Narrative:

Thunderstorm buildups were occurring. We asked and got approval from ZTL for deviation left off course for two buildups (we were going to pass between two). Soon after that center said we had to turn to a heading that was directly at the buildup we were trying to avoid. We said unable. Center said it was for traffic. The captain replied; 'I am not going to fly through a thunderstorm.' instead of receiving an immediate response; ATC was silent. We started working TCAS and the only traffic of interest was co-altitude; 25-30 mi away; at our left 10 O'clock position. At this point we knew we could go up; down or turn as far right as needed. ATC was adamant about the need to go left. ATC eventually came back and asked which was worse; '...hitting another aircraft or going through a thunderstorm.' then we were told to do a left 360 degrees. In the turn that was changed to a 360 degree heading. No more than 10 seconds into the turn or 20 degrees left; ATC cleared us direct to otk (to our right about 50 degrees). By this time the only traffic of interest on TCAS was 20+ mi away. From our perspective ATC was panicked; did a poor job of communicating options and was unprofessional talking about what was worse; a thunderstorm or midair. There were plenty of other options available and we had the time to sort a good one out. Especially; if ATC would reply to our calls more expeditiously. Supplemental information from acn 704525: ATC stated 'hitting someone would be worse than flying through a cloud.' then told to do a left 360 degrees. Refused again due to buildup; told to turn to 360 degrees; 10 seconds later cleared direct to otk VOR. ATC was unprofessional; offered no alternatives; except flying through a thunderstorm. We could have climbed or turned right; which was communicated to her.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW IS VECTORED BY ZTL INTO A BUILD-UP. CAPT REFUSES CLRNC AND FLT CREW SUGGESTS ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION.

Narrative: TSTM BUILDUPS WERE OCCURRING. WE ASKED AND GOT APPROVAL FROM ZTL FOR DEV L OFF COURSE FOR TWO BUILDUPS (WE WERE GOING TO PASS BTWN TWO). SOON AFTER THAT CTR SAID WE HAD TO TURN TO A HDG THAT WAS DIRECTLY AT THE BUILDUP WE WERE TRYING TO AVOID. WE SAID UNABLE. CTR SAID IT WAS FOR TFC. THE CAPT REPLIED; 'I AM NOT GOING TO FLY THROUGH A TSTM.' INSTEAD OF RECEIVING AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE; ATC WAS SILENT. WE STARTED WORKING TCAS AND THE ONLY TFC OF INTEREST WAS CO-ALT; 25-30 MI AWAY; AT OUR L 10 O'CLOCK POS. AT THIS POINT WE KNEW WE COULD GO UP; DOWN OR TURN AS FAR R AS NEEDED. ATC WAS ADAMANT ABOUT THE NEED TO GO L. ATC EVENTUALLY CAME BACK AND ASKED WHICH WAS WORSE; '...HITTING ANOTHER ACFT OR GOING THROUGH A TSTM.' THEN WE WERE TOLD TO DO A L 360 DEGS. IN THE TURN THAT WAS CHANGED TO A 360 DEG HDG. NO MORE THAN 10 SECONDS INTO THE TURN OR 20 DEGS L; ATC CLRED US DIRECT TO OTK (TO OUR R ABOUT 50 DEGS). BY THIS TIME THE ONLY TFC OF INTEREST ON TCAS WAS 20+ MI AWAY. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE ATC WAS PANICKED; DID A POOR JOB OF COMMUNICATING OPTIONS AND WAS UNPROFESSIONAL TALKING ABOUT WHAT WAS WORSE; A TSTM OR MIDAIR. THERE WERE PLENTY OF OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND WE HAD THE TIME TO SORT A GOOD ONE OUT. ESPECIALLY; IF ATC WOULD REPLY TO OUR CALLS MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 704525: ATC STATED 'HITTING SOMEONE WOULD BE WORSE THAN FLYING THROUGH A CLOUD.' THEN TOLD TO DO A L 360 DEGS. REFUSED AGAIN DUE TO BUILDUP; TOLD TO TURN TO 360 DEGS; 10 SECONDS LATER CLRED DIRECT TO OTK VOR. ATC WAS UNPROFESSIONAL; OFFERED NO ALTERNATIVES; EXCEPT FLYING THROUGH A TSTM. WE COULD HAVE CLBED OR TURNED R; WHICH WAS COMMUNICATED TO HER.

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.