Narrative:

We intercepted ILS runway 23 localizer at 12 mi with a descent clearance from 5000 ft to 3000 ft. At 3950 ft, approach directed us to stop at 4000 ft. I stopped the descent and returned to 4000 ft. A supervisor came on the frequency and directed a turn to 180 degrees and requested an expedited descent to 2300 ft. I initiated the turn, then received a TCASII RA to climb reference traffic showing '00' altitude difference within the 2 mi circle of the TCASII display. Due to the conflicting directions from the controller and the TCASII, I responded aggressively to the TCASII RA. We were then resequenced for the approach and landed. The TCASII had been showing the conflicting target but we never received a TCASII TA prior to the TCASII RA. The initial controller never pointed out the conflicting traffic to us but had been spending a lot of time and xmissions directing him. With the onset of the TCASII RA and the sense of urgency in the supervisor's voice, I felt a need to respond more aggressively than was comfortable for the passenger and cabin crew. I am still surprised at how quickly the situation seemed to deteriorate given the information available and attention being paid by myself and the first officer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 INITIATES EVASIVE MANEUVER DUE TO TCASII RA FOR NON ISSUED TFC WHILE BEING VECTORED TO THE BHM ILS RWY 23 FINAL APCH COURSE.

Narrative: WE INTERCEPTED ILS RWY 23 LOC AT 12 MI WITH A DSCNT CLRNC FROM 5000 FT TO 3000 FT. AT 3950 FT, APCH DIRECTED US TO STOP AT 4000 FT. I STOPPED THE DSCNT AND RETURNED TO 4000 FT. A SUPVR CAME ON THE FREQ AND DIRECTED A TURN TO 180 DEGS AND REQUESTED AN EXPEDITED DSCNT TO 2300 FT. I INITIATED THE TURN, THEN RECEIVED A TCASII RA TO CLB REF TFC SHOWING '00' ALT DIFFERENCE WITHIN THE 2 MI CIRCLE OF THE TCASII DISPLAY. DUE TO THE CONFLICTING DIRECTIONS FROM THE CTLR AND THE TCASII, I RESPONDED AGGRESSIVELY TO THE TCASII RA. WE WERE THEN RESEQUENCED FOR THE APCH AND LANDED. THE TCASII HAD BEEN SHOWING THE CONFLICTING TARGET BUT WE NEVER RECEIVED A TCASII TA PRIOR TO THE TCASII RA. THE INITIAL CTLR NEVER POINTED OUT THE CONFLICTING TFC TO US BUT HAD BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND XMISSIONS DIRECTING HIM. WITH THE ONSET OF THE TCASII RA AND THE SENSE OF URGENCY IN THE SUPVR'S VOICE, I FELT A NEED TO RESPOND MORE AGGRESSIVELY THAN WAS COMFORTABLE FOR THE PAX AND CABIN CREW. I AM STILL SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY THE SIT SEEMED TO DETERIORATE GIVEN THE INFO AVAILABLE AND ATTN BEING PAID BY MYSELF AND THE FO.

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.