<< >> NASA ASRS Report 556349, August 2002

B737-300 crew had the ZMA ARTCC radar controller question the aircraft heading for thunderstorm avoidance.

Attributes
ACN	556349
Time
Date	200208
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vrb.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : marln 4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 10600 flight time type : 240
ASRS Report	556344
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation incursion : taxiway
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : separated traffic controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

ATC requested turn to avoid traffic. While en route to fll, just west of vrb for the marln 4 arrival. We requested a deviation of 150 degrees for WX. It is my understanding that the controller approved deviations as necessary direct dubbl intersection when able. The captain turned to an initial heading of 165 degrees. A few mins later ATC asked us for our heading. I responded with our heading of 165 degrees. ATC responded with the response that he had only approved a heading of 150 degrees and to turn to a 090 degree heading to avoid traffic 15 mi away. ATC also directed us to descend to FL200. No TCASII alert. Once ATC had vertical separation, he cleared us to deviate as necessary direct dubbl when able.

Related reports:

• Flight crew pilot request denied in WX avoidance maneuvers a...

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 CREW HAD THE ZMA ARTCC RADAR CTLR QUESTION THE ACFT HDG FOR TSTM AVOIDANCE.

Narrative: ATC REQUESTED TURN TO AVOID TFC. WHILE ENRTE TO FLL, JUST W OF VRB FOR THE MARLN 4 ARR. WE REQUESTED A DEV OF 150 DEGS FOR WX. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CTLR APPROVED DEVS AS NECESSARY DIRECT DUBBL INTXN WHEN ABLE. THE CAPT TURNED TO AN INITIAL HDG OF 165 DEGS. A FEW MINS LATER ATC ASKED US FOR OUR HDG. I RESPONDED WITH OUR HDG OF 165 DEGS. ATC RESPONDED WITH THE RESPONSE THAT HE HAD ONLY APPROVED A HDG OF 150 DEGS AND TO TURN TO A 090 DEG HDG TO AVOID TFC 15 MI AWAY. ATC ALSO DIRECTED US TO DSND TO FL200. NO TCASII ALERT. ONCE ATC HAD VERT SEPARATION, HE CLRED US TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY DIRECT DUBBL WHEN ABLE.

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.