Narrative:

We were flying inbound to st pete VOR on J-41 approximately 90 DME northwest of the VOR. Center called us and advised that we were west of course by 6 mi, and to correct 30 degree left. I advised the controller that both VOR needles were centered up on the 150 degree radial showing very little deviation, perhaps 1 mi or less. He told us again to correct. At that time I saw a cell (thunderstorm) ahead of us, and a 30 degree left correction would put me into the WX which I didn't want to do. He then, excitedly, told me to squawk 7700 and declare 'may day'. This was a very uncalled for comment, which caught us off guard. I then told the controller we were complying with his original clearance and didn't understand why he even suggested calling for an emergency. The ATC system is getting worse, not better. Novice controllers along with traffic saturation is causing a lot of the problems. As is the 'hot' military airspace. I will not, under any circumstances, fly my aircraft into known cell activity, and don't need to be reprimanded by strained controllers because they can't clear a flight around severe WX.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CTLR WANTED FLT TO TURN BACK ON COURSE BUT HDG WOULD TAKE THE FLT INTO TSTM ACTIVITY. FLC AT FIRST REFUSED HDG BUT EVENTUALLY COMPLIED.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING INBOUND TO ST PETE VOR ON J-41 APPROX 90 DME NW OF THE VOR. CENTER CALLED US AND ADVISED THAT WE WERE W OF COURSE BY 6 MI, AND TO CORRECT 30 DEG L. I ADVISED THE CTLR THAT BOTH VOR NEEDLES WERE CENTERED UP ON THE 150 DEG RADIAL SHOWING VERY LITTLE DEV, PERHAPS 1 MI OR LESS. HE TOLD US AGAIN TO CORRECT. AT THAT TIME I SAW A CELL (TSTM) AHEAD OF US, AND A 30 DEG L CORRECTION WOULD PUT ME INTO THE WX WHICH I DIDN'T WANT TO DO. HE THEN, EXCITEDLY, TOLD ME TO SQUAWK 7700 AND DECLARE 'MAY DAY'. THIS WAS A VERY UNCALLED FOR COMMENT, WHICH CAUGHT US OFF GUARD. I THEN TOLD THE CTLR WE WERE COMPLYING WITH HIS ORIGINAL CLRNC AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE EVEN SUGGESTED CALLING FOR AN EMER. THE ATC SYSTEM IS GETTING WORSE, NOT BETTER. NOVICE CTLRS ALONG WITH TFC SATURATION IS CAUSING A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS. AS IS THE 'HOT' MIL AIRSPACE. I WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, FLY MY ACFT INTO KNOWN CELL ACTIVITY, AND DON'T NEED TO BE REPRIMANDED BY STRAINED CTLRS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CLR A FLT AROUND SEVERE WX.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.