A300 crew declared an emergency to detour thunderstorms in ZJX class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	517704
Time
Date	200107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sav.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	517704
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	517705
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

We were deviating around thunderstorms from va to GA. Approximately 40 mi north of sav, we began to return to course. There was another storm that we would have to deviate to the east of course for. We asked initially for a 180 degree turn and 60 mi. Center did not answer the first request. We then, within 30 seconds, asked again, this time requesting a 160 degree heading and 60 mi from present position. Center approved the request. 30 mi into the deviation, center instructed us to turn to 230 degrees. We informed center we were unable due to a thunderstorm. Center told us we would be entering an active warning area and would have to squawk 7700 in 1 min if we did not turn. Center said 'I only gave you up to 4 mi east of course.' that 4 mi east of course was for another flight ahead of us. We informed jax of our previous request and approval for deviations 160 degrees and 60 mi (same controller). Jax said 'ok, I'll take the heat for this one, squawk 7700.' we began our turn back on course 5-10 mi later. Jax told us to return to our original squawk less than 10 mins later. I believe there were other flts that were told to squawk 7700 also. Flight continued normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 CREW DECLARED AN EMER TO DETOUR TSTMS IN ZJX CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE WERE DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS FROM VA TO GA. APPROX 40 MI N OF SAV, WE BEGAN TO RETURN TO COURSE. THERE WAS ANOTHER STORM THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DEVIATE TO THE E OF COURSE FOR. WE ASKED INITIALLY FOR A 180 DEG TURN AND 60 MI. CTR DID NOT ANSWER THE FIRST REQUEST. WE THEN, WITHIN 30 SECONDS, ASKED AGAIN, THIS TIME REQUESTING A 160 DEG HDG AND 60 MI FROM PRESENT POS. CTR APPROVED THE REQUEST. 30 MI INTO THE DEV, CTR INSTRUCTED US TO TURN TO 230 DEGS. WE INFORMED CTR WE WERE UNABLE DUE TO A TSTM. CTR TOLD US WE WOULD BE ENTERING AN ACTIVE WARNING AREA AND WOULD HAVE TO SQUAWK 7700 IN 1 MIN IF WE DID NOT TURN. CTR SAID 'I ONLY GAVE YOU UP TO 4 MI E OF COURSE.' THAT 4 MI E OF COURSE WAS FOR ANOTHER FLT AHEAD OF US. WE INFORMED JAX OF OUR PREVIOUS REQUEST AND APPROVAL FOR DEVS 160 DEGS AND 60 MI (SAME CTLR). JAX SAID 'OK, I'LL TAKE THE HEAT FOR THIS ONE, SQUAWK 7700.' WE BEGAN OUR TURN BACK ON COURSE 5-10 MI LATER. JAX TOLD US TO RETURN TO OUR ORIGINAL SQUAWK LESS THAN 10 MINS LATER. I BELIEVE THERE WERE OTHER FLTS THAT WERE TOLD TO SQUAWK 7700 ALSO. FLT CONTINUED NORMALLY.

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.