ZLC controller reported of an interpretation change of the FAA order 7110.65 at the ARTCC. The repor...

Narrative:

A recent interpretation of the 7110.65 by the ZLC airspace office determined that routes of aircraft not covered by radar could not be amended. This was meant to include deviations for weather. There was a slide that stated that we were/are unable to authorize deviations to avoid weather for non radar aircraft. I couldn't believe it. ZLC sector 17 has large areas that lack radar coverage below 12;000ft MSL when all of the radar sites are operational. Aircraft X was on an IFR flight plan at 8;000ft MSL.we routinely lose radar coverage on this flight somewhere between the olf and ggw. Somewhere on the west side of ggw; aircraft X requested a deviation around weather along his route. [Special considerations were taken for aircraft X] as advised by the airspace office. I relieved the controller and asked aircraft X if they were clear of the weather and if they could re-intercept airway V430. They responded in the affirmative and did so.there needs to be a safe solution that allows for the assistance of aircraft that need to initiate an instrument approach or deviate around weather without radar coverage. [Having to give special considerations to aircraft] 20 times a day and/or telling the pilots unable due to lack of radar coverage is unacceptable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLC Controller reported of an interpretation change of the FAA Order 7110.65 at the ARTCC. The reporter stated 'routes of aircraft not covered by radar could not be amended.' Reporter wanted a safe solution that allows the assistance of aircraft that may need to deviate for weather or approaches.

Narrative: A recent interpretation of the 7110.65 by the ZLC airspace office determined that routes of aircraft not covered by radar could not be amended. This was meant to include deviations for weather. There was a slide that stated that we were/are unable to authorize deviations to avoid weather for non radar aircraft. I couldn't believe it. ZLC sector 17 has large areas that lack radar coverage below 12;000ft MSL when all of the radar sites are operational. Aircraft X was on an IFR flight plan at 8;000ft MSL.We routinely lose radar coverage on this flight somewhere between the OLF and GGW. Somewhere on the west side of GGW; Aircraft X requested a deviation around weather along his route. [Special considerations were taken for Aircraft X] as advised by the airspace office. I relieved the controller and asked Aircraft X if they were clear of the weather and if they could re-intercept airway V430. They responded in the affirmative and did so.There needs to be a safe solution that allows for the assistance of aircraft that need to initiate an instrument approach or deviate around weather without radar coverage. [Having to give special considerations to aircraft] 20 times a day and/or telling the pilots unable due to lack of radar coverage is unacceptable.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1345144
Time
Date	201604
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZLC.ARTCC
State Reference	UT
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Airway V340
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZLC controller reported of an interpretation change of the FAA order 7110.65 at the ARTCC. The reporter stated 'routes of aircraft not covered by radar could not be amended.' reporter wanted a safe solution that allows the assistance of aircraft that may need to deviate for weather or approaches.