Narrative:

As per instructions on pre departure clearance printed clearance (do not call ATC for terminal pushback'), I cleared our ground crew to push onto taxiway a from one of the company gates at the terminal. Ground controller informed us that we needed to call ATC for permission to push onto taxiway a, an active taxiway. We stated that we didn't need to because of the notice on our clearance. The controller asked me to call ATC when we arrived at our destination. When I called, the tower quality assurance person again stated that I was requested to obtain ATC permission to push onto taxiway a. I asked why ATC published the note with my flight plan if they wanted me to call, since that would have been standard procedure except for the note. The quality assurance person never did tell me the reason for publishing the note. I'd still like to know if you are able to find out. I doubt that this would ever be a major safety hazard because of the normal caution exercised by pushback crews, but it could cause traffic problems on the taxiway. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that he was told by the tower that pushback from some of the gates at the terminal can block traffic on taxiway a. He said the message as written is confusing because it does not specifically exclude any gates. He said an internal company message advises crews not to push back onto any movement area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PDC STRIP RECEIVED IN COCKPIT BY AIRLINE CREWS AT RDU NOTES NOT TO CALL ATC FOR PUSHBACK AT TERMINAL.

Narrative: AS PER INSTRUCTIONS ON PDC PRINTED CLRNC (DO NOT CALL ATC FOR TERMINAL PUSHBACK'), I CLRED OUR GND CREW TO PUSH ONTO TXWY A FROM ONE OF THE COMPANY GATES AT THE TERMINAL. GND CTLR INFORMED US THAT WE NEEDED TO CALL ATC FOR PERMISSION TO PUSH ONTO TXWY A, AN ACTIVE TXWY. WE STATED THAT WE DIDN'T NEED TO BECAUSE OF THE NOTICE ON OUR CLRNC. THE CTLR ASKED ME TO CALL ATC WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DEST. WHEN I CALLED, THE TWR QUALITY ASSURANCE PERSON AGAIN STATED THAT I WAS REQUESTED TO OBTAIN ATC PERMISSION TO PUSH ONTO TXWY A. I ASKED WHY ATC PUBLISHED THE NOTE WITH MY FLT PLAN IF THEY WANTED ME TO CALL, SINCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN STANDARD PROC EXCEPT FOR THE NOTE. THE QUALITY ASSURANCE PERSON NEVER DID TELL ME THE REASON FOR PUBLISHING THE NOTE. I'D STILL LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FIND OUT. I DOUBT THAT THIS WOULD EVER BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE NORMAL CAUTION EXERCISED BY PUSHBACK CREWS, BUT IT COULD CAUSE TFC PROBS ON THE TXWY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT HE WAS TOLD BY THE TWR THAT PUSHBACK FROM SOME OF THE GATES AT THE TERMINAL CAN BLOCK TFC ON TXWY A. HE SAID THE MESSAGE AS WRITTEN IS CONFUSING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDE ANY GATES. HE SAID AN INTERNAL COMPANY MESSAGE ADVISES CREWS NOT TO PUSH BACK ONTO ANY MOVEMENT AREA.

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.