An Air Carrier crew did not call MKE Ground Control after receiving push back clearance from Ramp Control at one of the terminal gates requiring dual push back clearances.
Synopsis
An Air Carrier crew did not call MKE Ground Control after receiving push back clearance from Ramp Control at one of the terminal gates requiring dual push back clearances.
Narrative
Ground push-back from gate commenced with clearance from only one of two entities in fine print on airport chart. Due to division of tasks/workload between Captain/First officer in the cockpit; poor non-typical and somewhat convoluted signage. Procedures annotated in fine print on the commercial chart; along with dealing with a new airport location; an aircraft swap and running late; a communication error was made between crew members and Ramp/Ground Control; to where a potential conflict could have occurred. Captain was communicating with the Ground Crew and Flight Attendants; while First Officer was communicating with ATC and running the checklist. Captain was assured a push clearance had been obtained; and push was commenced. However; only Ramp Control had given a clearance and not Ground Control as well. No harm done; but issue could be avoided perhaps in the future if there was some better signage on the gates stating that clearance must be received from both Ramp and Ground. Also better notes in bolder print be placed on the main airport diagram page of the commercial charts stating this requirement. Also perhaps overlap the cockpit tasking when it comes to getting push clearances so there are no communication errors.
Second reporter narrative
We were cleared by Ramp Control (136.6) off of one of many gates at MKE; to pushback and call Ground Control on (121.8). In the rush to make up time and deal with checklists and calls from flight attendants from the back of the aircraft; I forgot to call Ground for push clearance as well and we were already pushed onto Taxiway Bravo which did not have any other traffic on it at the time. Ground advised we did not call and said we were on active taxiway. I apologized and said we forgot in the rush of things. I think in terms of safety; if Taxiway Bravo is an active taxiway; why do we have to call Ramp for push; than Ground when Ramp clears us to push and 'Contact Ground.' Way too much juggling of frequencies for very short distance (10 feet). Unfortunately; in this case we need to communicate first then aviate. Next time we will complete all tasks before calling for push!
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.