EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
During descent on the BRUSR arrival into PHX; I noticed an aircraft on TCAS approximately 2;900 ft. below us and climbing towards us as we descended through 13;000 ft. Just prior to 12;500 ft.; I disconnected the autopilot and started to shallow the descent and level off as I could tell we were getting too close. At the same time; a TCAS RA commanded 'monitor vertical speed' with a green box around a level attitude. ATC also instructed us to stop our descent (after the RA had already sounded). I also saw the other aircraft out of my window at about this time; it was a small private jet. A few moments later; ATC instructed us to descend and maintain 11;000 ft. but the RA was still commanding level flight; so I told ATC we could not do that yet. When the RA stated 'clear of conflict' I resumed a descent and clarified the altitude with ATC. When I saw the other aircraft; we were very close. I estimate that we passed within 500 ft. of each other. ATC completely ignored us when we stated that we were responding to an RA; then ignored us again when we stated that we could not accept a descent yet because the RA was still active.
E175 Captain reported an NMAC with a small private jet on descent into PHX.