Narrative:

Dulles is presently conducting a test program for data link voiceless taxi clearance. They are using a series of clearance requests and acknowledgements. On this particular date (as on numerous occasions over the past month), the data link clearance we received was completely different from the verbal clearance. I contend that if you're going to run a test program, the data clearance should be the same as the verbal clearance. Below is the 2 clrncs we received: 1) data link clearance -- 'contact ground on 121.9. Expect runway 1R. Expected taxi clearance of: turn right on taxiway J, turn left on taxiway K5, turn right on taxiway K.' 20 seconds later when we contacted ground on 121.9, we got the following verbal clearance -- turn right on taxiway J and taxi to the holding point for runway 1R.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777 FLT CREW CONCERNED WITH INCONSISTENT APPLICATION OF VOICELESS DATA LINK TAXI CLRNC TEST PROCS AT IAD.

Narrative: DULLES IS PRESENTLY CONDUCTING A TEST PROGRAM FOR DATA LINK VOICELESS TAXI CLRNC. THEY ARE USING A SERIES OF CLRNC REQUESTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ON THIS PARTICULAR DATE (AS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST MONTH), THE DATA LINK CLRNC WE RECEIVED WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE VERBAL CLRNC. I CONTEND THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN A TEST PROGRAM, THE DATA CLRNC SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THE VERBAL CLRNC. BELOW IS THE 2 CLRNCS WE RECEIVED: 1) DATA LINK CLRNC -- 'CONTACT GND ON 121.9. EXPECT RWY 1R. EXPECTED TAXI CLRNC OF: TURN R ON TXWY J, TURN L ON TXWY K5, TURN R ON TXWY K.' 20 SECONDS LATER WHEN WE CONTACTED GND ON 121.9, WE GOT THE FOLLOWING VERBAL CLRNC -- TURN R ON TXWY J AND TAXI TO THE HOLDING POINT FOR RWY 1R.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.