MLG IS TAXIED WEIGHING MORE THAN ITS MAX TAXI WT.

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TAXIED OUT OF DTW ENRTE TO TPA. 30 MINS AFTER START OF TAXI; LOAD AGENT ADVISES THAT THE ACFT IS 2000 POUNDS OVER MAX ALLOWABLE RAMP GROSS WT (MANUFACTURER'S STRUCTURAL LIMITATION!). FLT CONTACTS FLT DISPATCH TO REQUEST ADVICE. DISPATCHER SAYS; STAY WHERE YOU ARE. CHIEF DISPATCHER IS CONSULTED. CHIEF SAYS TO TAXI BACK TO THE GATE FOR OFF-LOADING AND INSPECTION. CAPT STATES HE IS UNWILLING TO TAXI THE ACFT AND WANTS TO BE TOWED. DISPATCHER SAYS THAT IS THE CAPT'S OPTION. CHIEF DISPATCHER SPEAKS TO FLT; CAPT ASKS; ARE YOU ORDERING ME TO TAXI THIS ACFT? CHIEF DISPATCHER STATES; I AM AUTHORIZING YOU TO TAXI BACK. CAPT COMPLIES. 1 HR LATER; CAPT CONTACTS DISPATCH; FLT IS STILL SITTING IN THE GATE. NO ONE HAS APCHED THE ACFT. NO CARGO BINS HAVE BEEN OPENED. MEANWHILE; MAINT CTL ADVISES THAT AN OVERWT LNDG INSPECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THE ACFT! QUESTION: IS THAT INSPECTION LEGAL IF THE ACFT IS STILL OVER GROSS? CHIEF DISPATCHER ADVISES MGMNT THAT IF SOMEONE DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THE FLT IMMEDIATELY; HE WILL ADVISE THE CAPT TO ORDER THE ACFT EVACED. THIS PRODUCES THE REQUIRED MIRACLE: 3000 POUNDS OFF-LOADED FROM THE ACFT. NEW RELEASE ISSUED; NEW WT TAB COMPUTED; ATC REFILED; FLT DEPARTED 2:15 LATE. P.S. MAINT SAYS THE ACFT HAS A FLAT STRUT THAT HAS TO BE PUMPED UP; BUT IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE OVER GROSS TAXI. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR SAID IT WAS THE CAPT WHO THREATENED TO EVAC HIS PAX IF HIS ACFT WASN'T SVCED SOON. HE SAID REASON FOR DELAY WAS A MANPWR SHORTAGE. GND CREW WORKS TRIP 1 THEN TRIP 2. TRIP 2 LEAVES AND GND CREW GOES TO TRIP 3. IF TRIP 2 THEN RETURNS TO THE GATE; THERE IS NO ONE TO HANDLE HIM. RPTR CLAIMS THAT MIDDLE MGMNT IS TO BLAME. HIS BIGGEST QUESTION: IF IT IS ILLEGAL TO TAXI AN ACFT HEAVIER THAN ITS MAX TAXI WT; ISN'T IT ILLEGAL TO LEAVE THE GATE UNTIL AFTER THE ACTUAL ACFT WTS ARE RECEIVED?