Narrative:

We were cleared to push by ramp control but not too deeply so as to avoid other pushbacks from other gates. Then they advised the B757 at the adjacent gate to also push back. We were waiting for him to move with our engines running and ramp began a running argument with me (captain) about going ahead and taxiing around them. It was clear from our perspective that we didn't have adequate clearance to do so; so we refused to taxi. Ramp told us that 'maintenance is standing right next to me and says you have plenty of room so taxi now.' I again refused. Ramp controllers; last time I checked; are not cockpit qualified. This little incident cost us 1000 pounds of fuel whilst we discussed this with ramp. Ramp needs more training for safety's sake; be it pushback (nonstandard phraseology is rampant) or the controllers themselves; who have little understanding of aircraft operation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RAMP CONTROLLER ATTEMPTS TO GET CAPTAIN OF B767 TO TAXI AROUND ACFT PUSHED FROM AN ADJACENT GATE. CAPT REFUSES DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT CLEARANCE.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO PUSH BY RAMP CTL BUT NOT TOO DEEPLY SO AS TO AVOID OTHER PUSHBACKS FROM OTHER GATES. THEN THEY ADVISED THE B757 AT THE ADJACENT GATE TO ALSO PUSH BACK. WE WERE WAITING FOR HIM TO MOVE WITH OUR ENGS RUNNING AND RAMP BEGAN A RUNNING ARGUMENT WITH ME (CAPT) ABOUT GOING AHEAD AND TAXIING AROUND THEM. IT WAS CLR FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE CLRNC TO DO SO; SO WE REFUSED TO TAXI. RAMP TOLD US THAT 'MAINT IS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME AND SAYS YOU HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM SO TAXI NOW.' I AGAIN REFUSED. RAMP CTLRS; LAST TIME I CHKED; ARE NOT COCKPIT QUALIFIED. THIS LITTLE INCIDENT COST US 1000 LBS OF FUEL WHILST WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH RAMP. RAMP NEEDS MORE TRAINING FOR SAFETY'S SAKE; BE IT PUSHBACK (NONSTANDARD PHRASEOLOGY IS RAMPANT) OR THE CTLRS THEMSELVES; WHO HAVE LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF ACFT OP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.