B737 climbing from FL360 to FL400 with ZJX experienced TCASII RA with traffic not issued by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	664595
Time
Date	200507
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cty.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 36500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	664595
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While at FL360 we were given a clearance to climb to FL400 and go direct to atl. In a climbing right turn at FL365 we received a TCASII RA at 1 O'clock position and about 6 mi. I disengaged the autoplt and gently leveled off as the first officer asked ATC if we had any traffic at 1 O'clock position to us. ATC immediately told us to expedite descent to FL360; which we were in the process of doing; flying to the green on the TCASII. As we leveled at FL360; ATC; unsolicited; said that he apologized. I stated that 'that must have set off some alarms and whistles.' no reply. We were able to level off smoothly and there was no query from any passenger or flight attendants regarding the maneuver. Flight continued normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CLBING FROM FL360 TO FL400 WITH ZJX EXPERIENCED TCASII RA WITH TFC NOT ISSUED BY ATC.

Narrative: WHILE AT FL360 WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO CLB TO FL400 AND GO DIRECT TO ATL. IN A CLBING R TURN AT FL365 WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA AT 1 O'CLOCK POS AND ABOUT 6 MI. I DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND GENTLY LEVELED OFF AS THE FO ASKED ATC IF WE HAD ANY TFC AT 1 O'CLOCK POS TO US. ATC IMMEDIATELY TOLD US TO EXPEDITE DSCNT TO FL360; WHICH WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING; FLYING TO THE GREEN ON THE TCASII. AS WE LEVELED AT FL360; ATC; UNSOLICITED; SAID THAT HE APOLOGIZED. I STATED THAT 'THAT MUST HAVE SET OFF SOME ALARMS AND WHISTLES.' NO REPLY. WE WERE ABLE TO LEVEL OFF SMOOTHLY AND THERE WAS NO QUERY FROM ANY PAX OR FLT ATTENDANTS REGARDING THE MANEUVER. FLT CONTINUED NORMALLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.