B737 crew inbound to ord airport refused vectors toward storm cells.

Attributes
ACN	557375
Time
Date	200208
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : 22r
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 261
ASRS Report	557375
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 261
ASRS Report	557223
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : radar other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We were given a vector to intercept runway 22R localizer. I responded unable due to thunderstorm avoidance and requested present heading (215) for 20 miles. ATC ignored us and kept us at 250IAS, 8000 MSL. After no further guidance from controller, I asked what was intended for us. He stated runway 22R. I said we were able to take vectors to ridge. He said turn right to 140 heading, which would put us right into level 3 cell we just avoided. I said unable and requested lower. He said maintain present heading now 320, and slow to 180. I perceived by ATC attitude and tone of voice he was punishing us for not going thru cell. I asked him to put ATC supervisor on who would safely control us. He began yelling that until we go where he wants us to go we can't get lower and he doesn't control the WX. I decided to not answer this ignorant remark and to concentrate on keeping my aircraft safely away from the thunderstorms. He then reminded us that our assigned speed was 180, which we had yet to slow down to. First officer did not hear the 180 assigned speed and I became distracted by the unprofessional and unsafe actions of the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW INBOUND TO ORD ARPT REFUSED VECTORS TOWARD STORM CELLS.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR TO INTERCEPT RWY 22R LOC. I RESPONDED UNABLE DUE TO THUNDERSTORM AVOIDANCE AND REQUESTED PRESENT HDG (215) FOR 20 MILES. ATC IGNORED US AND KEPT US AT 250IAS, 8000 MSL. AFTER NO FURTHER GUIDANCE FROM CTLR, I ASKED WHAT WAS INTENDED FOR US. HE STATED RWY 22R. I SAID WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE VECTORS TO RIDGE. HE SAID TURN R TO 140 HDG, WHICH WOULD PUT US RIGHT INTO LEVEL 3 CELL WE JUST AVOIDED. I SAID UNABLE AND REQUESTED LOWER. HE SAID MAINTAIN PRESENT HDG NOW 320, AND SLOW TO 180. I PERCEIVED BY ATC ATTITUDE AND TONE OF VOICE HE WAS PUNISHING US FOR NOT GOING THRU CELL. I ASKED HIM TO PUT ATC SUPVR ON WHO WOULD SAFELY CONTROL US. HE BEGAN YELLING THAT UNTIL WE GO WHERE HE WANTS US TO GO WE CAN'T GET LOWER AND HE DOESN'T CONTROL THE WX. I DECIDED TO NOT ANSWER THIS IGNORANT REMARK AND TO CONCENTRATE ON KEEPING MY ACFT SAFELY AWAY FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS. HE THEN REMINDED US THAT OUR ASSIGNED SPEED WAS 180, WHICH WE HAD YET TO SLOW DOWN TO. FO DID NOT HEAR THE 180 ASSIGNED SPEED AND I BECAME DISTRACTED BY THE UNPROFESSIONAL AND UNSAFE ACTIONS OF THE CTLR.

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.