Narrative:

Landed 9R phl, we were instructed to hold short of 9L at charlie which we did. We had to hold there for about 12 mins while numerous pushbacks/taxiouts occurred in the alleyway serving our gate (B2). As the last pushback, an medium large transport, was being completed the local controller cleared us to 'cross 9L, traffic holding in position, contact ground point 9 on the other side.' we crossed and stopped, holding short of alpha taxiway as we ha no further clearance to proceed. At this point the medium large transport was just starting out of the alleyway onto the ramp taxiway (sierra, I believe). The ground controller, per usual, was talking nonstop overcontrolling everyone. Almost immediately after I stopped the aircraft the ground frequency went berserk. I caught bits and pieces of 'don't stop, we're on the runway,' 'move up,' etc. By now the medium large transport was clear. I was totally unsuccessful in contacting ground. The aircraft behind me had now illuminated all its lights, insuring that I realized they were behind me. At this point I realized the danger involved and taxied into the alleyway and parked at the gate. Never did talk to ground controller. This brings up a few interesting points: 1) why did the local controller clear 3 aircraft to cross into an area at the same time west/O informing ground, knowing the lead aircraft would halt upon crossing? 2) the ground controller should have seen the situation developing, stopped issuing basically needless instructions, and cleared me (us) in. 3) a task force should be sent in, long term, to square these phl controllers away--someone is going to get hurt.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG STOPPED SHORT OF RAMP WHEN CLEARED TO CROSS RWY CONTACT GND CTL. TRAFFIC BEHIND WERE STRANDED CROSSING THE RWY WITH AN ACFT IN POSITION FOR TKOF ON THAT RWY.

Narrative: LANDED 9R PHL, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO HOLD SHORT OF 9L AT CHARLIE WHICH WE DID. WE HAD TO HOLD THERE FOR ABOUT 12 MINS WHILE NUMEROUS PUSHBACKS/TAXIOUTS OCCURRED IN THE ALLEYWAY SERVING OUR GATE (B2). AS THE LAST PUSHBACK, AN MLG, WAS BEING COMPLETED THE LCL CTLR CLRED US TO 'CROSS 9L, TFC HOLDING IN POS, CONTACT GND POINT 9 ON THE OTHER SIDE.' WE CROSSED AND STOPPED, HOLDING SHORT OF ALPHA TXWY AS WE HA NO FURTHER CLRNC TO PROCEED. AT THIS POINT THE MLG WAS JUST STARTING OUT OF THE ALLEYWAY ONTO THE RAMP TXWY (SIERRA, I BELIEVE). THE GND CTLR, PER USUAL, WAS TALKING NONSTOP OVERCONTROLLING EVERYONE. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STOPPED THE ACFT THE GND FREQ WENT BERSERK. I CAUGHT BITS AND PIECES OF 'DON'T STOP, WE'RE ON THE RWY,' 'MOVE UP,' ETC. BY NOW THE MLG WAS CLR. I WAS TOTALLY UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING GND. THE ACFT BEHIND ME HAD NOW ILLUMINATED ALL ITS LIGHTS, INSURING THAT I REALIZED THEY WERE BEHIND ME. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THE DANGER INVOLVED AND TAXIED INTO THE ALLEYWAY AND PARKED AT THE GATE. NEVER DID TALK TO GND CTLR. THIS BRINGS UP A FEW INTERESTING POINTS: 1) WHY DID THE LCL CTLR CLR 3 ACFT TO CROSS INTO AN AREA AT THE SAME TIME W/O INFORMING GND, KNOWING THE LEAD ACFT WOULD HALT UPON XING? 2) THE GND CTLR SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE SITUATION DEVELOPING, STOPPED ISSUING BASICALLY NEEDLESS INSTRUCTIONS, AND CLRED ME (US) IN. 3) A TASK FORCE SHOULD BE SENT IN, LONG TERM, TO SQUARE THESE PHL CTLRS AWAY--SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT.

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.