WX RADAR INOP. ATC INTRAFAC COORD. FLC DECLARED EMER.

Narrative

ENRTE ON A NORMAL FLT FROM SAN JOSE; CA; TO DENVER; CO. ACFT'S ON BOARD WX RADAR FAILED ENRTE; WITH FRONTAL TSTMS BTWN ACFT AND DENVER; OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. AFTER CONFERRING WITH SYS ACFT MAINT VIA RADIO; AND DISPATCH (VIA ACARS); AND AFTER CONSULTING THE FLT OPS MANUAL; THE CREW ELECTED TO ATTEMPT CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF WX IN VMC CONDITIONS. CTR WAS ADVISED OF OUR RADAR FAILURE AND INTENTIONS. CREW REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC FOR A HDG TOWARD A GAP IN THE WX; TO MAINT FL370. NAVING BTWN 2 CELLS; A SUBSEQUENT CTLR TOLD US TO DSND TO FL350 -- ADVISED CTLR UNABLE; DUE TO BUILDUP BENEATH US. CTLR THEN TOLD US TO TURN R TO 190 DEGS (STRAIGHT INTO THE CELL TO OUR R) -- ADVISED CTLR UNABLE TO DSND OR TURN FOR ANOTHER 15-20 MI; DUE TO WX. CTLR SAID WE MUST DSND OR TURN -- CAPT ELECTED TO EXERCISE EMER AUTH TO STAY OUT OF THE TSTMS AND DECLARED AN EMER. ACFT PROCEEDED SAFELY THROUGH THE WX AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. A LACK OF COMS; BOTH BTWN THE CTR CTLRS; AND BTWN THE ACFT AND EACH SUBSEQUENT CTLR; PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INCIDENT: EACH HDOF SEEMED TO REQUIRE A NEW STATEMENT OF OUR EQUIP FAILURE AND OUR INTENTIONS; WHILE WE UNDERSTOOD (IN ERROR; IT SEEMS) THAT ONCE AN INFLT EQUIP FAILURE WAS DECLARED TO CTR; EACH SUBSEQUENT CTLR WOULD BE ADVISED BY THE PREVIOUS CTLR OF THAT ACFT'S STATUS AND INTENTIONS.