Narrative:

Cleared by J24 ind to lax. Vectored by center to fly 270 degree heading to intercept J24. Deviated to 240 degree heading with center approval to avoid WX. Returned (with center approval) to 270 degree heading to intercept J24. Changed center frequency to new sector and was given direct to zuni. Popped out among the tops at this time to see thunderstorm top going north to south, 10 mi to our left and 3 mi to the right. Center was too busy for us to tell him we were deviating to north (3 mi end run). About 60 seconds after direct zuni cleared thunderstorm top and headed direct zuni. Center got a bit miffed because we did not go direct at clearance. Did not press the issue since he was still too busy to explain to why we were slow to turn. We never did get to J24, our filed route, and if we had been allowed to hold 270 degree heading to intercept the second time, would not have had to deviate. Don't believe that there was any real conflict, just enough to excite center controller. I think I'm glad to retire soon, with all the computers and traffic it won't be long before we will have to fly through all the storms because there will be no allowance for deviation because of traffic--or traffic will be reduced and then we'll have fewer pilots with jobs. I liked it better when the guys in the air and the guys on the ground were allowed to think and were not stuck with the parameters of a computer that is loaded by a guy who does not fly.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG DEVIATED FROM CLRNC ROUTE DURING ENROUTE WX AVOIDANCE.

Narrative: CLRED BY J24 IND TO LAX. VECTORED BY CENTER TO FLY 270 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT J24. DEVIATED TO 240 DEG HDG WITH CENTER APPROVAL TO AVOID WX. RETURNED (WITH CENTER APPROVAL) TO 270 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT J24. CHANGED CENTER FREQ TO NEW SECTOR AND WAS GIVEN DIRECT TO ZUNI. POPPED OUT AMONG THE TOPS AT THIS TIME TO SEE TSTM TOP GOING N TO S, 10 MI TO OUR LEFT AND 3 MI TO THE RIGHT. CENTER WAS TOO BUSY FOR US TO TELL HIM WE WERE DEVIATING TO N (3 MI END RUN). ABOUT 60 SECS AFTER DIRECT ZUNI CLRED TSTM TOP AND HEADED DIRECT ZUNI. CENTER GOT A BIT MIFFED BECAUSE WE DID NOT GO DIRECT AT CLRNC. DID NOT PRESS THE ISSUE SINCE HE WAS STILL TOO BUSY TO EXPLAIN TO WHY WE WERE SLOW TO TURN. WE NEVER DID GET TO J24, OUR FILED ROUTE, AND IF WE HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO HOLD 270 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT THE SECOND TIME, WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO DEVIATE. DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS ANY REAL CONFLICT, JUST ENOUGH TO EXCITE CENTER CTLR. I THINK I'M GLAD TO RETIRE SOON, WITH ALL THE COMPUTERS AND TFC IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE WE WILL HAVE TO FLY THROUGH ALL THE STORMS BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO ALLOWANCE FOR DEVIATION BECAUSE OF TFC--OR TFC WILL BE REDUCED AND THEN WE'LL HAVE FEWER PLTS WITH JOBS. I LIKED IT BETTER WHEN THE GUYS IN THE AIR AND THE GUYS ON THE GND WERE ALLOWED TO THINK AND WERE NOT STUCK WITH THE PARAMETERS OF A COMPUTER THAT IS LOADED BY A GUY WHO DOES NOT FLY.

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