B737-800 flight crew reported responding to an RA from opposite direction traffic at FL310.

Attributes
ACN	1308812
Time
Date	201511
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	RDU.Airport
State Reference	NC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 247 Flight Crew Type 13500
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 177 Flight Crew Type 4200
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

While climbing out of rdu; we had several intermediate level offs. The last clearance was to climb to FL310. Shortly after leveling at FL310; we got a TA for an aircraft coming from the opposite direction at FL310. Atlanta center asked us to verify that we were level at FL300; and we replied 'negative; level at FL310'. We then got an RA; and responded by disconnecting the autopilot and climbing. Atlanta center also directed us to turn right to 360 degrees and climb to FL340. We entered the turn while still climbing. We saw the other aircraft pass maybe a mile away (he was descending in response to his RA); and after we were clear; atlanta center cleared us back on course. We discussed it with the controller; and he was not sure whether he had cleared us to FL300 or FL310.I believe the controller made an error by assigning us FL310 when he meant FL300. The TCAS procedures worked well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 flight crew reported responding to an RA from opposite direction traffic at FL310.

Narrative: While climbing out of RDU; we had several intermediate level offs. The last clearance was to climb to FL310. Shortly after leveling at FL310; we got a TA for an aircraft coming from the opposite direction at FL310. Atlanta Center asked us to verify that we were level at FL300; and we replied 'negative; level at FL310'. We then got an RA; and responded by disconnecting the autopilot and climbing. Atlanta Center also directed us to turn right to 360 degrees and climb to FL340. We entered the turn while still climbing. We saw the other aircraft pass maybe a mile away (he was descending in response to his RA); and after we were clear; Atlanta Center cleared us back on course. We discussed it with the Controller; and he was not sure whether he had cleared us to FL300 or FL310.I believe the Controller made an error by assigning us FL310 when he meant FL300. The TCAS procedures worked well.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.