Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Departing from Runway 32 out of ZZZ; we experienced an RA (Resolution Advisory) due to close proximity traffic. Lining up on Runway 32 after Tower had just opened; we were cleared for takeoff with an assigned altitude of 2000 ft and runway heading. I and the Tower had visual contact with a single engine Cessna that had just departed prior to us taking the runway. It appeared to be turning to the right of the runway centerline. On takeoff roll the Tower changed our heading instructions to a left turn 280 in order to maintain separation from that traffic. The Tower did note that he was not talking to the Cessna ahead of us. We executed a left turn to 280 after takeoff and nearing 2000 feet; the Tower instructed us to make a 'hard right turn to heading 360 and climb to 10;000 ft;' As PM (Pilot Monitoring) I read back those instructions; however; knowing the Cessna traffic's location; the Captain and I were concerned about executing a right turn in the direction of the traffic. Within seconds of that instruction to turn right and climb; we received a traffic warning from the TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) systems and within a split second and RA was announced by the TCAS system. The Captain; who was acting as PF (Pilot Flying) disengaged the autopilot and started a climb to avoid the traffic and comply with the resolution advisory. As we were climbing above 2000 ft; I acquired visual of the Cessna and noted it was not more than 300 to 400 feet below us as we were climbing. At this point we were still on a 280 heading. After clearing the conflict; we turned on course continuing the climb to 10;000ft and contacted departure. A single engine Cessna departure ZZZ and was not in communications with Tower. He appeared to be turning east.  We took off and the traffic turned west towards us. We followed SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) guidance and CFM (Company Flight Manual) procedures following the TCAS systems to avoid a mid-air.  The Cessna aircraft should have been in direct radio contact with the Tower. Tower should have directed us to continue our turn to the west instead of the east while climbing.
A light single engine Cessna departed Runway 32 ahead of us in ZZZ. After Tower cleared us for takeoff; he amended our assigned heading to 280 since the previous departure was not turning enough to the right. We took off and turned to 280 and leveled at 2;000 ft. At this time the Cessna had turned back to the left and was coming toward us at the same altitude. Tower attempted to talk to the Cessna; but got no response. Tower then told us to do a hard right turn to 360 and climb to 10;000 ft. I was monitoring the autopilot capture 2;000 and looking at TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) to see the traffic. I was confused and thought that the controller may be telling the Cessna to do a hard 360 to the right. I didn't think it safe for us to do a right turn towards the traffic. I started a climb in VS (Vertical Speed) mode without the turn and then we got an RA (Resolution Advisory) instructing us to climb. At this point; I disconnected the autopilot and expedited our climb and asked the FO (First Officer) if he saw the traffic. He said he did; and it was bellow us about three to four hundred feet away. FO/PM (First Officer/Pilot Monitoring) notified Tower that we responded to an RA and continued our climb up to 10;000 and were cleared on course. General aviation traffic that was not in communication with the Tower and was not broadcasting on CTAF as the tower opened at XA:00 and they took off at about XA:01 local. The GA aircraft also turned toward us. GA Cessna should have been on CTAF and communicated with Tower at after they took off since they were in the airspace when Tower opened. Tower could have given us a higher altitude such as 10;000 prior to takeoff to let us climb out of the traffic environment. Once we had a conflicting course; the important thing was to initiate a climb rather than confuse us with a hard turn to 360.
Flight Crew flying CRJ-200 aircraft encountered a Near Mid Air collision with a Cessna aircraft.