Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 13450; Flight Crew Type 1650
Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
Departing Las Vegas on the SHEAD9 from Runway 1L. After the initial turn west were given a hard altitude of 10;000 feet. Shortly thereafter we were given a vector to avoid traffic at 10;000 feet. The controller asked us to tighten the turn and this is when we received an RA to descend. We descended 400 feet until clear of conflict. Later we were given 19;000 feet and direct SHEAD by the same controller. We initiated the climb and were then instructed to level at 12;000 feet. We were already through 12;100 feet and climbing at 3;000 feet per minute. We descended to 12;000 feet and were told to turn to a heading for traffic. In the next second he told us to disregard the heading and maintain visual separation from a B737 that was at our 3 o'clock and also at 12;000 feet. This aircraft was in a turn to avoid us.This was the most frightening controlling I have been subject to in my career. Twice given altitudes that were in conflict of other traffic and all within a few minutes of the departure phase of this flight. Finally told to maintain visual separation to cover himself.
A departing aircraft was issued a radar vector for traffic. The aircraft then responded to an RA for the traffic. The aircraft was then climbed to 19;000 feet. Then the aircraft was told to maintain 12;000 feet as it was climbing through 12;100 feet. The aircraft descended to 12;000 feet and was issued a vector for traffic than told to disregard the vector. The aircraft was instructed to maintain visual separation from traffic approximately three miles from it at the same altitude.