Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 85; Flight Crew Total 17000; Flight Crew Type 4500
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
During descent to Chico; with Oakland Center offering Flight Following; a target appeared on TCAS at the 6 mile outer limit of the screen; at the 12 o'clock position. It was about 1;200 FT low and climbing and eventually showed to be coming opposite direction. At about the 4 mile range; it looked to be slightly to the right of head-on so I started a left turn. At just beyond 2 miles; TCAS announced 'traffic; traffic' and it showed about 400 FT low. At about a mile; I saw the plane and it passed about 1/4 mile to my right and within 100 FT of our altitude. During this whole time; Center was chatting with another airplane about descent performance profiles in the SMF area. When the target was at the 2 mile range; I IDENT'ed the transponder; but was not acknowledged; so at 8 miles out switched to Tower; due to lack of interest. If it had not been for TCAS; it would have been extremely close if we had even seen each other at all.
BE90 with ZOA descending into Chico experienced a TCAS RA; the pilot questioning the ATC service provided.