Narrative:

During cruise at FL220 (alb-cvg) on jet route 83 just south of dryer VOR (djb) approaching waahu intersection, we noticed on TCASII an aircraft opposite direction from the south at FL200 climbing 20 mi in front of us. We were about to say something to ZOB (134.9), but the controller called and said to descend to FL200 with an urgent tone of voice. We began the descent. Shortly after, we received an RA to climb. Fortunately, we had begun a left turn to correct for wind drift and with the idea that it would also provide us additional separation from the approaching aircraft. The RA at approximately 8 NM from the opposing aircraft. Our equipment was commanding an immediate 3000 FPM climb -- the seat belt sign was off at the time of occurrence. The TCASII display showed the opposing aircraft co-altitude and still climbing. Since we were in VMC conditions and had obtained some lateral separation, we elected to continue as instructed by ATC and descend to FL200, still in a slight left turn. The opposing rj also received an RA, and reversed its climb to descend back toward our altitude. We visually picked up the rj at 2.5 mi descending off our right side.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 FLC MAKES TCASII MANEUVER WHEN IN DSCNT DUE TO CONFLICTING, CROSS E135 TFC UNDER ZOB CTL.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT FL220 (ALB-CVG) ON JET RTE 83 JUST S OF DRYER VOR (DJB) APCHING WAAHU INTXN, WE NOTICED ON TCASII AN ACFT OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THE S AT FL200 CLBING 20 MI IN FRONT OF US. WE WERE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING TO ZOB (134.9), BUT THE CTLR CALLED AND SAID TO DSND TO FL200 WITH AN URGENT TONE OF VOICE. WE BEGAN THE DSCNT. SHORTLY AFTER, WE RECEIVED AN RA TO CLB. FORTUNATELY, WE HAD BEGUN A L TURN TO CORRECT FOR WIND DRIFT AND WITH THE IDEA THAT IT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE US ADDITIONAL SEPARATION FROM THE APCHING ACFT. THE RA AT APPROX 8 NM FROM THE OPPOSING ACFT. OUR EQUIP WAS COMMANDING AN IMMEDIATE 3000 FPM CLB -- THE SEAT BELT SIGN WAS OFF AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE. THE TCASII DISPLAY SHOWED THE OPPOSING ACFT CO-ALT AND STILL CLBING. SINCE WE WERE IN VMC CONDITIONS AND HAD OBTAINED SOME LATERAL SEPARATION, WE ELECTED TO CONTINUE AS INSTRUCTED BY ATC AND DSND TO FL200, STILL IN A SLIGHT L TURN. THE OPPOSING RJ ALSO RECEIVED AN RA, AND REVERSED ITS CLB TO DSND BACK TOWARD OUR ALT. WE VISUALLY PICKED UP THE RJ AT 2.5 MI DSNDING OFF OUR R SIDE.

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.