Air Carrier First Officer reported an abrupt stop during taxi due to another air carrier not giving way as per FAR 91.113. This reporter believes ATC should have instructed the other carrier to give way.
Synopsis
Air Carrier First Officer reported an abrupt stop during taxi due to another air carrier not giving way as per FAR 91.113. This reporter believes ATC should have instructed the other carrier to give way.
Narrative
Day 0 XA00z - XB00z; specifically started XA25z. ZZZ; Ground MovementAircraft X; Aircraft Y; ZZZ Ground Control; Ramp Control for Lane XX at ZZZAircraft X and Aircraft Y converged in close proximity; as both aircraft were about to enter Lane XX for Gate arrival - Aircraft Y was to the right of Aircraft X; Aircraft Y approached Lane XX from Taxi lane XX after exiting Taxi lane XY; Aircraft X was approaching Lane XX; on Taxi lane XZ after exiting Taxi lane XA. Aircraft Y stopped aircraft abruptly; as Aircraft X proceeded into the lane entryAircraft Z called to leave Lane XX with a cross bleed start (Aircraft Z was the traffic blocking the alleyway for Lane XX) Aircraft X missed two radio calls from ground - no responseAircraft X ZZZ Ground Movement:Original Position: Holding Short of XA; on Taxi lane XY (facing SE)Movement: Aircraft X then proceeded to Lane XX via Right turn Taxi lane XA; Right Turn on XZ; and proceeded to enter Lane XX via a Left Hand Turn from Taxi lane XZAircraft Y ZZZ Ground Movement:Original Position: Holding Short of XX; on Taxi lane XY (facing SE)Movement: Aircraft Y turned right on XX; to taxi straight ahead to enter Lane XX.Aircraft X and Aircraft Y converged; Aircraft Y was to the right-front of Aircraft X approaching Lane XX. Captain of Aircraft Y brought aircraft to an abrupt stop; as Aircraft X continued taxiing into Lane XX. No Aircraft Damage occurred; and aircraft and person safety was ensured. Causal Factors: Two aircraft were cleared into Lane XX; at the same time; by both ZZZ Ground Control and ZZZ Ramp Control; ZZZ Ground Congestion; Nighttime Hours; Radio Congestion; Right of Way Rules IgnoredIt is in our opinion that Aircraft Y poorly exercised the following: Pilot Handling-Judgment Airmanship and Expectation Bias for the following reasons: Pilot Handling-Judgment Airmanship: According to § 91.113 Right-of-way rules: Except water operations; Section (d): 'Converging Aircraft': 'When aircraft of the same category are converging at approximately the same altitude (except head-on; or nearly so); the aircraft to the other's right has the right-of-way.' Although the regulation is written for air; the same right-of-way rules can be understood in the same manner. Aircraft Y chose to ignore this rule; and proceed into Lane XX directly in front of us. We believe in this situation; Aircraft X had the right-of-way; regardless of 'who was cleared in first' by controlling agencies. Furthermore; no aircraft should 'assume' that another aircraft will stop for them. Expectation Bias: Aircraft Y assumed they had the right-of-way and proceeded into Lane XX. Aircraft Y asked ramp after the encounter 'Ramp; Aircraft Y; who was that aircraft that tried to cut us off coming into the ramp?'. We believe there was an expectation that we (Aircraft X) should stop to allow Aircraft Y into the taxi lane - Why did Aircraft Y believe this to be the case? We are unsure.This report is being written due to Aircraft Y's question to ramp; 'Who was that aircraft that tried to cut us off'. We felt the need to document this situation; because it appeared Aircraft Y was looking to take action against us.ATC: Ground Control should have told one aircraft to give way to the other aircraft entering Lane XX. If this were to be the case; ATC instructions would have taken precedence over 'right-of-way' rules; and would have easily deconflicted the two aircraft's entering Lane XX. Since Aircraft Y was cleared into the ramp first (their original location on the ground unbeknownst to us); ground should have said: 'Aircraft Y; give way to Aircraft X from your left; then you are cleared into Lane XX'.Ramp Control: It is not ramp control's responsibility on how aircraft enter the ramp from the controlled area; but as a courtesy; Ramp Control could notify entering aircraft that 'x' number of aircraft are also cleared in. Simple phraseology of 'Aircraft X you are cleared into Lane XX; use caution; Aircraft Y is also cleared into Lane XX.'Assumptions: We believe it is unsafe to assume anything in regards to aircraft safety and movement - assuming that another aircraft will stop for you; is frankly poor judgement; regardless of right-of-way rules. No aircraft should assume another aircraft will stop - rhetorically speaking; in this situation; what if both Aircraft X and Aircraft Y assumed the other aircraft would stop; when entering the ramp; and neither aircraft did? It is in our opinion that Aircraft Y was procedurally incorrect when entering lane XX at ZZZ's airport; as a converging aircraft to one's right; should have the right-of-way. It is also our opinion that Aircraft Y behaved unprofessionally; by accusing Aircraft X (us) of 'trying to cut them off.' The most simplistic fix to this report; was to have ZZZ Ground Control state: 'Aircraft X; give way to Aircraft Y from your left; then you are cleared into Lane XX'.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.