Narrative:

En route to dfw from lax, in the vicinity of gila bend. Clearance to deviate south of course to avoid cumulus activity was received. Approximately 35 wnw of tucson, center asked us to turn left of our desired track. We complied, but told them we couldn't maintain that heading for long due to cumulus clouds. Being aware of restr area 2303B and its noted closing time of PM00Z, and ZAB is controling authority, we expected clearance through it. As we reached an 'in extremis' situation, we told center that we had to come south to avoid dangerous WX. They told us they couldn't clear us through R2303B and if we needed to go that direction, squawk 7700. Since other deviation options had long since passed, that is what we did. Arcing south of tucson about 26 NM and probably entering the restr area. I feel ATC support completely broke down, as they had been aware of our need to deviate since just past gila bend. Allowing us to proceed in that direction putting us in the proverbial box canyon, then washing their hands of the whole matter.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A WDB ACR WAS FORCED TO DECLARE AN EMER AND PENETRATE A RESTRICTED AREA TO AVOID WX.

Narrative: ENRTE TO DFW FROM LAX, IN THE VICINITY OF GILA BEND. CLRNC TO DEVIATE S OF COURSE TO AVOID CUMULUS ACTIVITY WAS RECEIVED. APPROX 35 WNW OF TUCSON, CTR ASKED US TO TURN L OF OUR DESIRED TRACK. WE COMPLIED, BUT TOLD THEM WE COULDN'T MAINTAIN THAT HDG FOR LONG DUE TO CUMULUS CLOUDS. BEING AWARE OF RESTR AREA 2303B AND ITS NOTED CLOSING TIME OF PM00Z, AND ZAB IS CTLING AUTHORITY, WE EXPECTED CLRNC THROUGH IT. AS WE REACHED AN 'IN EXTREMIS' SITUATION, WE TOLD CTR THAT WE HAD TO COME S TO AVOID DANGEROUS WX. THEY TOLD US THEY COULDN'T CLR US THROUGH R2303B AND IF WE NEEDED TO GO THAT DIRECTION, SQUAWK 7700. SINCE OTHER DEV OPTIONS HAD LONG SINCE PASSED, THAT IS WHAT WE DID. ARCING S OF TUCSON ABOUT 26 NM AND PROBABLY ENTERING THE RESTR AREA. I FEEL ATC SUPPORT COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN, AS THEY HAD BEEN AWARE OF OUR NEED TO DEVIATE SINCE JUST PAST GILA BEND. ALLOWING US TO PROCEED IN THAT DIRECTION PUTTING US IN THE PROVERBIAL BOX CANYON, THEN WASHING THEIR HANDS OF THE WHOLE MATTER.

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.