Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Distraction
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Procedure; Airspace Structure
After being cleared for the visual approach to 30L by PHX Approach; we were then told that there was traffic traveling westbound 1;500 feet below us (we were descending through 5;500 feet MSL). Approach then told us to maintain 5;000 feet and turn left heading 180. The captain and I questioned amongst each other why they would vector us into the aerobatic box; but assumed that the traffic was leaving the box and heading back to IWA. The traffic then began a rapid climb towards our altitude so the aircraft gave us an RA to 'climb'. The captain disconnected the autopilot and flight directors and climbed into the green vertical speed band. The aircraft then told us to 'descend'; so the captain descended into the green vertical speed band until we were clear of the conflict at about 4;700 feet MSL. Approach then cleared us for the visual approach and told us to contact IWA tower.The aerobatics aircraft should not be conducting aerobatics maneuvers outside of the aerobatics box. There should be a special arrival procedure/corridor for them to contact approach or tower frequencies and maintain certain altitudes so as to avoid conflict with an airliner full of passengers and TRACON should not allow visual approaches while there is activity being conducted in the aerobatics box.
On a visual approach to IWA 30L; a crew responded to an RA with both a commanded climb and descent which was caused by a nearby aerobatic aircraft.