myself saw the actual aircraft in view. We only saw him on TCASII at the same altitude. Reason for conflict in my opinion is that the ATC controller seemed very busy with other aircraft that were deviating for WX and other aircraft that were holding ahead of us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC RECEIVED A TCASII RA AND RESPONDED.

Narrative: WE WERE ENRTE FROM CMH TO PHL. WE GOT ABOUT 30 MI E OF BELLAIRE WHEN ZOB ADVISED US THAT THEY WERE HOLDING FOR ARR AT PHL. HE SENT US BACK TO 'AIR' TO HOLD W ON J-80 AT FL330 WITH R TURNS. IN THE SECOND TURN OUTBOUND WE GOT AN RA ON TCASII WHICH ANNOUNCED 'CLB, CLB.' WE BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO FL335. AT THAT POINT TCASII ANNOUNCED CLR OF CONFLICT AND WE DSNDED BACK TO FL330. AT THAT POINT THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE WERE LEVEL AT FL330 AND WE REPLIED WITH AN AFFIRMATIVE, HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED AN RA AND CLBED TO FL335. NEITHER THE CAPT NOR MYSELF SAW THE ACTUAL ACFT IN VIEW. WE ONLY SAW HIM ON TCASII AT THE SAME ALT. REASON FOR CONFLICT IN MY OPINION IS THAT THE ATC CTLR SEEMED VERY BUSY WITH OTHER ACFT THAT WERE DEVIATING FOR WX AND OTHER ACFT THAT WERE HOLDING AHEAD OF US.

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.