Iah departure controller became upset when a departing A319 crew made several deviations around WX c...

Attributes
ACN	556996
Time
Date	200208
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	556996
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While departing iah runway 15L in VFR conditions, but with TRSA in the local TCA, air carrier X accepted a takeoff clearance to fly heading 120 degrees. The radar showed a 'hole' in that direction so we incorrectly assumed we would be flying through that hole. Contacting departure, we were given a right turn to fly 140 degrees. We could not accept this due to a cell. As we leveled at 4000 ft, we began 'zigzagging' to avoid cells and moderate turbulence. We requested higher or a turn to the northeast (clear there). The controller said no. We picked our way as close to the 120-140 degrees as possible avoiding high buildups, (passenger safety). Finally the controller gave us a heading of north and began a 2 min lecture on 'how dare we put him into a situation like this, etc, etc.' he and the captain exchanged words while I flew. Poor coordination between tower and departure. If there is WX there, send us some place else.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IAH DEP CTLR BECAME UPSET WHEN A DEPARTING A319 CREW MADE SEVERAL DEVS AROUND WX CELLS.

Narrative: WHILE DEPARTING IAH RWY 15L IN VFR CONDITIONS, BUT WITH TRSA IN THE LCL TCA, ACR X ACCEPTED A TKOF CLRNC TO FLY HEADING 120 DEGS. THE RADAR SHOWED A 'HOLE' IN THAT DIRECTION SO WE INCORRECTLY ASSUMED WE WOULD BE FLYING THROUGH THAT HOLE. CONTACTING DEP, WE WERE GIVEN A R TURN TO FLY 140 DEGS. WE COULD NOT ACCEPT THIS DUE TO A CELL. AS WE LEVELED AT 4000 FT, WE BEGAN 'ZIGZAGGING' TO AVOID CELLS AND MODERATE TURB. WE REQUESTED HIGHER OR A TURN TO THE NE (CLR THERE). THE CTLR SAID NO. WE PICKED OUR WAY AS CLOSE TO THE 120-140 DEGS AS POSSIBLE AVOIDING HIGH BUILDUPS, (PAX SAFETY). FINALLY THE CTLR GAVE US A HEADING OF N AND BEGAN A 2 MIN LECTURE ON 'HOW DARE WE PUT HIM INTO A SIT LIKE THIS, ETC, ETC.' HE AND THE CAPT EXCHANGED WORDS WHILE I FLEW. POOR COORD BTWN TWR AND DEP. IF THERE IS WX THERE, SEND US SOME PLACE ELSE.

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.

Iah departure controller became upset when a departing A319 crew made several deviations around WX cells.