Widebody; Low Wing; 4 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 25
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Weather; Procedure; Aircraft
Aircraft X requested a routing change. I cleared Aircraft X to the first fix on the routing requested and told the pilot to stand by for the rest of the routing. My Supervisor ordered me not to approve the routing change for Aircraft X and return Aircraft X to the original routing. I did as ordered. Aircraft X asked why the routing change was not available and I told him my Supervisor ordered me not to approve it.When Aircraft X requests a routing change we should approve it. I think I read that somewhere once.
Controller was asked why the FLM refused the route change and he advised that the area had been told not to re-route any aircraft into ZID airspace due to TSTMS [thunderstorms]. Controller asked FLM again and he stated do not give him that routing. So Controller did as ordered.
ZDC Controller reports of a VIP military aircraft requesting a route change; but the FLM ordered the Controller not to allow the change.