Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Workload
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
Departing Albany; the flight was on an IFR flight plan. On climb out; nearing 7000 MSL we were advised of traffic at our 11 o'clock in 4 miles and headed westbound at 7500 FT MSL. ATC advised us to level at 7000 FT until the traffic was clear. We leveled at 7000 FT headed north and looking for traffic. We had the traffic on our TCAS; which our Garmin was equipped. The traffic turned east. TCAS and ATC advised us of the updated traffic. The traffic call was now 11 o'clock and 4 miles and descending. We were still looking to no avail. TCAS alerted the traffic 100 feet above us. ATC said that the traffic was less than a mile and closing on our altitude and suggested immediate descent. The FO turned off the autopilot and nosed the aircraft over. I; the PIC; took control of the aircraft and performed an Emergency Descent flow for smooth air. The plane was in a 3500 FPM descent at 220 knots. At 5500 FT we were clear of the traffic and it was evident that the traffic was flying VFR in IFR conditions. I handed the controls back over to the First Officer. We were told to climb to 9000 FT and contact the Center controller. TCAS in this narrative is traffic avoidance provided through the transponder.
A small transport aircraft departed ALB and while climbing IMC near 7;000 FT took evasive action from a VFR traffic at 7;500 FT also in IMC conditions.