FLC OF AN MLG HAD TO BRING ACFT TO AN ABRUPT STOP DUE TO ANOTHER COMPANY PUSHBACK RIGHT ACROSS THE FRONT OF THEIR ACFT WHILE TAXIING TO THE GATE. RPTR COMPLAINS THAT THE TWR CTLR DOES NOT MONITOR PUSHBACKS; BUT INSTRUCTS THE FLC TO PUSH BACK AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION.
Synopsis
FLC OF AN MLG HAD TO BRING ACFT TO AN ABRUPT STOP DUE TO ANOTHER COMPANY PUSHBACK RIGHT ACROSS THE FRONT OF THEIR ACFT WHILE TAXIING TO THE GATE. RPTR COMPLAINS THAT THE TWR CTLR DOES NOT MONITOR PUSHBACKS; BUT INSTRUCTS THE FLC TO PUSH BACK AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION.
Narrative
IN MONITORING OAK GND FREQ DURING MY LAST 2 DEPS; I FIND THAT EVERY FLT WHICH CALLS FOR PUSH ON GND FREQ IS TOLD TO 'PUSH AT YOUR DISCRETION.' THE TROUBLE COMES WITH ACR Y AGGRESSIVE GND OPS. WE'VE ALL SEEN THEM TAXI -- YOU SHOULD WATCH THEM PUSH! ON ONE OCCASION MY CREW HAD TO BRING THE ACFT TO AN ABRUPT HALT BECAUSE OF AN ACR Y ACFT PUSHING BACK IN FRONT OF US. THE NEW (EXPERIENCED) GND SUPVR INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A ROUTINE PROB. HIS OPINION WAS THAT SOONER OR LATER THERE WILL BE A TAIL SHOVED THROUGH THE SIDE OF AN AIRPLANE OUT THERE. THAT IS ALMOST A DIRECT QUOTE. IN ADDITION; WHEN WE GET GND CLRNC TO TOW FROM THE HARDSTAND TO OUR GATE; THEY ARE ROUTINELY BLOCKED BY ACR Y ACFT PUSHING AT THEIR DISCRETION. THIS ENTAILS EITHER OAK GND CTLRS IGNORING A CLRED TO TOW ACFT AND ALLOWING ACR Y TO PUSH; OR ACR Y CREWS DOING SO. PERHAPS ACR Y GND SUPVRS SHOULD BE POLITELY INFORMED ABOUT SAFETY AND GOOD MANNERS IN ACFT OP. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK; PERHAPS THE FAA SHOULD BE ASKED TO TAKE FULL CTL OF THE TXWYS BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.