ZME controller turns E145 flight crew as they receive a TCASII TA with another air carrier.

Attributes
ACN	499570
Time
Date	200101
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 135 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	499570
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

The controller gave us a descent clearance to leave FL350, to be at or below FL290 within 5 mins. The first officer was flying and he set up a 1500 FPM descent. Passing through FL300, about 4 mins later, we got a TCASII TA and the controller had us turn left. We saw the traffic and no evasive maneuvers were required. I am not sure if minimum separation criteria was compromised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZME CTLR TURNS E145 FLC AS THEY RECEIVE A TCASII TA WITH ANOTHER ACR.

Narrative: THE CTLR GAVE US A DSCNT CLRNC TO LEAVE FL350, TO BE AT OR BELOW FL290 WITHIN 5 MINS. THE FO WAS FLYING AND HE SET UP A 1500 FPM DSCNT. PASSING THROUGH FL300, ABOUT 4 MINS LATER, WE GOT A TCASII TA AND THE CTLR HAD US TURN L. WE SAW THE TFC AND NO EVASIVE MANEUVERS WERE REQUIRED. I AM NOT SURE IF MINIMUM SEPARATION CRITERIA WAS COMPROMISED.

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.