Narrative:

After hand off to new york TRACON we were at 5000' and taking weather avoidance vectors at the 'broadway' fix area for approach to 22L at ewr. We were given a heading of 90 degrees; which was into the center of a cell. I stated 'unable'; due to weather and that we would need 100 degrees for a heading. The controller then stated that 'I know it is your job to fly the airplane'; and that 'airplanes have been coming through there all night and I have 500 airplanes in the area.' he then said he needed a heading of 090 and asked what I needed; I said; '100'; and he then said; 'turn right 150'; and from there he vectored us out to a position 40 miles west of ewr while he sequenced a series of what he called; 'slow movers'; in front of us. We were sequenced in for approach about 30 minutes later while pounding through rain showers at 5000 feet the whole time. We thought he would re sequence us within a few minutes; but after 20 minutes we realized that we must have been given a low priority. During this time he sent a air carrier X and a air carrier Y out of the pattern for the same reason. When air carrier Y asked how long it would be; he said; 'about 10 minutes'; air carrier Y replied that he was tight on fuel; and ny TRACON replied that he really 'didn't have time to give him the attention he needed right now. ' Frankly; I was surprised at the attitude of the controller about cells we were painting. I was also surprised to be placed in a 'holding area' with no idea of an efc; while other aircraft appeared to be continuing the approach. If aircraft are to be placed in a holding area because they can't take a vector through active weather; they should be given some idea of the amount of time they will be there; for planning purposes.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier Captain expressed concern regarding the ATC handling provided by N90 noting the controller's attitude and absence of an EFC when weather deviations were necessary and requested.

Narrative: After hand off to New York TRACON we were at 5000' and taking weather avoidance vectors at the 'Broadway' fix area for approach to 22L at EWR. We were given a heading of 90 degrees; which was into the center of a cell. I stated 'unable'; due to weather and that we would need 100 degrees for a heading. The controller then stated that 'I know it is your job to fly the airplane'; and that 'airplanes have been coming through there all night and I have 500 airplanes in the area.' He then said he needed a heading of 090 and asked what I needed; I said; '100'; and he then said; 'turn right 150'; and from there he vectored us out to a position 40 miles West of EWR while he sequenced a series of what he called; 'slow movers'; in front of us. We were sequenced in for approach about 30 minutes later while pounding through rain showers at 5000 feet the whole time. We thought he would re sequence us within a few minutes; but after 20 minutes we realized that we must have been given a low priority. During this time he sent a Air Carrier X and a Air Carrier Y out of the pattern for the same reason. When Air Carrier Y asked how long it would be; he said; 'about 10 minutes'; Air Carrier Y replied that he was tight on fuel; and NY TRACON replied that he really 'Didn't have time to give him the attention he needed right now. ' Frankly; I was surprised at the attitude of the controller about cells we were painting. I was also surprised to be placed in a 'holding area' with no idea of an EFC; while other aircraft appeared to be continuing the approach. If aircraft are to be placed in a holding area because they can't take a vector through active weather; they should be given some idea of the amount of time they will be there; for planning purposes.

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.