Narrative:

Air carrier X was proceeding swbnd on J121 and air carrier Y was swbnd on J174. Air carrier X requested an alternate clearance direct to ilm then J174 to chs. The aircraft was advised that he could deviate for WX and proceed direct to chs when he was able. His expected course for the WX deviation was west of J193 based on the flight paths of previous aircraft that had deviated around WX in the same general vicinity. When it was realized that air carrier X had turned further southeast, he was asked what his heading was and he replied 160 degree. Air carrier X was then given a descent clearance and a turn to the southwest. Air carrier Y was then given a turn to the left. After issuance of a 240 degree heading to air carrier X, he advised that he didn't want to turn that direction. After being informed that the turn was for traffic, he was observed making the turn. Training was in progress on a combined sector at this time. I was the instructor. WX is a factor that we have to deal with and we realize that pilots will deviate around it. I think it's imperative that accurate descriptions of course changes be provided controllers because there is usually more than one aircraft being worked at one time and it's rather difficult to authorize 'carte blanche' approval for all aircraft to deviate where there want to.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DEVIATING AROUND WX CONFLICTED WITH ANOTHER ACR. VECTORS TO SEPARATE ACFT WERE NOT ENOUGH TO AVOID LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: ACR X WAS PROCEEDING SWBND ON J121 AND ACR Y WAS SWBND ON J174. ACR X REQUESTED AN ALTERNATE CLRNC DIRECT TO ILM THEN J174 TO CHS. THE ACFT WAS ADVISED THAT HE COULD DEVIATE FOR WX AND PROCEED DIRECT TO CHS WHEN HE WAS ABLE. HIS EXPECTED COURSE FOR THE WX DEVIATION WAS W OF J193 BASED ON THE FLT PATHS OF PREVIOUS ACFT THAT HAD DEVIATED AROUND WX IN THE SAME GENERAL VICINITY. WHEN IT WAS REALIZED THAT ACR X HAD TURNED FURTHER SE, HE WAS ASKED WHAT HIS HDG WAS AND HE REPLIED 160 DEG. ACR X WAS THEN GIVEN A DSCNT CLRNC AND A TURN TO THE SW. ACR Y WAS THEN GIVEN A TURN TO THE LEFT. AFTER ISSUANCE OF A 240 DEG HDG TO ACR X, HE ADVISED THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO TURN THAT DIRECTION. AFTER BEING INFORMED THAT THE TURN WAS FOR TFC, HE WAS OBSERVED MAKING THE TURN. TRAINING WAS IN PROGRESS ON A COMBINED SECTOR AT THIS TIME. I WAS THE INSTRUCTOR. WX IS A FACTOR THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND WE REALIZE THAT PLTS WILL DEVIATE AROUND IT. I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS OF COURSE CHANGES BE PROVIDED CTLRS BECAUSE THERE IS USUALLY MORE THAN ONE ACFT BEING WORKED AT ONE TIME AND IT'S RATHER DIFFICULT TO AUTHORIZE 'CARTE BLANCHE' APPROVAL FOR ALL ACFT TO DEVIATE WHERE THERE WANT TO.

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.