Narrative:

On departure climb from phl initial contact with the ZNY (modena sector) we received climb instructions from 10000 ft to 12000 ft. A large area of WX was ahead on our course line. The radar return indicated level 5 thunderstorm activity and displayed 'classic' hook echoes and black holes behind the red radar returns. We requested a heading to the southwest (210 degree heading) for deviation of 30 degrees to avoid the cell. That was approved but; we needed a further turn to the southwest to avoid the cell by a safe margin. Meanwhile; another airline was also requesting deviations and immediate climb around the same area of WX. The controller requested we turn to a 260 degree heading when able. ZNY then requested the other flight to 'squawk emergency' if unable to turn towards the west. We turn further towards the south to avoid the WX and were also instructed to 'squawk emergency.' another crew queried the controller and as to why the request to squawk emergency was necessary. The controller reiterated his request to both aircraft. We complied as did aircraft Y. We continued to circumnav the WX and turn to the west when able. The controller then explained that he was unable to affect a handoff to ZDC and was receiving no help in his coordination attempts. Since we were entering the ZDC airspace he wanted us to squawk 7700. Once on course; we returned to assigned squawk codes and continued to destination without further event. The new york controller did provide contact information for ZDC but also said it should be of no concern to the flight crews as they complied with his instructions to squawk emergency.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CAPT REPORTS BEING TOLD TO SQUAWK 7700 DURING WEATHER DEVIATION DUE TO ZNY CONTROLLER'S INABILITY TO HAND OFF TO ZDC. ONCE CLEAR OF WX AND WESTBOUND SQUAWK IS RETURNED TO NORMAL.

Narrative: ON DEP CLB FROM PHL INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE ZNY (MODENA SECTOR) WE RECEIVED CLB INSTRUCTIONS FROM 10000 FT TO 12000 FT. A LARGE AREA OF WX WAS AHEAD ON OUR COURSE LINE. THE RADAR RETURN INDICATED LEVEL 5 TSTM ACTIVITY AND DISPLAYED 'CLASSIC' HOOK ECHOES AND BLACK HOLES BEHIND THE RED RADAR RETURNS. WE REQUESTED A HDG TO THE SW (210 DEG HDG) FOR DEV OF 30 DEGS TO AVOID THE CELL. THAT WAS APPROVED BUT; WE NEEDED A FURTHER TURN TO THE SW TO AVOID THE CELL BY A SAFE MARGIN. MEANWHILE; ANOTHER AIRLINE WAS ALSO REQUESTING DEVS AND IMMEDIATE CLB AROUND THE SAME AREA OF WX. THE CTLR REQUESTED WE TURN TO A 260 DEG HDG WHEN ABLE. ZNY THEN REQUESTED THE OTHER FLT TO 'SQUAWK EMER' IF UNABLE TO TURN TOWARDS THE W. WE TURN FURTHER TOWARDS THE S TO AVOID THE WX AND WERE ALSO INSTRUCTED TO 'SQUAWK EMER.' ANOTHER CREW QUERIED THE CTLR AND AS TO WHY THE REQUEST TO SQUAWK EMER WAS NECESSARY. THE CTLR REITERATED HIS REQUEST TO BOTH ACFT. WE COMPLIED AS DID ACFT Y. WE CONTINUED TO CIRCUMNAV THE WX AND TURN TO THE W WHEN ABLE. THE CTLR THEN EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO AFFECT A HDOF TO ZDC AND WAS RECEIVING NO HELP IN HIS COORD ATTEMPTS. SINCE WE WERE ENTERING THE ZDC AIRSPACE HE WANTED US TO SQUAWK 7700. ONCE ON COURSE; WE RETURNED TO ASSIGNED SQUAWK CODES AND CONTINUED TO DEST WITHOUT FURTHER EVENT. THE NEW YORK CTLR DID PROVIDE CONTACT INFO FOR ZDC BUT ALSO SAID IT SHOULD BE OF NO CONCERN TO THE FLT CREWS AS THEY COMPLIED WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO SQUAWK EMER.

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.