Air carrier unable to accept turns or descent due to WX.

Attributes
ACN	123447
Time
Date	198909
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sav
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6600 flight time type : 950
ASRS Report	123447
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route pbi to phl our WX radar gave out due to an antenna problem. South of sav VOR we were generally on top at FL370. After a handoff within ZJX I advised the new controller we were now without radar and to please keep us advised to the direction other aircraft were deviating due to WX along our route. A few moments later the controller gave us a 30 degree turn to the right for traffic. I told him we were unable as it would put us in the top of a cell. He then gave us a 50 degree turn to the left which I refused for the same reason. Again he gave us a clearance to FL350 which I again refused. I repeated the radar problem to him and said I would not take any turn or dscnts into the WX as we were now visual. He told me this was an inconvenience and somehow really didn't understand (we were traversing hurricane hugo's initial landfall). I think controllers should be more aware of this type of problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR UNABLE TO ACCEPT TURNS OR DESCENT DUE TO WX.

Narrative: ENRTE PBI TO PHL OUR WX RADAR GAVE OUT DUE TO AN ANTENNA PROBLEM. S OF SAV VOR WE WERE GENERALLY ON TOP AT FL370. AFTER A HANDOFF WITHIN ZJX I ADVISED THE NEW CTLR WE WERE NOW WITHOUT RADAR AND TO PLEASE KEEP US ADVISED TO THE DIRECTION OTHER ACFT WERE DEVIATING DUE TO WX ALONG OUR ROUTE. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE CTLR GAVE US A 30 DEG TURN TO THE RIGHT FOR TFC. I TOLD HIM WE WERE UNABLE AS IT WOULD PUT US IN THE TOP OF A CELL. HE THEN GAVE US A 50 DEG TURN TO THE LEFT WHICH I REFUSED FOR THE SAME REASON. AGAIN HE GAVE US A CLRNC TO FL350 WHICH I AGAIN REFUSED. I REPEATED THE RADAR PROBLEM TO HIM AND SAID I WOULD NOT TAKE ANY TURN OR DSCNTS INTO THE WX AS WE WERE NOW VISUAL. HE TOLD ME THIS WAS AN INCONVENIENCE AND SOMEHOW REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND (WE WERE TRAVERSING HURRICANE HUGO'S INITIAL LANDFALL). I THINK CTLRS SHOULD BE MORE AWARE OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.

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.