A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 4293; Flight Crew Type 3902
Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
We were climbing out of ZZZ on an RNAV departure. ATC advised there would be parachute operations in effect at or below 12000 just north of the ZZZ VOR. We were on an IFR flight plan complying with our clearance to climb via the RNAV departure. Passing 12000 we had no TCAS returns displayed within a 10 mile radius of our aircraft. As we passed 12600 just northeast of the ZZZ VOR we got a TCAS RA to descend. We complied immediately and notified ATC that we were in a TCAS descent. ATC directed us to climb and maintain FL230 and fly heading 095. Within seconds we saw the jump plane above us approximately 2 miles away. Closest proximity to the jump plane was approximately 2 miles. We were surprised to see the jump plane above 12000 and in the proximity of our IFR departure.
A319 Captain reported that during climb; on an IFR flight plan near a parachute jump zone; they got a TCAS advisory of an aircraft nearby.