Dispatcher advised the flight crew of a B737-300 of thunderstorms along route and suggested an alter...

Attributes
ACN	785207
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pnh.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel
ASRS Report	785207
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Line of WX had developed in northern texas. I observed flight path of flight X was routed over pnh which was affected by thunderstorms with tops to FL450. I sent the flight an ACARS message recommending a route direct bgd from present position for severe WX avoidance. Crew declined to accept that route. Again; I advised crew of WX along flight path with tops of FL450. Shortly after; flight was assigned a route that I found unacceptable. I sent an ACARS message stating that current assigned route was unacceptable and to request tbe..bgd..heatr then as filed. Crew responded with 'I'm in clear here and this route looks good.' I sent an ACARS message stating that we had joint authority/authorized. I then asked the captain if he was using his captain's emergency authority/authorized to make a unilateral decision that I felt jeopardized safety of flight. He did not acknowledge this question. I then stated that I was not comfortable with the route he chose and he was proceeding using his captain's emergency authority/authorized.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISPATCHER ADVISED THE FLT CREW OF A B737-300 OF TSTMS ALONG ROUTE AND SUGGESTED AN ALTERNATE ROUTING. THE FLT CREW DECLINED THE RECOMMENDED ROUTE.

Narrative: LINE OF WX HAD DEVELOPED IN NORTHERN TEXAS. I OBSERVED FLT PATH OF FLT X WAS ROUTED OVER PNH WHICH WAS AFFECTED BY TSTMS WITH TOPS TO FL450. I SENT THE FLT AN ACARS MESSAGE RECOMMENDING A RTE DIRECT BGD FROM PRESENT POS FOR SEVERE WX AVOIDANCE. CREW DECLINED TO ACCEPT THAT RTE. AGAIN; I ADVISED CREW OF WX ALONG FLT PATH WITH TOPS OF FL450. SHORTLY AFTER; FLT WAS ASSIGNED A RTE THAT I FOUND UNACCEPTABLE. I SENT AN ACARS MESSAGE STATING THAT CURRENT ASSIGNED RTE WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND TO REQUEST TBE..BGD..HEATR THEN AS FILED. CREW RESPONDED WITH 'I'M IN CLR HERE AND THIS RTE LOOKS GOOD.' I SENT AN ACARS MESSAGE STATING THAT WE HAD JOINT AUTH. I THEN ASKED THE CAPT IF HE WAS USING HIS CAPT'S EMER AUTH TO MAKE A UNILATERAL DECISION THAT I FELT JEOPARDIZED SAFETY OF FLT. HE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS QUESTION. I THEN STATED THAT I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE RTE HE CHOSE AND HE WAS PROCEEDING USING HIS CAPT'S EMER AUTH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

Dispatcher advised the flight crew of a B737-300 of thunderstorms along route and suggested an alternate routing. The flight crew declined the recommended route.