Narrative:

While on departure out of alb, alb departure control instructed us to climb and maintain 9000 ft and turn heading 220 degrees. We acknowledged the clearance and then we were reinstructed by alb departure to level off at 6000 ft and maintain heading 220 degrees. This heading and climb out appeared nonstandard from the typical climb to 9000 ft and turn to intercept the 194 degree radial from alb on course. While we were on the heading 220 degrees at 6000 ft, we received a TA at 5 mi and indicating '-01.' we then informed alb departure of the TA and that we were not visual. ATC acknowledged and we received no bearing range and azimuth. Then, about 20-30 seconds alter, the TA evolved into an RA, with a climb command and vsi indication of 2000 FPM. I immediately took control of the aircraft from my first officer, and with still no visual on the traffic, I disengaged the autoplt and immediately climbed. I simultaneously informed ATC of my altitude deviation for the RA and climbed to approximately 7200 ft. ATC immediately cleared me to 9000 ft and I asked what was up. ATC informed me the traffic was VFR and I acknowledged. The traffic conflict was resolved. ATC acknowledged that they did not call out the traffic. I spoke to the supervisor and he said this occurred right after a controller change which, when they do a changeover they are required to do a scope check -- which was why he did not call out the traffic, because the scope was turned down for a check. The supervisor told me that my RA altitude deviation did not cause any other traffic conflicts and they were happy how we handled the traffic conflict.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF34 FLC ON CLBOUT FROM ALB INITIATE TCASII MANEUVER DUE TO OVERLOOKED CONFLICTING VFR TFC DURING CTLR CHANGE.

Narrative: WHILE ON DEP OUT OF ALB, ALB DEP CTL INSTRUCTED US TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 9000 FT AND TURN HDG 220 DEGS. WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC AND THEN WE WERE REINSTRUCTED BY ALB DEP TO LEVEL OFF AT 6000 FT AND MAINTAIN HDG 220 DEGS. THIS HDG AND CLBOUT APPEARED NONSTANDARD FROM THE TYPICAL CLB TO 9000 FT AND TURN TO INTERCEPT THE 194 DEG RADIAL FROM ALB ON COURSE. WHILE WE WERE ON THE HDG 220 DEGS AT 6000 FT, WE RECEIVED A TA AT 5 MI AND INDICATING '-01.' WE THEN INFORMED ALB DEP OF THE TA AND THAT WE WERE NOT VISUAL. ATC ACKNOWLEDGED AND WE RECEIVED NO BEARING RANGE AND AZIMUTH. THEN, ABOUT 20-30 SECONDS ALTER, THE TA EVOLVED INTO AN RA, WITH A CLB COMMAND AND VSI INDICATION OF 2000 FPM. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT FROM MY FO, AND WITH STILL NO VISUAL ON THE TFC, I DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND IMMEDIATELY CLBED. I SIMULTANEOUSLY INFORMED ATC OF MY ALTDEV FOR THE RA AND CLBED TO APPROX 7200 FT. ATC IMMEDIATELY CLRED ME TO 9000 FT AND I ASKED WHAT WAS UP. ATC INFORMED ME THE TFC WAS VFR AND I ACKNOWLEDGED. THE TFC CONFLICT WAS RESOLVED. ATC ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY DID NOT CALL OUT THE TFC. I SPOKE TO THE SUPVR AND HE SAID THIS OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER A CTLR CHANGE WHICH, WHEN THEY DO A CHANGEOVER THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO A SCOPE CHK -- WHICH WAS WHY HE DID NOT CALL OUT THE TFC, BECAUSE THE SCOPE WAS TURNED DOWN FOR A CHK. THE SUPVR TOLD ME THAT MY RA ALTDEV DID NOT CAUSE ANY OTHER TFC CONFLICTS AND THEY WERE HAPPY HOW WE HANDLED THE TFC CONFLICT.

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.