agree TCAS gives climbs, descents or maintain vertical speed as a resolution, NOT turns.
only gets sticky when you descend into a mountain or climbs above max altitude (they do have things sorted out there).
Ideally the maneuver should be smooth enough to not be an exercise in the vomit comet maneuver and perhaps the UAL pilot was a bit too aggressive. (can you smell fear?)
I took and posted the FIRST link I found on the subject as CNN had not placed it upon their website as quickly as the tabloid. Excuse me.
two one four: regarding compass rule. ATC can and often does assign altitudes not in compliance with the compass rule. It is quite normal. There is even an abbreviation associated with it and I mentioned it in earlier post.
WAFDOF: Wrong Altitude/Flight Level (for) Direction of Flight.
Some pilots, like myself will readback the clearance: Flight 124 climb and maintain FL 330, confirm WAFDOF and ATC will verify it. Try it sometime when you are IFR.