A319
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 129; Flight Crew Total 6585; Flight Crew Type 1580
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
Dispatch routed flight around known weather and the initial route was acceptable. After pushback; Ground Control advised us that the flight had been rerouted by some Washington DC Central Air Command group. The reroute put the flight in direct path of the weather and potential severe weather in the event the weather moved onto the new route. I found the route unacceptable and stated so to the ATC folks. They told me that we were not able to change the route as Washington DC had mandated all flights fly this new route. I was completely dumbfounded that a person who I could not speak with was unwilling to stay on the filed route to the destination. Instead; some person in a room without the knowledge and experience of flying has determined which direction a pilot was to fly. I find this counter to the FARs that specifically allow for pilots to make decisions as to the direction of flight. I would like an answer as to when this FAR changed and the dynamic that constitutes a Ground ATC person to direct this type of action against the flight I am in charge of.
A319 Captain reported receiving a rerouted flight clearance by ATC due to weather.