Narrative:

Cpr X received our clearance and was advised that there may be some delay. We had our radar and stormscope up and observed a large break in the line of thunderstorms about 40 mi northwest of pbi. At this time, ground control advised us that ZMA was not accepting any northbound traffic. We asked for what reason, and were informed that the WX was too severe for us to go. We informed ground control that the WX would be no problem for us as we could see a large opening approximately 40 mi west. Ground control assured us ZMA would not accept us. We asked if airspace saturation was a problem and were advised that ZMA had determined the WX was too severe for us to fly. Ground control advised everyone on frequency that there would be an update at XX15 pm. There were 3 acrs and us holding. We were #4 for departure. At approximately XX25 pm, air carrier made the comment that ZMA had let the ground controller down. Ground controller advised that they were going to check with ZMA. At approximately XX30 pm, ground controller advised that they would have more information in 1 hour. The strong part of the WX began approximately 15 mi north and extended east out into the atlantic. Cpr X returned to the ramp and shut down. We acquired a handheld transceiver and remained in contact with ground control. Some time later, we observed air carrier departing. We inquired about this and were informed that air carrier was making a trial run. We asked about the air carrier flight. We were told that it had not turned out well. Sometime later we asked about second air carrier. We were informed that this was another trial run and it had not turned out well either. Approximately 30 mins, air carrier was asked if they could be ready to launch in 10 min. Air carrier replied negative, that they had off-loaded their passenger. Another air carrier was then asked the same question. Their reply was the same as first air carrier. We informed them that we could launch in 10 mins. We were asked to stand by. After a brief period we were informed that they were looking for a volunteer. We informed them that we were still ready to launch. They told us to proceed. We proceeded wnw and never encountered any raindrops or clouds until we were 50 mi north. We informed pbi of the conditions. When was ATC given the authority to tell you when you can or cannot fly? I can understand airspace saturation, but not what went on at pbi.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLOW CTL HELD CPR X ON GND FOR SEVERE WX TURB.

Narrative: CPR X RECEIVED OUR CLRNC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE MAY BE SOME DELAY. WE HAD OUR RADAR AND STORMSCOPE UP AND OBSERVED A LARGE BREAK IN THE LINE OF TSTMS ABOUT 40 MI NW OF PBI. AT THIS TIME, GND CTL ADVISED US THAT ZMA WAS NOT ACCEPTING ANY NBOUND TFC. WE ASKED FOR WHAT REASON, AND WERE INFORMED THAT THE WX WAS TOO SEVERE FOR US TO GO. WE INFORMED GND CTL THAT THE WX WOULD BE NO PROB FOR US AS WE COULD SEE A LARGE OPENING APPROX 40 MI W. GND CTL ASSURED US ZMA WOULD NOT ACCEPT US. WE ASKED IF AIRSPACE SATURATION WAS A PROB AND WERE ADVISED THAT ZMA HAD DETERMINED THE WX WAS TOO SEVERE FOR US TO FLY. GND CTL ADVISED EVERYONE ON FREQ THAT THERE WOULD BE AN UPDATE AT XX15 PM. THERE WERE 3 ACRS AND US HOLDING. WE WERE #4 FOR DEP. AT APPROX XX25 PM, ACR MADE THE COMMENT THAT ZMA HAD LET THE GND CTLR DOWN. GND CTLR ADVISED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHK WITH ZMA. AT APPROX XX30 PM, GND CTLR ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE MORE INFO IN 1 HR. THE STRONG PART OF THE WX BEGAN APPROX 15 MI N AND EXTENDED E OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC. CPR X RETURNED TO THE RAMP AND SHUT DOWN. WE ACQUIRED A HANDHELD TRANSCEIVER AND REMAINED IN CONTACT WITH GND CTL. SOME TIME LATER, WE OBSERVED ACR DEPARTING. WE INQUIRED ABOUT THIS AND WERE INFORMED THAT ACR WAS MAKING A TRIAL RUN. WE ASKED ABOUT THE ACR FLT. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT HAD NOT TURNED OUT WELL. SOMETIME LATER WE ASKED ABOUT SECOND ACR. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER TRIAL RUN AND IT HAD NOT TURNED OUT WELL EITHER. APPROX 30 MINS, ACR WAS ASKED IF THEY COULD BE READY TO LAUNCH IN 10 MIN. ACR REPLIED NEGATIVE, THAT THEY HAD OFF-LOADED THEIR PAX. ANOTHER ACR WAS THEN ASKED THE SAME QUESTION. THEIR REPLY WAS THE SAME AS FIRST ACR. WE INFORMED THEM THAT WE COULD LAUNCH IN 10 MINS. WE WERE ASKED TO STAND BY. AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD WE WERE INFORMED THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER. WE INFORMED THEM THAT WE WERE STILL READY TO LAUNCH. THEY TOLD US TO PROCEED. WE PROCEEDED WNW AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANY RAINDROPS OR CLOUDS UNTIL WE WERE 50 MI N. WE INFORMED PBI OF THE CONDITIONS. WHEN WAS ATC GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO TELL YOU WHEN YOU CAN OR CANNOT FLY? I CAN UNDERSTAND AIRSPACE SATURATION, BUT NOT WHAT WENT ON AT PBI.

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.