B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure
Night conditions. Just after PHILBO Arrival on vectors with NY Approach for ILS 22L. Still south of field at 6;000 feet; we were flying on a 090 heading and told to fly heading 360; and that we will have traffic; a small aircraft; that would stay below us. On 360 heading we received a TCAS TA followed by TCAS RA. Target was 10 o'clock indicating 500 feet below our altitude. I followed RA guidance and First Officer reported TCAS RA to ATC. Traffic was hidden by small cloud; but after passing cloud I visually acquired traffic. Continuing to follow RA guidance climbing; the target passed directly below us; indicating 800 feet below; as I had climbed 300 feet. Approximate location [was] SE of SBJ VOR.
After a few minutes ATC gave us a left turn to heading 360 and advised us of cirrus traffic passing under us at 5;500 feet. 500 feet below our current altitude. After 30 seconds we get a TA; followed by an RA stating 'monitor vertical speed.' The Captain disconnected the autopilot and hand flew the RA guidance. I advised ATC we are responding to a RA. We were just above a scattered cloud layer and unable to visually see the traffic; so we climb up to 6;300 feet. We eventually saw the traffic and cleared over him by 800 feet. After clearing the traffic we descended back down to 6;000 feet. The rest of the flight was uneventful. The Captain and I were both confused why ATC would turn us into VFR traffic only 500 feet below us. I thought IFR separation required 1;000 feet. Captain authority was used to comply with the RA; but no emergency was declared.
B757 flight crew reported taking evasive maneuvers during arrival to EWR due to receiving a TCAS RA when passing overhead a small aircraft reported to be 500 feet below by the ATC Controller.