Dfw approach controller refuses a request from an MD80 crew to deviate around a developing thunderst...

Attributes
ACN	595405
Time
Date	200309
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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
ASRS Report	595405
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar/mode c aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : wx radar
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

At approximately XA57Z on frequency 125.02, regional approach issued a vector of 250 degrees to my flight. I read back the clearance and advised ATC that there was WX on the heading and we would need to deviation. ATC's reply was 'what WX?' even though previous aircraft had asked for, and been granted, deviations. I responded that there was WX at 12 O'clock position and 23 mi and that we would need to start deviating in 15 mi. ATC replied 'you will fly the assigned heading for as long as I tell you to.' my response was that I absolutely would not do that! Our punishment for not flying through a developing thunderstorm was radar vectors over the top of dfw at 5000 ft. Then vectors 40 mi west of dfw to fly the runway 13R ILS. The controller's actions were unsafe, unprofessional, and an extreme example of how controllers push pilots to compromise safety for their convenience.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DFW APCH CTLR REFUSES A REQUEST FROM AN MD80 CREW TO DEVIATE AROUND A DEVELOPING TSTM.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA57Z ON FREQ 125.02, REGIONAL APCH ISSUED A VECTOR OF 250 DEGS TO MY FLT. I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND ADVISED ATC THAT THERE WAS WX ON THE HDG AND WE WOULD NEED TO DEV. ATC'S REPLY WAS 'WHAT WX?' EVEN THOUGH PREVIOUS ACFT HAD ASKED FOR, AND BEEN GRANTED, DEVS. I RESPONDED THAT THERE WAS WX AT 12 O'CLOCK POS AND 23 MI AND THAT WE WOULD NEED TO START DEVIATING IN 15 MI. ATC REPLIED 'YOU WILL FLY THE ASSIGNED HDG FOR AS LONG AS I TELL YOU TO.' MY RESPONSE WAS THAT I ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT DO THAT! OUR PUNISHMENT FOR NOT FLYING THROUGH A DEVELOPING TSTM WAS RADAR VECTORS OVER THE TOP OF DFW AT 5000 FT. THEN VECTORS 40 MI W OF DFW TO FLY THE RWY 13R ILS. THE CTLR'S ACTIONS WERE UNSAFE, UNPROFESSIONAL, AND AN EXTREME EXAMPLE OF HOW CTLRS PUSH PLTS TO COMPROMISE SAFETY FOR THEIR CONVENIENCE.

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.

Dfw approach controller refuses a request from an MD80 crew to deviate around a developing thunderstorm.