Narrative:

Prior to 160E longitude, extensive lightning was observed in the distance on our flight track--41N 160E to 44N 170E. Requested higher altitude through tyo radio. Several mins passed by before tyo replied with, 'unable higher altitude due to traffic.' we now told tyo we would need up to 50 NM deviation north of track account thunderstorms. Vicinity of 161E had to start deviation account thunderstorms. After about 10 mins, tyo radio replied with, 'unable deviation, return to course.' we were now established 20 NM north of track and told tyo 'unable to return to course account thunderstorms.' tyo radio told us to now contact hnl radio. Hnl radio immediately gave us clearance to deviate 50 NM north course and clearance to climb to FL370. I believe tyo radio is so overloaded with position reports that it makes it far too difficult for proper radio communications to be established. This is turn causes lengthy delays making it only that much harder for them to understand or deal with situations out of the ordinary. Aircraft must have the flexibility to deviate so as to not fly into thunderstorms. I suggest more radio frequencys be added and small groups of similar positioned flts as assigned the same frequencys. Satellite tracking and VHF frequencys are a must with the ever increasing # of flts across the pacific so as to not compromise safety of flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB PIC PLEADS FOR IMPROVED FREQ ALLOCATION AND ATC HANDLING FACS ON OCEANIC NAVIGATION ROUTES. PROBLEM WAS CITED AS INABILITY TO GET A CHANGE IN FLT PLAN OR DEVIATE ACCOUNT TSTM ACTIVITY AS THE CENTER FREQ ALLOCATED TO FLT WAS UNABLE TO PROCESS DATA INFORMATION FOR A REVISED CLRNC.

Narrative: PRIOR TO 160E LONGITUDE, EXTENSIVE LIGHTNING WAS OBSERVED IN THE DISTANCE ON OUR FLT TRACK--41N 160E TO 44N 170E. REQUESTED HIGHER ALT THROUGH TYO RADIO. SEVERAL MINS PASSED BY BEFORE TYO REPLIED WITH, 'UNABLE HIGHER ALT DUE TO TFC.' WE NOW TOLD TYO WE WOULD NEED UP TO 50 NM DEVIATION N OF TRACK ACCOUNT TSTMS. VICINITY OF 161E HAD TO START DEVIATION ACCOUNT TSTMS. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINS, TYO RADIO REPLIED WITH, 'UNABLE DEVIATION, RETURN TO COURSE.' WE WERE NOW ESTABLISHED 20 NM N OF TRACK AND TOLD TYO 'UNABLE TO RETURN TO COURSE ACCOUNT TSTMS.' TYO RADIO TOLD US TO NOW CONTACT HNL RADIO. HNL RADIO IMMEDIATELY GAVE US CLRNC TO DEVIATE 50 NM N COURSE AND CLRNC TO CLB TO FL370. I BELIEVE TYO RADIO IS SO OVERLOADED WITH POS RPTS THAT IT MAKES IT FAR TOO DIFFICULT FOR PROPER RADIO COMS TO BE ESTABLISHED. THIS IS TURN CAUSES LENGTHY DELAYS MAKING IT ONLY THAT MUCH HARDER FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND OR DEAL WITH SITUATIONS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. ACFT MUST HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DEVIATE SO AS TO NOT FLY INTO TSTMS. I SUGGEST MORE RADIO FREQS BE ADDED AND SMALL GROUPS OF SIMILAR POSITIONED FLTS AS ASSIGNED THE SAME FREQS. SATELLITE TRACKING AND VHF FREQS ARE A MUST WITH THE EVER INCREASING # OF FLTS ACROSS THE PACIFIC SO AS TO NOT COMPROMISE SAFETY OF FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.