Track deviation WX factors unable to communicate deviation request to ATC.

Attributes
ACN	118303
Time
Date	198907
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkc
State Reference	MO
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5000
ASRS Report	118303
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Was given heading to intercept airway. Due to thunderstorms we could not turn on airway but continued on given heading with slight deviation for WX. Called center twice before intercepting airway to inform him but no answer. On 3RD call and after we went thru airway a different voice answered (supervisor). He let us deviate as requested but had there been conflicting traffic on the other side of that airway, well it could have ruined my whole weekend! I feel this is another case of overworked controllers just flirting with disaster. He was obviously busy on other frequencys and the phone. Doing his job the best he could, he needs help on bad WX days.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEVIATION WX FACTORS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE DEVIATION REQUEST TO ATC.

Narrative: WAS GIVEN HDG TO INTERCEPT AIRWAY. DUE TO TSTMS WE COULD NOT TURN ON AIRWAY BUT CONTINUED ON GIVEN HDG WITH SLIGHT DEVIATION FOR WX. CALLED CENTER TWICE BEFORE INTERCEPTING AIRWAY TO INFORM HIM BUT NO ANSWER. ON 3RD CALL AND AFTER WE WENT THRU AIRWAY A DIFFERENT VOICE ANSWERED (SUPVR). HE LET US DEVIATE AS REQUESTED BUT HAD THERE BEEN CONFLICTING TFC ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT AIRWAY, WELL IT COULD HAVE RUINED MY WHOLE WEEKEND! I FEEL THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF OVERWORKED CTLRS JUST FLIRTING WITH DISASTER. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY BUSY ON OTHER FREQS AND THE PHONE. DOING HIS JOB THE BEST HE COULD, HE NEEDS HELP ON BAD WX DAYS.

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.