Improper use of TCASII TA in WX avoidance on departure by air carrier medium large transport.

Attributes
ACN	208987
Time
Date	199204
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	208987
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

We were departing the rdu airport to the northwest through a break in a line of thunderstorms. We had coordinated with tower prior to departure for a heading of 340 degrees. After becoming airborne, departure control restr us to 6000 MSL due to their inbound line of traffic. We requested a 5 degree deviation in heading for WX. The controller refused several requests 'due to traffic.' we had TCASII and could see that the traffic was a factor but not limiting. We advised the controller, then climbed and turned at maximum rate to 8000 MSL to avoid the traffic and WX. Then the controller cleared us back down until we were clear of all WX and traffic, and could take up a northeast heading and climb to altitude. This altitude deviation could have been avoided if ATC was provided with an 'on screen' depiction of WX! He could have either closed departures, or rerted inbounds through the corridor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMPROPER USE OF TCASII TA IN WX AVOIDANCE ON DEP BY ACR MLG.

Narrative: WE WERE DEPARTING THE RDU ARPT TO THE NW THROUGH A BREAK IN A LINE OF TSTMS. WE HAD COORDINATED WITH TWR PRIOR TO DEP FOR A HDG OF 340 DEGS. AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, DEP CTL RESTR US TO 6000 MSL DUE TO THEIR INBOUND LINE OF TFC. WE REQUESTED A 5 DEG DEV IN HDG FOR WX. THE CTLR REFUSED SEVERAL REQUESTS 'DUE TO TFC.' WE HAD TCASII AND COULD SEE THAT THE TFC WAS A FACTOR BUT NOT LIMITING. WE ADVISED THE CTLR, THEN CLBED AND TURNED AT MAX RATE TO 8000 MSL TO AVOID THE TFC AND WX. THEN THE CTLR CLRED US BACK DOWN UNTIL WE WERE CLR OF ALL WX AND TFC, AND COULD TAKE UP A NE HDG AND CLB TO ALT. THIS ALTDEV COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF ATC WAS PROVIDED WITH AN 'ON SCREEN' DEPICTION OF WX! HE COULD HAVE EITHER CLOSED DEPS, OR RERTED INBOUNDS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR.

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.