An A320 captain, departing dtw, exercised his emergency authority/authorized to avoid a hail storm.

Attributes
ACN	515090
Time
Date	200106
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dtw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	515090
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence other other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Just after liftoff, tower said heavy hail was reported in rain showers at 12 O'clock position (10 mi). We said we needed a right turn for WX. Tower said contact departure. We contacted departure and said we needed an immediate right turn. He said stand by, he needed to talk to tower. We turned to 270 degree heading about 30 seconds before we had clearance. When tower received the report of heavy hail, they should have given us an immediate clearance to avoid the area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CAPT, DEPARTING DTW, EXERCISED HIS EMER AUTH TO AVOID A HAIL STORM.

Narrative: JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, TWR SAID HVY HAIL WAS RPTED IN RAIN SHOWERS AT 12 O'CLOCK POS (10 MI). WE SAID WE NEEDED A R TURN FOR WX. TWR SAID CONTACT DEP. WE CONTACTED DEP AND SAID WE NEEDED AN IMMEDIATE R TURN. HE SAID STAND BY, HE NEEDED TO TALK TO TWR. WE TURNED TO 270 DEG HDG ABOUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE WE HAD CLRNC. WHEN TWR RECEIVED THE RPT OF HVY HAIL, THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US AN IMMEDIATE CLRNC TO AVOID THE AREA.

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.