Narrative:

I called ground control for taxi clearance. We were told to taxi out via C3. The captain said he wanted to go out C2 (it was straight ahead). Ground said it was closed to aircraft with a wing span of over 80'. Ours was over 80'. Captain said he wanted to use it anyway (C3 required a 180 degree right turn). Tower said C2 was closed due to men and equipment working (although no one was there). The captain once again said he wanted to use C2. Tower then said 'it's closed, use at your discretion.' we used C2. When I asked him why, he said 'it should not have been closed' (he had the 'I'm the captain and don't forget it' attitude all month). I'm glad the month's over. There is no lesson to be learned from this. Some people just have to do things their way. Some day it will catch up with them.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CAPT INSISTS ON USING CLOSED TXWY FOR TAXI OPERATION AND USES IT AFTER TWR GND CTLR SAYS 'YOUR DISCRETION.'

Narrative: I CALLED GND CTL FOR TAXI CLRNC. WE WERE TOLD TO TAXI OUT VIA C3. THE CAPT SAID HE WANTED TO GO OUT C2 (IT WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD). GND SAID IT WAS CLOSED TO ACFT WITH A WING SPAN OF OVER 80'. OURS WAS OVER 80'. CAPT SAID HE WANTED TO USE IT ANYWAY (C3 REQUIRED A 180 DEG RIGHT TURN). TWR SAID C2 WAS CLOSED DUE TO MEN AND EQUIP WORKING (ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS THERE). THE CAPT ONCE AGAIN SAID HE WANTED TO USE C2. TWR THEN SAID 'IT'S CLOSED, USE AT YOUR DISCRETION.' WE USED C2. WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY, HE SAID 'IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CLOSED' (HE HAD THE 'I'M THE CAPT AND DON'T FORGET IT' ATTITUDE ALL MONTH). I'M GLAD THE MONTH'S OVER. THERE IS NO LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS. SOME PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO DO THINGS THEIR WAY. SOME DAY IT WILL CATCH UP WITH THEM.

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.