A B747-400 flight crew declared an emergency and deviated from their assigned course over the pacifi...

Attributes
ACN	801070
Time
Date	200808
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rjff.tracon
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	801070
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

After logging on cpdlc to rjjj we encountered a twring cumulo nimbus on our route. I requested deviation L12. The response was 'standby.' 2 mins later I sent a free text stating; 'we need left or right of course now.' the response was 'standby.' we then were at a point that deviation was required without clearance. I free texted 'declaring emergency for WX deviation. Deviating right of course.' we broadcast our situation on 123.45. No other aircraft were seen visually or on TCAS. We deviated a maximum of 7 NM right of course. As we were proceeding back to course; we received a response; 'descend to FL320 and cleared to deviate L10.' I responded 'unable' and free texted 'proceeding back on course.' no other communication concerning this incident was made. This is a far too common an occurrence in tokyo (fukuoka) oceanic. Very unresponsive to needed WX deviation requests. 2 other flts on 123.45 at the time said they had to deviate without clearance to avoid WX also. I chose to declare the emergency. It appears that the controllers have little understanding of the urgent needs during adverse WX operations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B747-400 FLIGHT CREW DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND DEVIATED FROM THEIR ASSIGNED COURSE OVER THE PACIFIC WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED THUNDERSTORMS AND COULD NOT GET A CLEARANCE.

Narrative: AFTER LOGGING ON CPDLC TO RJJJ WE ENCOUNTERED A TWRING CUMULO NIMBUS ON OUR RTE. I REQUESTED DEV L12. THE RESPONSE WAS 'STANDBY.' 2 MINS LATER I SENT A FREE TEXT STATING; 'WE NEED L OR R OF COURSE NOW.' THE RESPONSE WAS 'STANDBY.' WE THEN WERE AT A POINT THAT DEV WAS REQUIRED WITHOUT CLRNC. I FREE TEXTED 'DECLARING EMER FOR WX DEV. DEVIATING R OF COURSE.' WE BROADCAST OUR SITUATION ON 123.45. NO OTHER ACFT WERE SEEN VISUALLY OR ON TCAS. WE DEVIATED A MAX OF 7 NM R OF COURSE. AS WE WERE PROCEEDING BACK TO COURSE; WE RECEIVED A RESPONSE; 'DSND TO FL320 AND CLRED TO DEVIATE L10.' I RESPONDED 'UNABLE' AND FREE TEXTED 'PROCEEDING BACK ON COURSE.' NO OTHER COM CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT WAS MADE. THIS IS A FAR TOO COMMON AN OCCURRENCE IN TOKYO (FUKUOKA) OCEANIC. VERY UNRESPONSIVE TO NEEDED WX DEV REQUESTS. 2 OTHER FLTS ON 123.45 AT THE TIME SAID THEY HAD TO DEVIATE WITHOUT CLRNC TO AVOID WX ALSO. I CHOSE TO DECLARE THE EMER. IT APPEARS THAT THE CTLRS HAVE LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE URGENT NEEDS DURING ADVERSE WX OPS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

A B747-400 flight crew declared an emergency and deviated from their assigned course over the pacific when they encountered thunderstorms and could not get a clearance.