Air carrier vectored toward thunderstorm turns for WX avoidance.

Attributes
ACN	188033
Time
Date	199108
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	188033
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had received a heading off course due to other traffic. The assigned heading was taking us directly toward a building thunderstorm which was approximately 25 mi ahead when we received the heading assignment. We requested several times an additional turn in order to visually avoid the thunderstorm but the frequency (controller) was very busy and ATC never answered our request. We initiated a 90 degree turn away from the crossing traffic in order to avoid the thunderstorm and in the process we flew through a portion of the storm which necessitated a high angle of bank and caused us to vary off altitude up to 600 ft. Once the turn was complete and we were clear of the storm we were able to notify ATC of our action and received clearance back on course. Perhaps we should have refused the heading change or requested a different heading when it was first issued in order to avoid the storm. Several other aircraft were trying to find 'smooth rides' on the radio while I was trying to request a safe ride. There must be a better way to accomplish avoidance of turbulence than to use up valuable time on the radio.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR VECTORED TOWARD TSTM TURNS FOR WX AVOIDANCE.

Narrative: WE HAD RECEIVED A HDG OFF COURSE DUE TO OTHER TFC. THE ASSIGNED HDG WAS TAKING US DIRECTLY TOWARD A BUILDING TSTM WHICH WAS APPROX 25 MI AHEAD WHEN WE RECEIVED THE HDG ASSIGNMENT. WE REQUESTED SEVERAL TIMES AN ADDITIONAL TURN IN ORDER TO VISUALLY AVOID THE TSTM BUT THE FREQ (CTLR) WAS VERY BUSY AND ATC NEVER ANSWERED OUR REQUEST. WE INITIATED A 90 DEG TURN AWAY FROM THE XING TFC IN ORDER TO AVOID THE TSTM AND IN THE PROCESS WE FLEW THROUGH A PORTION OF THE STORM WHICH NECESSITATED A HIGH ANGLE OF BANK AND CAUSED US TO VARY OFF ALT UP TO 600 FT. ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETE AND WE WERE CLR OF THE STORM WE WERE ABLE TO NOTIFY ATC OF OUR ACTION AND RECEIVED CLRNC BACK ON COURSE. PERHAPS WE SHOULD HAVE REFUSED THE HDG CHANGE OR REQUESTED A DIFFERENT HDG WHEN IT WAS FIRST ISSUED IN ORDER TO AVOID THE STORM. SEVERAL OTHER ACFT WERE TRYING TO FIND 'SMOOTH RIDES' ON THE RADIO WHILE I WAS TRYING TO REQUEST A SAFE RIDE. THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY TO ACCOMPLISH AVOIDANCE OF TURB THAN TO USE UP VALUABLE TIME ON THE RADIO.

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.