Flight Crew Last 90 Days 125; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 4500
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
[We were] descending to 10;000 FT approaching TENCO. NORCAL called out climbing traffic to our north--then gave us two vector headings in quick succession. We then got a TA at approximately 10;200 FT followed by a descend RA--followed immediately by a climb RA. I disconnected the autopilot and flew the escape maneuver. At about 10;400 FT we got an 'adjust vertical speed' RA followed quickly at about 10;500 FT by the 'clear of conflict' advisory. I never saw the traffic but believe I saw an altitude difference of -200 FT on the ND.
[We were] filed on the Flunk Three Arrival into SMF; cleared to descend to 10;000 and direct to TENCO....Upon landing I talked with a supervisor at NorCal who told me the traffic was a VFR Cessna Conquest climbing out of Grass Valley who happened to request flight following. I told her my concern that we had so little warning and separation. She said the Conquest was operating within its rights flying through an area where IFR traffic was descending into SMF and it could happen again anytime.
An A320 flight crew descending on the FLUNK Arrival to SMF suffered a TA\RA conflict with a VFR Cessna Conquest in the process of requesting flight following from ATC during its climbout.