Narrative:

After constant repeated attempts to communicate on HF radio with santa maria on flight from miami to mad, at FL340, and operating on a random route, we had no other choice but to execute pilot emergency authority/authorized and deviate left of course approximately 90 mi for hazardous WX. At approximately 25 mi after initial turn, we finally established contact with santa maria and from then on we kept ATC fully informed on present position and a constant update on ETA. The HF frequencys were jammed, reception was poor and with everyone stepping on each other communication at times was impossible. Our actions did not create any conflicts. What can be done to improve safety is of course get rid of HF. Under normal conditions HF is poor at best. This is just like in south america, everything is fine until you have a problem then you are on your own. My cell phone works better. At&T could do better than the feds.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767 CAPT EXERCISED HIS EMER AUTH TO DIVERT 90 MI TO AVOID HAZARDOUS WX AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT ATC ON HF, LPPO, FO.

Narrative: AFTER CONSTANT REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE ON HF RADIO WITH SANTA MARIA ON FLT FROM MIAMI TO MAD, AT FL340, AND OPERATING ON A RANDOM RTE, WE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO EXECUTE PLT EMER AUTH AND DEVIATE L OF COURSE APPROX 90 MI FOR HAZARDOUS WX. AT APPROX 25 MI AFTER INITIAL TURN, WE FINALLY ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH SANTA MARIA AND FROM THEN ON WE KEPT ATC FULLY INFORMED ON PRESENT POS AND A CONSTANT UPDATE ON ETA. THE HF FREQS WERE JAMMED, RECEPTION WAS POOR AND WITH EVERYONE STEPPING ON EACH OTHER COM AT TIMES WAS IMPOSSIBLE. OUR ACTIONS DID NOT CREATE ANY CONFLICTS. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE SAFETY IS OF COURSE GET RID OF HF. UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS HF IS POOR AT BEST. THIS IS JUST LIKE IN SOUTH AMERICA, EVERYTHING IS FINE UNTIL YOU HAVE A PROB THEN YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. MY CELL PHONE WORKS BETTER. AT&T COULD DO BETTER THAN THE FEDS.

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.