Narrative:

Several mi north of mlb, captain (PNF) requested deviations left or right of course. ATC inquired as to why, as other aircraft had flown the track we were on. Captain responded that we were painting WX and needed to deviate. Center responded with frequency change, telling us to make our request on the next frequency. On initial call to new frequency, captain requested deviation 20 degrees left for WX. ATC responded, deviation approved, descend from 10000 ft to 6000 ft. As we began the turn it was obvious that the level 3-6 cell was still directly ahead. Captain attempted to tell ATC we needed further left, but frequency was congested with numerous calls. The captain then took control of the autoplt and turned the aircraft to a safe heading away from the WX. When the radio cleared the captain told ATC of our deviation and our new heading 090 degrees. ATC responded, maintain 10000 ft for traffic directly ahead. I responded by disengaging the autoplt and climbing from 9700 ft to 10000 ft. From this point, ATC gave us vectors around the storm. My feeling is radio frequency congestion prevented clear 2-WAY communication between our aircraft and ATC. This made it difficult (or impossible) for the captain to communicate our safety needs to ATC.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MD88 CHANGED HDG AND DSNDED TO AVOID WX CELLS SHOWN ON THEIR ACFT RADAR WX SCOPE WITHOUT CLRNC FROM CTR DUE TO CONGESTED FREQ.

Narrative: SEVERAL MI N OF MLB, CAPT (PNF) REQUESTED DEVS L OR R OF COURSE. ATC INQUIRED AS TO WHY, AS OTHER ACFT HAD FLOWN THE TRACK WE WERE ON. CAPT RESPONDED THAT WE WERE PAINTING WX AND NEEDED TO DEVIATE. CTR RESPONDED WITH FREQ CHANGE, TELLING US TO MAKE OUR REQUEST ON THE NEXT FREQ. ON INITIAL CALL TO NEW FREQ, CAPT REQUESTED DEV 20 DEGS L FOR WX. ATC RESPONDED, DEV APPROVED, DSND FROM 10000 FT TO 6000 FT. AS WE BEGAN THE TURN IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE LEVEL 3-6 CELL WAS STILL DIRECTLY AHEAD. CAPT ATTEMPTED TO TELL ATC WE NEEDED FURTHER L, BUT FREQ WAS CONGESTED WITH NUMEROUS CALLS. THE CAPT THEN TOOK CTL OF THE AUTOPLT AND TURNED THE ACFT TO A SAFE HDG AWAY FROM THE WX. WHEN THE RADIO CLRED THE CAPT TOLD ATC OF OUR DEV AND OUR NEW HDG 090 DEGS. ATC RESPONDED, MAINTAIN 10000 FT FOR TFC DIRECTLY AHEAD. I RESPONDED BY DISENGAGING THE AUTOPLT AND CLBING FROM 9700 FT TO 10000 FT. FROM THIS POINT, ATC GAVE US VECTORS AROUND THE STORM. MY FEELING IS RADIO FREQ CONGESTION PREVENTED CLR 2-WAY COM BTWN OUR ACFT AND ATC. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT (OR IMPOSSIBLE) FOR THE CAPT TO COMMUNICATE OUR SAFETY NEEDS TO ATC.

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.