Narrative:

Sbound on A300, I was faced with a WX deviation situation. I called comrdo and advised them (not a request) that I was deviating up to 50 NM west of course for WX. The other option was 100+ mi east of course. As usual, the time delay inherent in 1950's technology radio communication forced me into making a decision before comrdo responded to my advisory. When they finally called back we were well into our west deviation and they advised that new york was unable my 'request.' since I was unable to deviation east as suggested by new york, and I did not care to penetrate thunderstorms on A300, I advised comrdo that I was exercising my captain's emergency authority/authorized. I proceeded with my west deviation to 50 NM west of A300 and, once clear of the WX, I proceeded back to course. As long as we are forced to use antiquated equipment that is older than every current airline pilot, there is going to be a safety issue because of a lack of good communication. The skies are getting busier and FAA should address this problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 CAPT, PF, DECLARED AN EMER WITH ZNY IN ORDER TO AVOID TSTMS DURING A FLT FROM JFK TO CCS.

Narrative: SBOUND ON A300, I WAS FACED WITH A WX DEV SIT. I CALLED COMRDO AND ADVISED THEM (NOT A REQUEST) THAT I WAS DEVIATING UP TO 50 NM W OF COURSE FOR WX. THE OTHER OPTION WAS 100+ MI E OF COURSE. AS USUAL, THE TIME DELAY INHERENT IN 1950'S TECHNOLOGY RADIO COM FORCED ME INTO MAKING A DECISION BEFORE COMRDO RESPONDED TO MY ADVISORY. WHEN THEY FINALLY CALLED BACK WE WERE WELL INTO OUR W DEV AND THEY ADVISED THAT NEW YORK WAS UNABLE MY 'REQUEST.' SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO DEV E AS SUGGESTED BY NEW YORK, AND I DID NOT CARE TO PENETRATE TSTMS ON A300, I ADVISED COMRDO THAT I WAS EXERCISING MY CAPT'S EMER AUTH. I PROCEEDED WITH MY W DEV TO 50 NM W OF A300 AND, ONCE CLR OF THE WX, I PROCEEDED BACK TO COURSE. AS LONG AS WE ARE FORCED TO USE ANTIQUATED EQUIP THAT IS OLDER THAN EVERY CURRENT AIRLINE PLT, THERE IS GOING TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF GOOD COM. THE SKIES ARE GETTING BUSIER AND FAA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROB.

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.