Pilot and copilot reported an instance where there was confusion on who to follow. Pilots were told ...

Narrative:

Holding on taxiway waiting for further instructions to taxi to runway. We were holding behind another carrier. There were at least 20 aircraft holding on three to four different taxiways waiting to takeoff. ATC told the other carrier to follow a second carrier to runway and then told us to follow the second carrier to runway. After the second carrier passed; the first carrier followed them and so did we. There were no other second carrier aircraft in sight. After about two minutes; ground questioned us as to why we did not follow the second carrier (who was now on runway taking off). We said we did; he was now on runway.ground stated there was another aircraft from second carrier. We looked around and could now see an aircraft from second carrier coming out of an alley way way down by terminal. There is no way we could have seen him from our previous position. ATC did not say follow the second aircraft.ATC needs to use proper phraseology and be clear as to which aircraft to follow. Ground control was very busy and talking nonstop because of reroutes and congestion. When this is occurring it is very difficult to break in and question instructions. This is when ATC really needs to be clear with instructions. We don't know what we can't see and rely on ATC to be clear and concise.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot and Copilot reported an instance where there was confusion on who to follow. Pilots were told to follow second aircraft; which they thought they did. Controller wanted them to follow an aircraft they did not see. Pilots complained of controller's non-standard phraseology.

Narrative: Holding on taxiway waiting for further instructions to taxi to runway. We were holding behind another carrier. There were at least 20 aircraft holding on three to four different taxiways waiting to takeoff. ATC told the other carrier to follow a second carrier to runway and then told us to follow the second carrier to runway. After the second carrier passed; the first carrier followed them and so did we. There were no other second carrier aircraft in sight. After about two minutes; Ground questioned us as to why we did not follow the second carrier (who was now on runway taking off). We said we did; he was now on runway.Ground stated there was another aircraft from second carrier. We looked around and could now see an aircraft from second carrier coming out of an alley way way down by terminal. There is no way we could have seen him from our previous position. ATC did not say follow the second aircraft.ATC needs to use proper phraseology and be clear as to which aircraft to follow. Ground Control was very busy and talking nonstop because of reroutes and congestion. When this is occurring it is very difficult to break in and question instructions. This is when ATC really needs to be clear with instructions. We don't know what we can't see and rely on ATC to be clear and concise.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1290176
Time
Date	201508
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	LGA.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 165
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Taxiway

Pilot and copilot reported an instance where there was confusion on who to follow. Pilots were told to follow second aircraft; which they thought they did. Controller wanted them to follow an aircraft they did not see. Pilots complained of controller's non-standard phraseology.