Narrative:

Aircraft X was instructed to taxi and was issued communications transfer to ramp control. Aircraft X was observed entering the ramp control via taxiway which was neither coordinated nor authorized by ATC personnel.two memorandums are located within the red read and initial binder. They are quality assurance alert bulletins which repeatedly use the phrase 'positive control' in bold lettering. Please explain how aircraft not following ATC instructions could ever be considered positive control? Whether it be by their own initiative or by ramp controller prerogative does not matter. Not following ATC instructions and this facility always justifying it as an acceptable practice is unsafe.the current ramp LOA (letter of agreement) is unsafe. It is not being followed by most of the workforce to include air traffic controllers; pilots; and ramp operators. If the LOA is not being followed it is a safety issue that is not being addressed.recommend that feedback is solicited and used as a determining factor in LOA development. Controllers should not be briefed on a new LOA without being afforded the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes to operating procedures.recommend that LOA's are not developed which imply increased landline coordination is feasible. The local control controller work load should never be increased to improve ramp efficiency. This LOA is driven by efficiency and not safety. Safety should be the priority; and increasing coordination at an already busy position is not safe.if the local control position already has to talk to every plane landing; as well as make a recorded landline communication for 50% of the departure aircraft; should the LOA imply that they now have time to make a ramp control landline communication for 30% of the arrival aircraft?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PHL Tower Controller states his facility Letter of Agreement with Ramp Control is not being complied with and is unsafe.

Narrative: Aircraft X was instructed to taxi and was issued communications transfer to ramp control. Aircraft X was observed entering the ramp control via taxiway which was neither coordinated nor authorized by ATC personnel.Two Memorandums are located within the red read and initial binder. They are Quality Assurance Alert Bulletins which repeatedly use the phrase 'POSITIVE CONTROL' in bold lettering. Please explain how aircraft not following ATC instructions could ever be considered positive control? Whether it be by their own initiative or by ramp controller prerogative does not matter. Not following ATC instructions and this facility always justifying it as an acceptable practice is UNSAFE.The current Ramp LOA (Letter of Agreement) is unsafe. IT IS NOT BEING FOLLOWED by most of the workforce to include air traffic controllers; pilots; and ramp operators. If the LOA is not being followed it is a safety issue that is not being addressed.Recommend that feedback is solicited and used as a determining factor in LOA development. Controllers should not be briefed on a new LOA without being afforded the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes to operating procedures.Recommend that LOA's are not developed which IMPLY increased landline coordination is feasible. The Local Control controller work load should never be increased to improve ramp efficiency. This LOA is driven by efficiency and not safety. Safety should be the priority; and increasing coordination at an already busy position is not safe.If the Local Control position already has to talk to every plane landing; as well as make a recorded landline communication for 50% of the departure aircraft; should the LOA imply that they now have time to make a ramp control landline communication for 30% of the arrival aircraft?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.