A B737-300 captain reported a close call with another aircraft under tow while taxiing at atl.

Attributes
ACN	597105
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : atl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Phase	ground other : under tow
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	597105
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance Company ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance
Situations
Airport	procedure or policy : atl.airport
Chart	terminal area : atl

Narrative:

Released from ramp X tower, we were cleared to taxi by atl tower to runway 26L via taxiway F and hold short of ramp Y. As we turned onto taxiway F, we noticed an air carrier aircraft under tow at a high rate of speed about to turn left from taxiway east into our cleared taxi path. I maneuvered to avoid and stopped our taxi. The towed aircraft passed us on the right at what we estimated to be over 20 KTS and proceeded into ramp X. I asked the tower if he had clearance to cut in front of us and was told 'that is an uncontrolled area, as you should have seen on your chart.' I advised him we were on taxiway F, with no reply. I have my doubts if we could have avoided a collision had we not taken evasive action. I feel either the towed aircraft or us should have been told to give way to the other. I am unable to find any reference to an uncontrolled area on my charts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 CAPT RPTED A CLOSE CALL WITH ANOTHER ACFT UNDER TOW WHILE TAXIING AT ATL.

Narrative: RELEASED FROM RAMP X TWR, WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI BY ATL TWR TO RWY 26L VIA TXWY F AND HOLD SHORT OF RAMP Y. AS WE TURNED ONTO TXWY F, WE NOTICED AN ACR ACFT UNDER TOW AT A HIGH RATE OF SPD ABOUT TO TURN L FROM TXWY E INTO OUR CLRED TAXI PATH. I MANEUVERED TO AVOID AND STOPPED OUR TAXI. THE TOWED ACFT PASSED US ON THE R AT WHAT WE ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 20 KTS AND PROCEEDED INTO RAMP X. I ASKED THE TWR IF HE HAD CLRNC TO CUT IN FRONT OF US AND WAS TOLD 'THAT IS AN UNCTLED AREA, AS YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN ON YOUR CHART.' I ADVISED HIM WE WERE ON TXWY F, WITH NO REPLY. I HAVE MY DOUBTS IF WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED A COLLISION HAD WE NOT TAKEN EVASIVE ACTION. I FEEL EITHER THE TOWED ACFT OR US SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GIVE WAY TO THE OTHER. I AM UNABLE TO FIND ANY REF TO AN UNCTLED AREA ON MY CHARTS.

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.