Narrative:

Northeast of atl received clearance from ZTL to descend from FL330 to FL320 and make a 90 degree right turn. We asked for clarification of clearance because of the unusual altitude clearance, then while complying with clearance in the descent received TCASII hard RA to 'descend, descend,' expedited descent to FL320 while turing to right passed to left of what appeared to be a B757. TCASII and FMC printout indicated approximately 300 ft separation. Controller then cleared us back on course direct tar river and climb back to FL330. There were numerous aircraft in area holding for atl arrs while deviating for numerous thunderstorms, greatly increasing the workload and stress level of the controller working our sector. Did not appear to ever be a serious threat, but definitely a little too close for comfort.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLC WAS GIVEN A DSCNT TO 32000 FT MSL AND A 90 DEG TURN NEAR ATL AND RECEIVED A TCASII RA.

Narrative: NE OF ATL RECEIVED CLRNC FROM ZTL TO DSND FROM FL330 TO FL320 AND MAKE A 90 DEG R TURN. WE ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION OF CLRNC BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL ALT CLRNC, THEN WHILE COMPLYING WITH CLRNC IN THE DSCNT RECEIVED TCASII HARD RA TO 'DSND, DSND,' EXPEDITED DSCNT TO FL320 WHILE TURING TO R PASSED TO L OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A B757. TCASII AND FMC PRINTOUT INDICATED APPROX 300 FT SEPARATION. CTLR THEN CLRED US BACK ON COURSE DIRECT TAR RIVER AND CLB BACK TO FL330. THERE WERE NUMEROUS ACFT IN AREA HOLDING FOR ATL ARRS WHILE DEVIATING FOR NUMEROUS TSTMS, GREATLY INCREASING THE WORKLOAD AND STRESS LEVEL OF THE CTLR WORKING OUR SECTOR. DID NOT APPEAR TO EVER BE A SERIOUS THREAT, BUT DEFINITELY A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.

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.