Narrative:

I went to call up the release for my flight to dsm. The release was blocked by dispatch. A computer message was generated by my dispatcher saying to call dispatch. When I called dispatch she picked up the line and said that the weather in dsm was very bad. I called it up on the computer and agreed. My dispatcher recommended that the flight be deferred for weather. I agreed; there was no way to ensure 20 NM from convective activity that was currently surrounding the airport and more building of to the east headed directly to dsm. After 30 minutes I called dispatch back for an update. We both agreed that the flight should be continued to be deferred. We decided to revisit at XA00. Prior to this time the local the assistant chief pilot called up wanting to know what was going on. I told her what the issues were but she began questioning me about the decision to defer the flight. She said that she did not see the significant weather further to the west that the dispatcher and I were concerned about. She started to offer her opinions; which I did not believe was helpful. I told her that the decision was between the dispatcher and me. She stated that she has the right to ask me any questions she wants. At this point I felt that she was questioning my authority as a captain and was trying to pressure me to fly the flight. I made it clear to her that the flight was being deferred in the interest of safety in accordance with FM part -1 and far's. I emphasized that this decision does not involve her. She disagreed and directed that I give her an update at XA00. After that conversation I called dispatch back and spoke with her. I asked her if she had called my assistant chief pilot. She said no it was the manager. When I asked her if she knew why; she said she did not know. We then continued to talk about the flight. We changed our alternates because the current one went down for severe thunderstorms. We also changed our routing. Based on the new plan we concluded the flight could be safely executed. She then released the flight plan. Because of the extensive amount of planning for the flight with dispatch; I was not able to call the assistant chief pilot back at XA00. However; she appeared at the gate and confronted me while I was trying to get the flight out. She demanded an update as to the status of the flight in front of the passengers in the middle of the passenger seating area. I was humiliated and embarrassed by her inappropriate actions and began to feel harassed. She insisted that I give her a briefing as to the status of the flight in front of the traveling public. I did; and it took an additional 10 minutes of time which further delayed the flight. I then flew the flight and we landed uneventfully.management's inexperience (the assistant chief pilot is a co-pilot with no extensive experience as PIC for a 121 carrier) and therefore disregarded the realities and operational concerns for operating an aircraft under part 121 around sever convective activity. They are desensitized to the fact that human lives are on board that aircraft and that not all captains think alike or agree with dispatchers. However in this case both me and the dispatcher did agree; from minute one. Which are the only two by far that matter relative to the regulatory operation of an aircraft operating under far part 121. More extensive training on the pilot to dispatcher agreements and provide a cease and desist order relative to anyone in management violating the pilot to dispatcher agreement and public harassment of any captain by management relative to a flight deferral. It can not get any more unprofessional than that. The pilot harassing and pushing by management has to stop. It is an unsafe act and breaks down the integrity of the operating system.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB145 Captain reports delaying a flight due to severe weather at destination at the Dispatcher's suggestion. The Captain is then called on the carpet by an assistant Chief Pilot in the departure lounge. The flight departs about two hours late.

Narrative: I went to call up the release for my flight to DSM. The release was blocked by Dispatch. A computer message was generated by my Dispatcher saying to call Dispatch. When I called Dispatch she picked up the line and said that the weather in DSM was very bad. I called it up on the computer and agreed. My Dispatcher recommended that the flight be deferred for weather. I agreed; there was no way to ensure 20 NM from convective activity that was currently surrounding the airport and more building of to the east headed directly to DSM. After 30 minutes I called Dispatch back for an update. We both agreed that the flight should be continued to be deferred. We decided to revisit at XA00. Prior to this time the local the Assistant Chief Pilot called up wanting to know what was going on. I told her what the issues were but she began questioning me about the decision to defer the flight. She said that she did not see the significant weather further to the west that the Dispatcher and I were concerned about. She started to offer her opinions; which I did not believe was helpful. I told her that the decision was between the Dispatcher and me. She stated that she has the right to ask me any questions she wants. At this point I felt that she was questioning my authority as a Captain and was trying to pressure me to fly the flight. I made it clear to her that the flight was being deferred in the interest of safety in accordance with FM part -1 and FAR's. I emphasized that this decision does not involve her. She disagreed and directed that I give her an update at XA00. After that conversation I called Dispatch back and spoke with her. I asked her if she had called my Assistant Chief Pilot. She said no it was the manager. When I asked her if she knew why; she said she did not know. We then continued to talk about the flight. We changed our alternates because the current one went down for severe thunderstorms. We also changed our routing. Based on the new plan we concluded the flight could be safely executed. She then released the flight plan. Because of the extensive amount of planning for the flight with Dispatch; I was not able to call the Assistant Chief Pilot back at XA00. However; she appeared at the gate and confronted me while I was trying to get the flight out. She demanded an update as to the status of the flight in front of the passengers in the middle of the passenger seating area. I was humiliated and embarrassed by her inappropriate actions and began to feel harassed. She insisted that I give her a briefing as to the status of the flight in front of the traveling public. I did; and it took an additional 10 minutes of time which further delayed the flight. I then flew the flight and we landed uneventfully.Management's inexperience (the Assistant Chief Pilot is a co-pilot with no extensive experience as PIC for a 121 carrier) and therefore disregarded the realities and operational concerns for operating an aircraft under Part 121 around sever convective activity. They are desensitized to the fact that human lives are on board that aircraft and that not all Captains think alike or agree with Dispatchers. However in this case both me and the Dispatcher did agree; from minute one. Which are the only two by FAR that matter relative to the regulatory operation of an aircraft operating under FAR part 121. More extensive training on the pilot to dispatcher agreements and provide a cease and desist order relative to anyone in management violating the pilot to dispatcher agreement and public harassment of any Captain by management relative to a flight deferral. It can not get any more unprofessional than that. The pilot harassing and pushing by management has to stop. It is an unsafe act and breaks down the integrity of the operating system.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.