Air carrier B737 is given direct routing after WX deviation. Subsequent controller issue heading cle...

Attributes
ACN	346030
Time
Date	199608
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aml
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 12400 flight time type : 5800
ASRS Report	346030
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

WX in bwi area level 3/4 tw+ delayed wbound departures out of bwi. After delay cleared for takeoff vectors were needed to get around several cells. Approved by bwi departure. Given vectors to J220 after deviation intercepted J220 and handed off to washington. Upon contact we needed further deviations for WX. After deviation we were given heading to intercept J220 and shortly after given direct ihd (108.2) at this time. At time of contact ATC asked where we were going and to turn to a 270 degree heading because of possible airspace violation. We advised him we were given direct ihd (108.2). After WX deviation he said we were entering new york airspace and to standby. After coming back he apologized and cleared us direct ihd again. He advised us he was extremely busy and handed us off to cleveland airspace. This situation is not easily avoided when numerous WX deviations are in progress. I agree it was busy but that should not alleviate pilot/controller responsibility. This particular deviation (WX) came at a point where 3 airspaces (washington/new york/cleveland) all come together, making deviations difficult to coordinate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR B737 IS GIVEN DIRECT ROUTING AFTER WX DEV. SUBSEQUENT CTLR ISSUE HDG CLRNC TO AVOID OTHER CTR'S AIRSPACE. AFTER TELLING THE FLC TO STAND BY, CTLR APOLOGIZES AND RECLRS THEM DIRECT TO THE PREVIOUS FIX.

Narrative: WX IN BWI AREA LEVEL 3/4 TW+ DELAYED WBOUND DEPS OUT OF BWI. AFTER DELAY CLRED FOR TKOF VECTORS WERE NEEDED TO GET AROUND SEVERAL CELLS. APPROVED BY BWI DEP. GIVEN VECTORS TO J220 AFTER DEV INTERCEPTED J220 AND HANDED OFF TO WASHINGTON. UPON CONTACT WE NEEDED FURTHER DEVS FOR WX. AFTER DEV WE WERE GIVEN HDG TO INTERCEPT J220 AND SHORTLY AFTER GIVEN DIRECT IHD (108.2) AT THIS TIME. AT TIME OF CONTACT ATC ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING AND TO TURN TO A 270 DEG HDG BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE AIRSPACE VIOLATION. WE ADVISED HIM WE WERE GIVEN DIRECT IHD (108.2). AFTER WX DEV HE SAID WE WERE ENTERING NEW YORK AIRSPACE AND TO STANDBY. AFTER COMING BACK HE APOLOGIZED AND CLRED US DIRECT IHD AGAIN. HE ADVISED US HE WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND HANDED US OFF TO CLEVELAND AIRSPACE. THIS SIT IS NOT EASILY AVOIDED WHEN NUMEROUS WX DEVS ARE IN PROGRESS. I AGREE IT WAS BUSY BUT THAT SHOULD NOT ALLEVIATE PLT/CTLR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS PARTICULAR DEV (WX) CAME AT A POINT WHERE 3 AIRSPACES (WASHINGTON/NEW YORK/CLEVELAND) ALL COME TOGETHER, MAKING DEVS DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE.

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.

Air carrier B737 is given direct routing after WX deviation. Subsequent controller issue heading clearance to avoid other center's airspace. After telling the flight crew to stand by, controller apologizes and reclrs them direct to the previous fix.