<< >> NASA ASRS Report 250195, August 1993

Emergency command authority used in heading track position deviation in overwater operation when encountering thunderstorm activity en route. Radio communication problem in obtaining timely clearance to higher altitude.

Attributes
ACN	250195
Time
Date	199308
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
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 : other oceanic enroute : pacific
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	250195
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At 33000 with WX ahead we were unable to obtain a clearance to deviate or change altitude. Had requested both 10 mins prior to encountering WX. Used emergency authority to deviate left (south) of course eventually going 35 NM left. While deviating received clearance to climb to 35000 ft and deviate up to 50 NM left of course. Returned on course at 25Z at 35000 ft. Antiquated communication procedures are the cause of having to declare an emergency. If VHF was available then 10 mins prior would have been sufficient to obtain deviation clearance and/or altitude change.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER COMMAND AUTHORITY USED IN HDG TRACK POS DEV IN OVERWATER OP WHEN ENCOUNTERING TSTM ACTIVITY ENRTE. RADIO COM PROB IN OBTAINING TIMELY CLRNC TO HIGHER ALT.

Narrative: AT 33000 WITH WX AHEAD WE WERE UNABLE TO OBTAIN A CLRNC TO DEVIATE OR CHANGE ALT. HAD REQUESTED BOTH 10 MINS PRIOR TO ENCOUNTERING WX. USED EMER AUTHORITY TO DEVIATE L (S) OF COURSE EVENTUALLY GOING 35 NM L. WHILE DEVIATING RECEIVED CLRNC TO CLB TO 35000 FT AND DEVIATE UP TO 50 NM L OF COURSE. RETURNED ON COURSE AT 25Z AT 35000 FT. ANTIQUATED COM PROCS ARE THE CAUSE OF HAVING TO DECLARE AN EMER. IF VHF WAS AVAILABLE THEN 10 MINS PRIOR WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO OBTAIN DEV CLRNC AND/OR ALT CHANGE.

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.