With a line of thunderstorms ahead the reporter requested a clearance to 'maneuver in this area and ...

Attributes
ACN	334190
Time
Date	199604
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : txk
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Chancellor 414A & C414
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 504 flight time type : 149
ASRS Report	334190
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying IFR to tupelo, we filed a route via shreveport, la, to circumnav a line of severe thunderstorms. We were a few mi from texarkana when we spotted a break in the WX. These storms were in a line from southwest texas all the way north to iowa. We called center and requested a clearance to 'maneuver in this area and contact flight watch.' we wanted to use our radar to look at this gap in the WX and confirm our readout with the flight watch. The controller responded 'cleared as requested, report back in less than 10 mins.' we then began to circle the aircraft and changed frequency. After talking with flight watch (while circling to remain in the same general area) we returned to the center frequency. We promptly received a tongue lashing. We were asked what heading we were on, where we were going, and told we needed a clearance for that. After the tongue lashing we told the controller he said 'cleared as requested.' that was what we requested. Apparently, he misunderstood our request and thought we only wanted to change frequencys. He did not read back our clearance. He only said 'cleared as requested.' the channel was not busy at all.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WITH A LINE OF TSTMS AHEAD THE RPTR REQUESTED A CLRNC TO 'MANEUVER IN THIS AREA AND CONTACT FLT WATCH.' THE CTR CTLR RESPONDED 'CLRED AS REQUESTED, RPT BACK IN LESS THAN 10 MINS.' WHEN THE RPTR CAME BACK ON CTR FREQ THE CTLR WAS UPSET WITH THE MANEUVERING THE RPTR DID IN THE AREA.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING IFR TO TUPELO, WE FILED A RTE VIA SHREVEPORT, LA, TO CIRCUMNAV A LINE OF SEVERE TSTMS. WE WERE A FEW MI FROM TEXARKANA WHEN WE SPOTTED A BREAK IN THE WX. THESE STORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM SW TEXAS ALL THE WAY N TO IOWA. WE CALLED CTR AND REQUESTED A CLRNC TO 'MANEUVER IN THIS AREA AND CONTACT FLT WATCH.' WE WANTED TO USE OUR RADAR TO LOOK AT THIS GAP IN THE WX AND CONFIRM OUR READOUT WITH THE FLT WATCH. THE CTLR RESPONDED 'CLRED AS REQUESTED, RPT BACK IN LESS THAN 10 MINS.' WE THEN BEGAN TO CIRCLE THE ACFT AND CHANGED FREQ. AFTER TALKING WITH FLT WATCH (WHILE CIRCLING TO REMAIN IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA) WE RETURNED TO THE CTR FREQ. WE PROMPTLY RECEIVED A TONGUE LASHING. WE WERE ASKED WHAT HDG WE WERE ON, WHERE WE WERE GOING, AND TOLD WE NEEDED A CLRNC FOR THAT. AFTER THE TONGUE LASHING WE TOLD THE CTLR HE SAID 'CLRED AS REQUESTED.' THAT WAS WHAT WE REQUESTED. APPARENTLY, HE MISUNDERSTOOD OUR REQUEST AND THOUGHT WE ONLY WANTED TO CHANGE FREQS. HE DID NOT READ BACK OUR CLRNC. HE ONLY SAID 'CLRED AS REQUESTED.' THE CHANNEL WAS NOT BUSY AT ALL.

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.