Narrative:

Inbound to phx on the arlin arrival at 8000 ft MSL, we advised TRACON that we would need a left deviation of 10 to 15 degrees for WX. TRACON denied the request and directed a right deviation. We had a cell at 12:00 and another larger one paralleling our course on the right (both had large red centers on radar, with magenta as well). I again explained that we would have to go left. Request denied. Requested lower to attain visual conditions. Request denied. At five miles 'head on' to the storm, I tried one more time. Request denied. (We had seen one aircraft pass clear on the left on TCAS. No other traffic visible.) I declared an emergency, my first in 22 yrs with our company, and deviation 10 degrees left of course. After about 90 seconds, we cleared the WX, canceled emergency authority and resumed a TRACON issued heading. Subsequent arrival operation was uneventful. Comments: I am truly shocked by the evolution of this incident. The controller seemed to have absolutely no interest whatsoever in helping us avoid hazardous WX that could have damaged or destroyed our aircraft. He made it clear that emergency authority would have to be used, but gave us no information at all. I feel that this lack of cooperative effort posed a hazard to aviation and our aircraft in particular.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 ON VECTORS FOR PHX AT 8000 FT IS DENIED MULTIPLE WX DEV REQUESTS WHICH RESULTED IN THE CREW DECLARING AN EMER.

Narrative: INBND TO PHX ON THE ARLIN ARRIVAL AT 8000 FT MSL, WE ADVISED TRACON THAT WE WOULD NEED A LEFT DEV OF 10 TO 15 DEGS FOR WX. TRACON DENIED THE REQUEST AND DIRECTED A R DEV. WE HAD A CELL AT 12:00 AND ANOTHER LARGER ONE PARALLELING OUR COURSE ON THE R (BOTH HAD LARGE RED CENTERS ON RADAR, WITH MAGENTA AS WELL). I AGAIN EXPLAINED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO L. REQUEST DENIED. REQUESTED LOWER TO ATTAIN VISUAL CONDITIONS. REQUEST DENIED. AT FIVE MILES 'HEAD ON' TO THE STORM, I TRIED ONE MORE TIME. REQUEST DENIED. (WE HAD SEEN ONE ACFT PASS CLEAR ON THE L ON TCAS. NO OTHER TFC VISIBLE.) I DECLARED AN EMER, MY FIRST IN 22 YRS WITH OUR COMPANY, AND DEV 10 DEGS L OF COURSE. AFTER ABOUT 90 SECONDS, WE CLEARED THE WX, CANCELED EMER AUTHORITY AND RESUMED A TRACON ISSUED HDG. SUBSEQUENT ARR OP WAS UNEVENTFUL. COMMENTS: I AM TRULY SHOCKED BY THE EVOLUTION OF THIS INCIDENT. THE CTLR SEEMED TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN HELPING US AVOID HAZARDOUS WX THAT COULD HAVE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED OUR ACFT. HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT EMER AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE TO BE USED, BUT GAVE US NO INFO AT ALL. I FEEL THAT THIS LACK OF COOPERATIVE EFFORT POSED A HAZARD TO AVIATION AND OUR ACFT IN PARTICULAR.

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.