Narrative:

While sbound on AR1, approaching heatt intersection, made multiple attempts to contact ZMA to get a deviation approved around maximum intensity steep gradient cells over heatt intersection. All other aircraft on this route were deviating and the frequency was very congested. After about 5 mins of trying to get through to center, we initiated a turn to the east in order to avoid the cells. I continued trying to get a response from center until about 6 mi east of the airway when I declared an emergency, in order to get his attention, before a traffic conflict could occur. Center responded and approved the deviation at that time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 FLC HAS DIFFICULTY IN CONTACTING ZMA CTLR BECAUSE OF FREQ CONGESTION WHEN DEVIATING OFF COURSE FROM AR1 THAT WAS SATURATED WITH TSTM ACTIVITY NEAR HEATT INTXN, FL.

Narrative: WHILE SBOUND ON AR1, APCHING HEATT INTXN, MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT ZMA TO GET A DEV APPROVED AROUND MAX INTENSITY STEEP GRADIENT CELLS OVER HEATT INTXN. ALL OTHER ACFT ON THIS RTE WERE DEVIATING AND THE FREQ WAS VERY CONGESTED. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS OF TRYING TO GET THROUGH TO CTR, WE INITIATED A TURN TO THE E IN ORDER TO AVOID THE CELLS. I CONTINUED TRYING TO GET A RESPONSE FROM CTR UNTIL ABOUT 6 MI E OF THE AIRWAY WHEN I DECLARED AN EMER, IN ORDER TO GET HIS ATTN, BEFORE A TFC CONFLICT COULD OCCUR. CTR RESPONDED AND APPROVED THE DEV AT THAT TIME.

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.