Narrative:

During radar vectors to final for runway 1 at dca the controller asked us to turn right to a 180 degree heading. Moments earlier we noticed lightning in that area and felt a thunderstorm was in that general location. After a few seconds; I mentioned the lightning and asked to keep on our present heading. He stated he showed only level 2 WX and told us to turn right. We again expressed our concerns. He then asked 'what; can't you go through a little rain?' after the captain and I picked up our mouths off the floor we 'bargained' a 130 degree heading. We landed uneventfully and no other mention was made between us and the controller. It was almost as if he was going to call us 'chicken' if we didn't accept his vector. ATC needs to be notified of this unprofessional and unsafe attitude from this controller.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 ON ARR VECTORS FOR DCA EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING CTLR ATTITUDE AND PROFESSIONALISM DURING WX AVOIDANCE EFFORTS.

Narrative: DURING RADAR VECTORS TO FINAL FOR RWY 1 AT DCA THE CTLR ASKED US TO TURN R TO A 180 DEG HDG. MOMENTS EARLIER WE NOTICED LIGHTNING IN THAT AREA AND FELT A TSTM WAS IN THAT GENERAL LOCATION. AFTER A FEW SECONDS; I MENTIONED THE LIGHTNING AND ASKED TO KEEP ON OUR PRESENT HDG. HE STATED HE SHOWED ONLY LEVEL 2 WX AND TOLD US TO TURN R. WE AGAIN EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS. HE THEN ASKED 'WHAT; CAN'T YOU GO THROUGH A LITTLE RAIN?' AFTER THE CAPT AND I PICKED UP OUR MOUTHS OFF THE FLOOR WE 'BARGAINED' A 130 DEG HDG. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AND NO OTHER MENTION WAS MADE BTWN US AND THE CTLR. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF HE WAS GOING TO CALL US 'CHICKEN' IF WE DIDN'T ACCEPT HIS VECTOR. ATC NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED OF THIS UNPROFESSIONAL AND UNSAFE ATTITUDE FROM THIS CTLR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.