Narrative:

While descending for landing at san jose, ca, we received permission to deviate to the east around a thunderstorm. We were assigned 6000 ft. While level at 6000 ft and 250 KTS, we received a ground proximity warning 'terrain, terrain' followed by 'pull up, pull up.' I made an immediate climbing left turn to 7000 ft and the warning ceased. We then advised ATC who informed us that this was not the first time that this had happened in that area. We descended back down to 6000 ft on a westerly heading without further incident. ATC claimed the MVA in our area at the time of the warning was 5000 ft. We were in heavy rain and moderate turbulence at the time and the controller was obviously upset at our insistence to deviate around the thunderstorm and his sarcasm was unappreciated and out of character for the professionalism normally given by air traffic controllers. His remarks and uncaring attitude left me with 0 faith in his ability to offer us assistance and guidance at a time when we were looking for both!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATC AUTHORIZED WX DEV CAUSED GPWS (PROX OF TERRAIN WARNING). APCH CTLR UPSET BECAUSE THE ACFT WAS ABOVE THE MVA AND THEREFORE LEGAL TO FLY AT THAT ALT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING FOR LNDG AT SAN JOSE, CA, WE RECEIVED PERMISSION TO DEVIATE TO THE E AROUND A TSTM. WE WERE ASSIGNED 6000 FT. WHILE LEVEL AT 6000 FT AND 250 KTS, WE RECEIVED A GND PROX WARNING 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN' FOLLOWED BY 'PULL UP, PULL UP.' I MADE AN IMMEDIATE CLBING L TURN TO 7000 FT AND THE WARNING CEASED. WE THEN ADVISED ATC WHO INFORMED US THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED IN THAT AREA. WE DSNDED BACK DOWN TO 6000 FT ON A WESTERLY HDG WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ATC CLAIMED THE MVA IN OUR AREA AT THE TIME OF THE WARNING WAS 5000 FT. WE WERE IN HVY RAIN AND MODERATE TURB AT THE TIME AND THE CTLR WAS OBVIOUSLY UPSET AT OUR INSISTENCE TO DEVIATE AROUND THE TSTM AND HIS SARCASM WAS UNAPPRECIATED AND OUT OF CHARACTER FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM NORMALLY GIVEN BY AIR TFC CTLRS. HIS REMARKS AND UNCARING ATTITUDE LEFT ME WITH 0 FAITH IN HIS ABILITY TO OFFER US ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR BOTH!

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.