A320 flight crew deviates for WX without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	700026
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : a554.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	700026
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Sbound on A554 while in contact with new york on HF; I requested a deviation east of course of 30 NM to avoid a very well defined area of heavy precipitation (thunderstorm) depicted on the radar. New york read back my request as 40 NM east. I did not correct them as my 30 NM request was a bit generous. New york relayed from new york oceanic that my request was denied due to aircraft 11 mins behind me. We were 80 mi from the thunderstorm. I asked to ask again and that in 35 NM I would have to deviation. Again ny oceanic denied my request. At 30 NM from the thunderstorm; I advised new york to inform new york oceanic I was deviating east of course for WX avoidance and would return to course by kupel; then about 50-60 NM away. Maximum deviation from course was 27 NM east; and returned to track 10 NM north of kupel. When back on course; I advised new york. I also asked them to forward to new york oceanic that I could increase speed to mach .80 (previous mach .79) to recover any spacing lost. New york oceanic acknowledged but did not require speed change.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW DEVIATES FOR WX WITHOUT A CLRNC.

Narrative: SBOUND ON A554 WHILE IN CONTACT WITH NEW YORK ON HF; I REQUESTED A DEV E OF COURSE OF 30 NM TO AVOID A VERY WELL DEFINED AREA OF HVY PRECIP (TSTM) DEPICTED ON THE RADAR. NEW YORK READ BACK MY REQUEST AS 40 NM E. I DID NOT CORRECT THEM AS MY 30 NM REQUEST WAS A BIT GENEROUS. NEW YORK RELAYED FROM NEW YORK OCEANIC THAT MY REQUEST WAS DENIED DUE TO ACFT 11 MINS BEHIND ME. WE WERE 80 MI FROM THE TSTM. I ASKED TO ASK AGAIN AND THAT IN 35 NM I WOULD HAVE TO DEV. AGAIN NY OCEANIC DENIED MY REQUEST. AT 30 NM FROM THE TSTM; I ADVISED NEW YORK TO INFORM NEW YORK OCEANIC I WAS DEVIATING E OF COURSE FOR WX AVOIDANCE AND WOULD RETURN TO COURSE BY KUPEL; THEN ABOUT 50-60 NM AWAY. MAX DEV FROM COURSE WAS 27 NM E; AND RETURNED TO TRACK 10 NM N OF KUPEL. WHEN BACK ON COURSE; I ADVISED NEW YORK. I ALSO ASKED THEM TO FORWARD TO NEW YORK OCEANIC THAT I COULD INCREASE SPD TO MACH .80 (PREVIOUS MACH .79) TO RECOVER ANY SPACING LOST. NEW YORK OCEANIC ACKNOWLEDGED BUT DID NOT REQUIRE SPD CHANGE.

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.