Narrative:

With radar MEL'ed inoperative, flight was dispatched from txkf to atl where repairs could be made. Dispatch revised rteing to avoid 'hazardous WX' along the route of flight. When reviewing WX packet, atl showed a 30% chance of thunderstorms and twring cumulonimbus. I queried the chief pilot, who in turn advised me in concert with the director of operations, that dispatch into these WX conditions would not violate our MEL procedures. These procedures include only day VMC, and cannot be dispatched into 'hazardous WX.' flight encountered IMC and popcorn style, embedded thunderstorms. I advised ATC that radar was inoperative, and they kept us clear of thunderstorms. Dispatchers only used a radar picture and not a satellite photo to plan the flight. I used blind trust in them when making a 'go-no-go' decision. If I had seen these conditions, I wouldn't have taken off for atl. Next time, I need to see all WX and verify that MEL compliance is maintained. I should have copies of WX and satellite charts sent via facsimile.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 CREW RPTED THAT THE CHIEF PLT ORDERED THEM TO FLY A TRIP WITH MEL'ED INOP WX RADAR, ON A RTE THAT WAS NOT CLR OF TSTMS IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEL.

Narrative: WITH RADAR MEL'ED INOP, FLT WAS DISPATCHED FROM TXKF TO ATL WHERE REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. DISPATCH REVISED RTEING TO AVOID 'HAZARDOUS WX' ALONG THE RTE OF FLT. WHEN REVIEWING WX PACKET, ATL SHOWED A 30% CHANCE OF TSTMS AND TWRING CUMULONIMBUS. I QUERIED THE CHIEF PLT, WHO IN TURN ADVISED ME IN CONCERT WITH THE DIRECTOR OF OPS, THAT DISPATCH INTO THESE WX CONDITIONS WOULD NOT VIOLATE OUR MEL PROCS. THESE PROCS INCLUDE ONLY DAY VMC, AND CANNOT BE DISPATCHED INTO 'HAZARDOUS WX.' FLT ENCOUNTERED IMC AND POPCORN STYLE, EMBEDDED TSTMS. I ADVISED ATC THAT RADAR WAS INOP, AND THEY KEPT US CLR OF TSTMS. DISPATCHERS ONLY USED A RADAR PICTURE AND NOT A SATELLITE PHOTO TO PLAN THE FLT. I USED BLIND TRUST IN THEM WHEN MAKING A 'GO-NO-GO' DECISION. IF I HAD SEEN THESE CONDITIONS, I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN OFF FOR ATL. NEXT TIME, I NEED TO SEE ALL WX AND VERIFY THAT MEL COMPLIANCE IS MAINTAINED. I SHOULD HAVE COPIES OF WX AND SATELLITE CHARTS SENT VIA FAX.

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.