Narrative:

2 lanes of taxi traffic on a 1 lane taxiway at phx on the ramp between air carrier AAA gates and air carrier BBB. We had landed and were taxiing to gate A1 at phx. As I turned into the ramp, I noticed air carrier BBB pushed back (medium large transport). I stopped to wait for the ramp to clear in order to preceed safely. The ground controller asked why we stopped. I said we were waiting for air carrier BBB to clear the way. She said there was room to pass and in a badgering tone directed me to continue to the gate. I said since there were no taxi lines, I would wait until air carrier BBB cleared the way. After blocking, I called the tower on the phone and discussed the incident with a supervisor. He insisted that the area in question was a '2 way taxi area.' I said if that is so, paint taxi lines so the pilots will be assured of clearance. He replied that that was the airport manager's job. I then called the airport manager and discussed the problem. He said that the area was definitely a 1 way taxi area and he would discuss it with the tower. Solution: paint taxi lines in aircraft movement areas. If it is 2 lanes, paint 2 lines--if it is 1 lane, paint 1 line.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GND CTLR TRIED TO GET FLT CREW TO TAXI PAST AN ACR GATE WHEN FLT CREW DID NOT THINK THERE WAS CLRNC.

Narrative: 2 LANES OF TAXI TFC ON A 1 LANE TXWY AT PHX ON THE RAMP BTWN ACR AAA GATES AND ACR BBB. WE HAD LANDED AND WERE TAXIING TO GATE A1 AT PHX. AS I TURNED INTO THE RAMP, I NOTICED ACR BBB PUSHED BACK (MLG). I STOPPED TO WAIT FOR THE RAMP TO CLR IN ORDER TO PRECEED SAFELY. THE GND CTLR ASKED WHY WE STOPPED. I SAID WE WERE WAITING FOR ACR BBB TO CLR THE WAY. SHE SAID THERE WAS ROOM TO PASS AND IN A BADGERING TONE DIRECTED ME TO CONTINUE TO THE GATE. I SAID SINCE THERE WERE NO TAXI LINES, I WOULD WAIT UNTIL ACR BBB CLRED THE WAY. AFTER BLOCKING, I CALLED THE TWR ON THE PHONE AND DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT WITH A SUPVR. HE INSISTED THAT THE AREA IN QUESTION WAS A '2 WAY TAXI AREA.' I SAID IF THAT IS SO, PAINT TAXI LINES SO THE PLTS WILL BE ASSURED OF CLRNC. HE REPLIED THAT THAT WAS THE ARPT MGR'S JOB. I THEN CALLED THE ARPT MGR AND DISCUSSED THE PROB. HE SAID THAT THE AREA WAS DEFINITELY A 1 WAY TAXI AREA AND HE WOULD DISCUSS IT WITH THE TWR. SOLUTION: PAINT TAXI LINES IN ACFT MOVEMENT AREAS. IF IT IS 2 LANES, PAINT 2 LINES--IF IT IS 1 LANE, PAINT 1 LINE.

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