Narrative:

The issue with this aircraft was that he departed potomac field in MVFR conditions with an IFR flight plan on file. Level 3 and level 4 rain storms were to his immediate south and moving to the north. I vectored him north away from WX; so he could get on course (wbound). I was told to never do this again because of frz procedures. (Any other alternative; however; would have taken him at least 100 mi out of his way during worsening WX conditions.) I feel that controllers should be allowed to use their best judgement in circumstances such as these. This aircraft was already in the frz; departing from an airport in the frz.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PCT CTLR IS CRITIQUED FOR TURNING IFR ACFT; STILL VFR AWAITING CLRNC; TOWARDS WASHINGTON FRZ BECAUSE OF WX FACTORS.

Narrative: THE ISSUE WITH THIS ACFT WAS THAT HE DEPARTED POTOMAC FIELD IN MVFR CONDITIONS WITH AN IFR FLT PLAN ON FILE. LEVEL 3 AND LEVEL 4 RAIN STORMS WERE TO HIS IMMEDIATE S AND MOVING TO THE N. I VECTORED HIM N AWAY FROM WX; SO HE COULD GET ON COURSE (WBOUND). I WAS TOLD TO NEVER DO THIS AGAIN BECAUSE OF FRZ PROCS. (ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE; HOWEVER; WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM AT LEAST 100 MI OUT OF HIS WAY DURING WORSENING WX CONDITIONS.) I FEEL THAT CTLRS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE THEIR BEST JUDGEMENT IN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THESE. THIS ACFT WAS ALREADY IN THE FRZ; DEPARTING FROM AN ARPT IN THE FRZ.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.