Narrative:

Departed originally on 360 degree heading off of runway 3L at dtw, (had held on ground for 45 mins as thunderstorms passed over and around airport) climbing to 10000 ft. Passing 5000 ft, given a 300 degree heading and soon after, a 240 degree heading and climbed to 13000 ft. Could visually see many cells as we began turn and radar was painting numerous red cells and radar. Captain requested a 190 degree heading to avoid cells to the east. Controller said unable because of traffic. Captain then requested 270 degree heading so as to avoid cells to the west. Controller said fly 240 degree heading once again. (Would not let us turn east or west of cells.) captain replied that we were going to fly 260 degree heading to avoid thunderstorm cells. Controller then said, 'understand you are declaring a WX emergency. Maintain 10000 ft, you are in charge of traffic separation.' we began descent to 10000 ft on 260 degree heading. Then turned sbound to avoid cells. Entered part of cell and received heavy rain and possible hail just as controller was giving more heading instructions. Were about to question instructions when he told us to identify because of no reply. We concurred by identing and followed instructions on other side of cells. Controller was no help in avoiding WX. We gave him 2 options to avoid WX and he would not help. Wanted us to fly straight through red cell. Maintenance check on ground after flight confirmed hail damage on leading edge of horizontal stabilizer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW EXERCISES 'COMMAND AUTH' FROM D21 DEP CTLR DUE TO WX FACTORS ALONG RTE OF FLT WHEN PLT WX DEV REQUESTS ARE NOT APPROVED BY CTLR.

Narrative: DEPARTED ORIGINALLY ON 360 DEG HDG OFF OF RWY 3L AT DTW, (HAD HELD ON GND FOR 45 MINS AS TSTMS PASSED OVER AND AROUND ARPT) CLBING TO 10000 FT. PASSING 5000 FT, GIVEN A 300 DEG HDG AND SOON AFTER, A 240 DEG HDG AND CLBED TO 13000 FT. COULD VISUALLY SEE MANY CELLS AS WE BEGAN TURN AND RADAR WAS PAINTING NUMEROUS RED CELLS AND RADAR. CAPT REQUESTED A 190 DEG HDG TO AVOID CELLS TO THE E. CTLR SAID UNABLE BECAUSE OF TFC. CAPT THEN REQUESTED 270 DEG HDG SO AS TO AVOID CELLS TO THE W. CTLR SAID FLY 240 DEG HDG ONCE AGAIN. (WOULD NOT LET US TURN E OR W OF CELLS.) CAPT REPLIED THAT WE WERE GOING TO FLY 260 DEG HDG TO AVOID TSTM CELLS. CTLR THEN SAID, 'UNDERSTAND YOU ARE DECLARING A WX EMER. MAINTAIN 10000 FT, YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF TFC SEPARATION.' WE BEGAN DSCNT TO 10000 FT ON 260 DEG HDG. THEN TURNED SBOUND TO AVOID CELLS. ENTERED PART OF CELL AND RECEIVED HVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE HAIL JUST AS CTLR WAS GIVING MORE HDG INSTRUCTIONS. WERE ABOUT TO QUESTION INSTRUCTIONS WHEN HE TOLD US TO IDENT BECAUSE OF NO REPLY. WE CONCURRED BY IDENTING AND FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS ON OTHER SIDE OF CELLS. CTLR WAS NO HELP IN AVOIDING WX. WE GAVE HIM 2 OPTIONS TO AVOID WX AND HE WOULD NOT HELP. WANTED US TO FLY STRAIGHT THROUGH RED CELL. MAINT CHK ON GND AFTER FLT CONFIRMED HAIL DAMAGE ON LEADING EDGE OF HORIZ STABILIZER.

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.