B767 flight crew reported deviating around thunderstorms during an atlantic crossing without clearan...

Narrative:

We were cleared westbound thru new york oceanic fir (kzwy) via a random route; n42w040; n42w050; soory; ovapi; savik at FL320. We successfully logged on to kzwy prior to reaching n42w040 with cpdlc. Prior to reaching the next reporting point at W050 we received a 'datalink lost' message on our forward screen indicating temporary loss of ACARS and cpdlc. We attempted to log back on with kzwy; we were unable. After passing W050 we received a cell call from ny radio requesting our W050 position report. We complied and explained we will be reverting to voice procedures until cpdlc recovery. Approaching soory at about W055 we called ny radio on HF freq 17946. Asked and received clearance to deviate up to 20 miles left of course and a climb to FL360 for weather avoidance. We were told to report back on course by time XA40Z and report level FL360. At about XA30Z we tried to reach ny radio on freq 17946 to report both level FL360 and on course plus give an updated soory estimate but we were unable to hear ny radio. We could here other aircraft communicating but we could not here ny. At this time the need to deviate right of course for weather became imminent. In the vicinity of soory we deviated up to 15 miles right for weather; broadcasting in the blind on HF and VHF121.5. We successfully reached another aircraft on 121.5 who passed along our request for deviation to the controller he was working with which was a different sector than the one we were entering. Lost in translation; the request for a left deviation was passed and received. We were also passed the ny VHF freq which we eventually regained contact on. We explained to the ny controller that we were right of course; not left; and that we were at FL360. Radar contact was gained and a clearance to fly direct to sie was received. The rest of the flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 flight crew reported deviating around thunderstorms during an Atlantic crossing without clearance; ZWY could not be reached via CPDLC or HF voice.

Narrative: We were cleared westbound thru New York Oceanic FIR (KZWY) via a random route; N42W040; N42W050; SOORY; OVAPI; SAVIK at FL320. We successfully logged on to KZWY prior to reaching N42W040 with CPDLC. Prior to reaching the next reporting point at W050 we received a 'DATALINK LOST' message on our forward screen indicating temporary loss of ACARS and CPDLC. We attempted to log back on with KZWY; we were unable. After passing W050 we received a cell call from NY Radio requesting our W050 position report. We complied and explained we will be reverting to Voice procedures until CPDLC recovery. Approaching SOORY at about W055 we called NY Radio on HF freq 17946. Asked and received clearance to deviate up to 20 miles left of course and a climb to FL360 for weather avoidance. We were told to report back on course by time XA40Z and Report level FL360. At about XA30Z we tried to reach NY Radio on freq 17946 to report both level FL360 and on course plus give an updated SOORY estimate but we were unable to hear NY Radio. We could here other aircraft communicating but we could not here NY. At this time the need to deviate right of course for weather became imminent. In the vicinity of SOORY we deviated up to 15 miles right for weather; broadcasting in the blind on HF and VHF121.5. We successfully reached another aircraft on 121.5 who passed along our request for deviation to the controller he was working with which was a different sector than the one we were entering. Lost in translation; the request for a left deviation was passed and received. We were also passed the NY VHF Freq which we eventually regained contact on. We explained to the NY controller that we were right of course; not left; and that we were at FL360. Radar contact was gained and a clearance to fly direct to SIE was received. The rest of the flight was uneventful.

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	1373360
Time
Date	201607
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZWY.ARTCC
State Reference	NY
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Data Transmission and Automatic Calling
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180 Flight Crew Total 15623 Flight Crew Type 7840
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Type 10564
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

B767 flight crew reported deviating around thunderstorms during an atlantic crossing without clearance; zwy could not be reached via cpdlc or HF voice.