Date: 201406
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZME.ARTCC, TN
Flight conditions: IMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: Widebody; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class A ZME
ATC / advisory: Center ZME
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Weather
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: While on the Hobrk One arrival into Memphis Center issued the heading of 130 for spacing with arrival aircraft. We were on the heading for approximately 5 to 10 miles and then issued a left turn to the heading of 010. [I] informed Center Controller that we would be unable to maintain 010 for any length of time due to severe thunderstorm that was at our 12 o'clock position. Center stated no problem I will turn you prior to you getting very close. At approximately 25 miles from red and magenta radar cell; copilot requested that we be allowed to reduce forward speed; Center Controller denied request and asked us to maintain forward speed. We again stated that we were unable to maintain 010 heading; center issued clearance to descend to Flight Level 240; additionally when leaving Flight Level 300 right turn to a heading of 100. We began the descent; but were unable to descend at a rate high enough to allow the aircraft to avoid entering the thunderstorm. Told Center that we were turning back toward the right and I turned to a heading of 050 to avoid convective activity. Center Controller very upset and informed us that we were not allowed to turn when we wanted to; requested that we stop descent and maintain FL320 which we complied with. First Officer informed Center Controller that he was not allowed to the vector into thunderstorms. Additional clearance from Center Controller to proceed direct to Hobrk Intersection; we complied and returned to now then he reversed his decision and gave us another heading. The Center Controller was very unprofessional; he had unlimited options on dealing with traffic separation however chose to use the only option that would vector us directly into an extreme precipitation thunderstorm cell. There was only one thunderstorm in our immediate proximity we informed him of our limited ability on that heading; we also requested to reduce velocity to aid in solving the traffic separation problem and were refused. He seems extremely determined that we would fly into the thunderstorm. Due to the safety risk I had no choice; but to deviate from that clearance and turned to a heading that would avoid thunderstorm entry. I realize that Memphis Center is utilized to train many new ATC controllers; however; there needs to be some supervision of these individuals; so that they cannot produce hazardous events through their own actions.Memphis Center needs to realize that [company] aircraft like all others cannot penetrate thunderstorms at will and while I understand the difficulty in providing traffic separation for all of our rivals into Memphis disregarding safety and science in the name of traffic separation is unacceptable. He had already pushed us to the limit of our required separation distance from thunderstorms and we had made every effort to make clear to him that we were unable to maintain that heading. It might be good for him to remember that the world does not revolve around him.




Synopsis: Pilot requests deviation heading for weather and controller does not issue a deviation until pilot requests again.