En route WX avoidance. Captain emergency authority/authorized to deviation.

Attributes
ACN	303534
Time
Date	199505
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	303534
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Northbound on A554 between emary and merci there existed a huge line of solid WX with embedded thunderstorms and active lightning. A request was made to deviate 45 mi east to avoid the WX. Only 35 mi was granted. Also, a request to climb from FL310 to FL350 was denied. Approaching the line of WX, it became clear to me that we could not safely cross this line. Therefore, I used my captain's emergency authority/authorized to deviate around it. Our intentions were broadcast on emergency frequency 121.5 and we returned as soon as possible to the airway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENRTE WX AVOIDANCE. CAPT EMER AUTH TO DEV.

Narrative: NBOUND ON A554 BTWN EMARY AND MERCI THERE EXISTED A HUGE LINE OF SOLID WX WITH EMBEDDED TSTMS AND ACTIVE LIGHTNING. A REQUEST WAS MADE TO DEVIATE 45 MI E TO AVOID THE WX. ONLY 35 MI WAS GRANTED. ALSO, A REQUEST TO CLB FROM FL310 TO FL350 WAS DENIED. APCHING THE LINE OF WX, IT BECAME CLR TO ME THAT WE COULD NOT SAFELY CROSS THIS LINE. THEREFORE, I USED MY CAPT'S EMER AUTH TO DEVIATE AROUND IT. OUR INTENTIONS WERE BROADCAST ON EMER FREQ 121.5 AND WE RETURNED ASAP TO THE AIRWAY.

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.