Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 39; Flight Crew Total 1630; Flight Crew Type 169
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
We were inbound to BEUTY intersection on the Milton Arrival at 10;000 feet/300 KIAS as assigned by New York Center. Radio traffic indicated that there was a parachute jump aircraft in the vicinity of BEUTY at 12;500 feet VFR. He was in communications with New York Center. As we approached the intersection; the pilot of the jump aircraft announced that his jumpers were away and asked Center for instructions to begin his spiral down. At this point I noted a Traffic Alert hit on the jump aircraft at 12 o'clock; inside of 2.5 miles and 1;600 feet above us. The next hit which was mere seconds later was +200 and less than 1 mile. At this point I acquired the aircraft visually and he appeared to be rolling out at our 12 o'clock position and co-altitude; opposite direction. I immediately disconnected the autopilot and began an aggressive climbing right turn to avoid a midair. As I did so we received a 2000ft/min climb RA. As I complied with the RA; the Pilot Monitoring announced our TCAS climb to ATC. At our nearest point; it appeared our aircraft came within 100 feet altitude and 1/2 mile laterally. In my estimation; a midair would've most likely occurred without our evasive action. New York Center was advised of our intent to file this report and I advised the [company] upon landing so that other inbound aircraft would be made aware of the threat on the Milton arrival.
We both spotted the aircraft in a steep; left spiraling descent directly ahead of us. At this time the Captain and I both announced that we needed to turn right. I began to call ATC and alert them to our lateral deviation. The pilot flying had turned off the autopilot and began the turn. At that time we then received a TCAS resolution to climb at 2;000 fpm; which the FP initiated. That climb alone would have caused the aircraft to pass even closer than we did. The turn to the right is what gave us the greatest amount of separation.
A flight crew reported an airborne conflict with a jump aircraft on arrival to LGA.