B737 flight crew forgets to contact ramp control before entering the ramp at pit.

Attributes
ACN	741281
Time
Date	200706
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 275 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	741281
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Approaching pittsburgh; I briefed the ILS runway 28R approach including anticipated taxi route and the need to call ramp control. Soon thereafter; we were advised to expect runway 28L. I briefed the approach only to be informed to expect runway 32. I then briefed and flew the ILS runway 32. During taxi; the first officer and I discussed the 'jog' in taxiway C to ensure remaining on the proper taxiway. I then continued to taxi into the ramp without clearance from ramp control. We were informed to contact ramp very near our gate. I stopped the aircraft and received clearance to taxi to the gate. There was no other movement in the ramp area at the time and only one other aircraft in the gate area. The bottom line; even after briefing the need to contact ramp control; both of us still forgot to do so; nor were we so instructed until halfway across the ramp. Other airports (las; phl) with ramp control advise pilots on ground control to contact ramp; often with the appropriate frequency. This would have prevented this error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW FORGETS TO CONTACT RAMP CONTROL BEFORE ENTERING THE RAMP AT PIT.

Narrative: APPROACHING PITTSBURGH; I BRIEFED THE ILS RWY 28R APCH INCLUDING ANTICIPATED TAXI ROUTE AND THE NEED TO CALL RAMP CONTROL. SOON THEREAFTER; WE WERE ADVISED TO EXPECT RWY 28L. I BRIEFED THE APCH ONLY TO BE INFORMED TO EXPECT RWY 32. I THEN BRIEFED AND FLEW THE ILS RWY 32. DURING TAXI; THE FO AND I DISCUSSED THE 'JOG' IN TXWY C TO ENSURE REMAINING ON THE PROPER TXWY. I THEN CONTINUED TO TAXI INTO THE RAMP WITHOUT CLRNC FROM RAMP CONTROL. WE WERE INFORMED TO CONTACT RAMP VERY NEAR OUR GATE. I STOPPED THE ACFT AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAXI TO THE GATE. THERE WAS NO OTHER MOVEMENT IN THE RAMP AREA AT THE TIME AND ONLY ONE OTHER ACFT IN THE GATE AREA. THE BOTTOM LINE; EVEN AFTER BRIEFING THE NEED TO CONTACT RAMP CONTROL; BOTH OF US STILL FORGOT TO DO SO; NOR WERE WE SO INSTRUCTED UNTIL HALFWAY ACROSS THE RAMP. OTHER ARPTS (LAS; PHL) WITH RAMP CONTROL ADVISE PILOTS ON GROUND CONTROL TO CONTACT RAMP; OFTEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE FREQUENCY. THIS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS ERROR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.