FAA INVESTIGATION OPENED ON A FLC THAT DEPARTED TPA IN PROX OF TSTM ACTIVITY.

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I'M FILING THIS RPT ON THE ADVICE OF MY UNION REPRESENTATIVE. IT SEEMS THAT THE FAA MAY TRY TO TURN THIS ROUTINE OP INTO SOME KIND OF INCIDENT. WE WERE HOLDING ON THE TXWY AT TPA WAITING FOR A TSTM TO THE N TO PASS. IT WAS DRY AND VFR ON THE FIELD. ZJX WAS ONLY ALLOWING DEPS ON A 360 DEG HDG (WHICH WAS OUR DIRECTION OF FLT). WE ELECTED TO TAXI ONTO THE RWY AND CHK THE RADAR PICTURE. NOT ONLY WAS THERE A CLR CORRIDOR THROUGH THE WX; BUT WE COULD ALSO SEE IT VISUALLY. AFTER DETERMINING THAT I; THE FO; FELT COMFORTABLE DEPARTING; THE CAPT ELECTED TO DEPART AND MADE THE TKOF. WE ARE BOTH EX-MIL; COMBAT VETERANS. WE FLEW ON A 360 DEG HDG; FLEW BTWN 2 BUILDUPS; AND ELECTED TO STAY LOW (2500 FT) UNDER THE WX. WE ENCOUNTERED NO CHOP; NO PRECIPITATION; AND STAYED VFR THE ENTIRE WAY. AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE WX; WE CLBED TO OUR CRUISE ALT AND CONTINUED TO PHL WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT SEEMS THAT AN FAA EXAMINER; RIDING JUMP SEAT ON ANOTHER CARRIER; DECIDED THAT WE TOOK OFF INTO A LEVEL 5 TSTM AND WERE UNSAFE. YOU CAN DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS; BUT ONCE AGAIN; THE FAA IS OVERSTEPPING ITS AUTH. THIS OP WAS TOTALLY SAFE -- I WOULD REPEAT THE SAME DEP AGAIN. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 274678: THE PROB IS; THIS FAA INSPECTOR DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE COGNITIVE ABILITY TO DETERMINE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO TKOF FROM AN ARPT WHEN THERE IS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY IN THE AREA. THIS SIT CAN BE CORRECTED BY RETRAINING OR REPLACING INCOMPETENT FAA INSPECTORS.