Narrative:

Climbing out on the departure there were scattered build-ups covering the departure corridor. As we turned direct emmys it became apparent that a deviation for a large building area of convective activity was necessary. We had been cleared to FL290 and were passing through 16000 ft when the incident occurred. The frequency was very crowded and I could not get a transmission in prior to the deviation. We deviated approximately 10 degrees north of course for about 2 mins to go behind (upwind) of the build-up. I informed ATC when the frequency cleared. He immediately told me I needed to inform him prior to deviation and I told him that I was unable to do that due to radio chatter. He immediately informed me of traffic converging and assigned that traffic to stop their descent and we had our climb assignment amended. He again reiterated that we needed to inform him prior to deviation and I repeated we would do our best. We were back on course within 4-5 mins and we reclred to climb. We were not informed of separation loss; but ATC was clearly agitated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW HAS TRACK HDG DEV DURING THE PLAINS 3 DEP DUE TO WX.

Narrative: CLBING OUT ON THE DEP THERE WERE SCATTERED BUILD-UPS COVERING THE DEP CORRIDOR. AS WE TURNED DIRECT EMMYS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT A DEV FOR A LARGE BUILDING AREA OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WAS NECESSARY. WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO FL290 AND WERE PASSING THROUGH 16000 FT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FREQ WAS VERY CROWDED AND I COULD NOT GET A XMISSION IN PRIOR TO THE DEV. WE DEVIATED APPROX 10 DEGS N OF COURSE FOR ABOUT 2 MINS TO GO BEHIND (UPWIND) OF THE BUILD-UP. I INFORMED ATC WHEN THE FREQ CLRED. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO INFORM HIM PRIOR TO DEV AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DO THAT DUE TO RADIO CHATTER. HE IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME OF TFC CONVERGING AND ASSIGNED THAT TFC TO STOP THEIR DSCNT AND WE HAD OUR CLB ASSIGNMENT AMENDED. HE AGAIN REITERATED THAT WE NEEDED TO INFORM HIM PRIOR TO DEV AND I REPEATED WE WOULD DO OUR BEST. WE WERE BACK ON COURSE WITHIN 4-5 MINS AND WE RECLRED TO CLB. WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF SEPARATION LOSS; BUT ATC WAS CLRLY AGITATED.

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.