Widebody transport freighter deviates from airway to avoid turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	239977
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nrt
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : pacific enroute : other oceanic enroute airway : r220
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 18000
ASRS Report	239977
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	240133
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

Approaching nokka we noticed thunderstorms on the airway with tops estimated at 360-370. We asked for a 30 mi deviation north of course. Due to poor high frequency radio reception and radio traffic, there was a long delay in receiving the clearance from tokyo radio. Anticipating our clearance we started to deviate to avoid WX. We were just about to declare an emergency (due to WX) when we received our clearance. At the same time we got a call from japan air defense (I believe) on guard frequency. They advised we were north of course. They were not aware of our clearance and may have filed some kind of report. Note: with the continuing tightening of oceanic airspace, increased traffic, and poor communications, I foresee major problems with thunderstorm deviation. Crews are reluctant to declare WX emergencys and we are going to injure more people, frighten many more and maybe lose an airplane. Supplemental information from acn 240133: we received a high frequency message of moderate to severe turbulence from 15DE all the way to destination (137E).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB FREIGHTER DEVIATES FROM AIRWAY TO AVOID TURB.

Narrative: APCHING NOKKA WE NOTICED TSTMS ON THE AIRWAY WITH TOPS ESTIMATED AT 360-370. WE ASKED FOR A 30 MI DEV N OF COURSE. DUE TO POOR HIGH FREQ RADIO RECEPTION AND RADIO TFC, THERE WAS A LONG DELAY IN RECEIVING THE CLRNC FROM TOKYO RADIO. ANTICIPATING OUR CLRNC WE STARTED TO DEVIATE TO AVOID WX. WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO DECLARE AN EMER (DUE TO WX) WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR CLRNC. AT THE SAME TIME WE GOT A CALL FROM JAPAN AIR DEFENSE (I BELIEVE) ON GUARD FREQ. THEY ADVISED WE WERE N OF COURSE. THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF OUR CLRNC AND MAY HAVE FILED SOME KIND OF RPT. NOTE: WITH THE CONTINUING TIGHTENING OF OCEANIC AIRSPACE, INCREASED TFC, AND POOR COMS, I FORESEE MAJOR PROBS WITH TSTM DEV. CREWS ARE RELUCTANT TO DECLARE WX EMERS AND WE ARE GOING TO INJURE MORE PEOPLE, FRIGHTEN MANY MORE AND MAYBE LOSE AN AIRPLANE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 240133: WE RECEIVED A HIGH FREQ MESSAGE OF MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB FROM 15DE ALL THE WAY TO DEST (137E).

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.