Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
We had a TCAS RA as were about to level off at our assigned altitude of 5;000 feet during our departure out of JFK. ATC told us that there was GA traffic at 5;500 feet. I asked the pilot monitoring to keep an eye on the traffic as I did not have it in sight. As we started to level off; we had a TA which turned into a RA. Turned off the autopilot and complied with the RA and followed the vertical guidance which was to stay level at 5;000 feet. Pilot Monitoring told ATC that we received a TA and then a RA. We got the alert most likely because of our rate of climb right before level off.
While on climb out of JFK we leveled off at five thousand feet per the SID. ATC then issued us a heading of 100. We complied; and while on that heading ATC issued us a traffic advisory of a single engine GA aircraft at or 1-2 o'clock at 5500 MSL. I was pilot monitoring in the right seat and spotted the traffic. Pilot flying didn't have sight of the traffic; and requested I maintain visual on the traffic. I kept visual on the traffic and stated that we might end up with a TA or an RA as a result of only 500 feet of separation. I said that I would take control if we get an RA because I had visual contact with the traffic and because PF (Pilot Flying) was in the left seat; and the pole between the windshields was blocking the view of the traffic from that seat. A short time later we received a TA and I notified ATC; to which they questioned if it was a TA; or an RA.  At that moment; it became an RA. I told PF; 'My Aircraft'; disconnected the autopilot; started a descent and told ATC 'We have an RA; I'm descending'. The traffic looked very close and passed right over the top of our flight path. I descended to roughly 4700 MSL until the TCAS system stated 'clear of conflict'. We then continued back to our assigned altitude of 5000 feet and continued the flight without incident. ATC gave us an intersecting heading with VFR traffic with only 500 feet of separation. This separation will trigger an RA every time.
Crew reported receiving an RA upon reaching assigned altitude and heading.