Gulfstream Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 4100; Flight Crew Type 400
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
After takeoff DAL 13L; turned [to] 250 at 4;000 FT; 220 KTS. (Clearance was KING7.MQP; 4;000 FT; expect 10;000 in 10 minutes) ATC advised of an aircraft at our 1 o'clock; descending. TCAS showed it was 5 miles on a route east of us at -400 and descending. Since there were layers we could not establish visual contact. While it seemed the aircraft was about to pass on our right according to the TCAS; ATC directed us to turn 270. This turn took us exactly above the aircraft; and within a few seconds of the turn (even before getting to 270) we got 'Traffic' and then 'Climb; Climb'. Pilot flying [took] actions according to flight director and we climbed to 4;500 FT. We transmitted 'RA event climbing' and after conflict was over we resumed 4;000 FT and advised 'resuming altitude'. The Controller prematurely commanded a turn when vertical separation was too low. It is not clear if the other aircraft was descending at all or lingering at 3;600 FT. Though it was apparent that the turn could bring us close to the aircraft; due to the airspace class and traffic density we did not delay our reaction to the [clearance] as we saw that the other aircraft was descending on the TCAS.
First Officer of a corporate jet reported they were vectored directly over traffic that was 400 FT below them; resulting in an RA.