A321
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Weather; Airspace Structure; Human Factors
On departure from ATL it was observed on radar that a large thunderstorm was about twenty miles to the north east. We departed to the east with a heading of 070 instead of the assigned RNAV departure. This heading seemed appropriate to keep us away from the extreme weather. A few minutes after departure; ATC assigned a heading of 350. I questioned ATC regarding this clearance as it would place us directly into the storm in twenty miles. I asked to continue current heading. ATC denied my request to continue heading and said further turns to the west would come within five miles. We did receive a turn to the west; but there were still large cumulus clouds in our path although with nothing painting on radar. We entered a cloud that almost instantly produced severe turbulence. Speed variations were up to 50 knots. The Pilot Flying (PF) turned the plane to the south to get out of the turbulence while I reported severe turbulence to ATC and the heading we would need to fly to escape. ATC said that they was unable to allow us to fly that heading and only allowed us a 10 degree change. Once we exited the turbulence I checked with the flight attendants for injuries and none were reported. An immediate report to dispatch was made and an Aircraft Maintenance Logbook entry upon landing.Atlanta was departing aircraft to the north hoping to squeeze them between the runway and the storm in their turn to the west. The spacing was not there for this type of flight path planning. The aircraft behind us also reported severe turbulence moments after we did. The problem was not the weather but the controller who would not let the pilots fly their desired path around the weather. Upon advising ATC of our 'escape' heading; the response was 'I can't let you do that.' The only way to have avoided this event would have been to flat out refuse to accept or follow ATC assigned headings.
Upon takeoff clearance from ATL 08R; the tower controller issued clearance 'reaching middle marker; turn to heading 070'. We took off normally; turned to 070 heading & was told to contact Departure. The Departure controller issued a heading of 350 degrees; straight into a large; red-colored Thunder Storm (TS) cell. I said to Captain; 'no; don't take it'. The Captain queried ATC saying that heading sent us straight into bad weather. ATC said they would turn us in 5 miles to avoid that cell. Their next clearance was to turn to 330 degrees; turning us away from the large cell; but straight into a line of 2-3 more red-colored; smaller cells. Captain queried; ATC turned us to 290 degree heading; still straight into weather. Now the frequency was congested; many radio calls; some blocked but none were for us; as we penetrated the cell. The flight became very violent; airspeed swinging from 250 knots; dropping to 220 knots; then increasing to 260 knots. At one time we were just above Alpha Protection and in a slight descent. I cannot tell you the altitudes (just below about 8;000) or headings because plane was rocking; shaking; dropping; climbing. Some bank angles were steep. I could not see actual headings or altitudes on the gauges because of the violent flight.The Captain was waiting for a break in radio transmissions to get a turn away from weather. I told Captain that I was turning outside of the cell regardless of what controller said. So I turned about 255-260 where some blue sky was visible. When Captain made contact with ATC; they started yelling that we could not turn further south because of arrivals. They said we could not turn past 270 degrees for airborne spacing from arrival aircraft. I started to turn right from 255 heading to closer to 270 heading; and it put us back into the violent turbulence. The Captain reported severe turbulence; and ATC was unhelpful and unsympathetic. ATC gave us a frequency change about the time we exited the TS cell. While the Captain dialed in the frequency change; I heard the aircraft behind us report severe turbulence too and I suggested he tell the next controller about the severe turbulence the previous controller is sending all aircraft into. The Captain checked in with new frequency with altitude and last clearance direct COBBB; but did not say anything about turbulence. After a few minutes of no action from the Captain to make the issue known to parties outside of the aircraft; I ACARSed the dispatcher that ATC was sending planes into severe turbulence.After re-establishing a normal climb in VMC conditions; once we climbed above 18;000 MSL; the Captain called back to the Flight Attendants (FA) who were all seated during the event. The FAs reported children crying and adults screaming in the back during the severe turbulence. The remainder of the flight was uneventful.Once on the ground; passengers deplaning talked in the gate area about how that was the scariest flight they have ever been on. I agree. No one from the company greeted arriving passengers to provide any support or concern.This event occurred because we allowed a negligent ATC talk us into radar vectors into thunderstorm areas. We can avoid recurrence by refusing ATC instructions. I also wish the Captain had shown respect for my desire not to turn into a thunderstorm area when I asked him to refuse the first clearance to a heading of 350. This second issue concerns me in the Captain-centric; single-pilot leaning operation that [the company] encourages.
A321 flight crew reported being vectored into thunderstorms by ATC departing ATL. The crew encountered severe turbulence and resistance from ATC to turn away.