MD88 departure from atl is refused turn away from WX by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	623975
Time
Date	200407
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 6500
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	623975
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : wx radar other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

During climb out with a large area of convective activity north of the field, we were given a turn to 360 degrees which headed us directly for the thunderstorms. I requested a left turn for WX. ATC merely replied 'smooth ride ahead' and 'stay on 360 degrees.' I was seeing lightening and was concerned with the radar returns and again requested a left turn. The controller refused in a very contemptuous manner. I reported the lightening. Another patronizing refusal followed. I was never given a reason for the refusal of my request for a turn. If it was traffic, I needed to know that. I felt my aircraft and passenger were endangered needlessly and probably for no more reason than the controller feeling my repeated requests were an inconvenience to him. In the future I will refuse the initial vector to force him to provide the vector justification as is required. Just because the ATC controller feels it is inconvenient or believes he has better information than the crew is no justification for the very unprofessional manner in which he acted. Radio traffic did not preclude ATC answering with a reason in this case.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 DEP FROM ATL IS REFUSED TURN AWAY FROM WX BY ATC.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT WITH A LARGE AREA OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY NORTH OF THE FIELD, WE WERE GIVEN A TURN TO 360 DEGS WHICH HEADED US DIRECTLY FOR THE TSTMS. I REQUESTED A LEFT TURN FOR WX. ATC MERELY REPLIED 'SMOOTH RIDE AHEAD' AND 'STAY ON 360 DEGS.' I WAS SEEING LIGHTENING AND WAS CONCERNED WITH THE RADAR RETURNS AND AGAIN REQUESTED A L TURN. THE CTLR REFUSED IN A VERY CONTEMPTUOUS MANNER. I RPTED THE LIGHTENING. ANOTHER PATRONIZING REFUSAL FOLLOWED. I WAS NEVER GIVEN A REASON FOR THE REFUSAL OF MY REQUEST FOR A TURN. IF IT WAS TFC, I NEEDED TO KNOW THAT. I FELT MY ACFT AND PAX WERE ENDANGERED NEEDLESSLY AND PROBABLY FOR NO MORE REASON THAN THE CTLR FEELING MY REPEATED REQUESTS WERE AN INCONVENIENCE TO HIM. IN THE FUTURE I WILL REFUSE THE INITIAL VECTOR TO FORCE HIM TO PROVIDE THE VECTOR JUSTIFICATION AS IS REQUIRED. JUST BECAUSE THE ATC CTLR FEELS IT IS INCONVENIENT OR BELIEVES HE HAS BETTER INFO THAN THE CREW IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE VERY UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER IN WHICH HE ACTED. RADIO TFC DID NOT PRECLUDE ATC ANSWERING WITH A REASON IN THIS CASE.

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.