Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 89; Flight Crew Total 9489; Flight Crew Type 2288
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors
We were flying on a Part 135 flight to ROA. There were four passengers onboard. I was the assigned PIC for the flight and I was flying from the left seat. It was approximately XA:55 and we were in the terminal area of ROA and communicating with Roanoke Approach control. We were at 6000 feet and were assigned vectors and told to expect the visual approach to runway 34. Roanoke Approach control advised us of traffic at our one o'clock position and 500 feet below us. We both attempted to visually locate the traffic. I adjusted my TCAS range to 5 miles and could see the traffic on the TCAS display but was not able to visually locate the traffic. We received an audible message to 'monitor vertical speed;' which I did. Shortly thereafter the TCAS issued a Resolution Advisory to 'Climb'. I immediately disconnected the autopilot and began to climb. Within seconds we were clear of the conflict. The First Officer notified ATC that we had just complied with the RA. Shortly thereafter we observed the airport and were given the visual approach. We landed without incident. There were no injuries or damage to the aircraft. I called our Chief Pilot to advise him of the incident. I don't believe that we could have handled the situation any differently. The TCAS performed its function and we complied with the 'RA'. I believe that the Approach Control facility should have vectored our aircraft further away from the other aircraft instead of relying on our ability to see the traffic.
An air taxi crew at 6;000 ft was issued a traffic advisory at 5;500 ft by ROA TRACON on vectors for ROA. The crew did not see the aircraft but responded to a TCAS RA CLIMB with the traffic 500 ft beneath.