DC8-73 crew had an overworked and confused controller at 'O dark 30' on taxi out, at phl.

Attributes
ACN	566279
Time
Date	200211
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : roc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 70
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : phl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	566279
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	staffing : phl.tower

Narrative:

While taxiing from the ramp, we were cleared to taxi and hold short of runway 27L. The controller was working ground, tower and clearance we were the second DC8 and ATC was confused as to our position. The captain told him we were #2. This further confused the controller as the first DC8 was crossing runway 27L at taxiway uniform, and we were #1 at the hold short. ATC said they cleared us to cross runway 27L, but we copied no such clearance. There was no runway incursion. ATC should not work 3 frequencys at the same time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC8-73 CREW HAD AN OVERWORKED AND CONFUSED CTLR AT 'O DARK 30' ON TAXI OUT, AT PHL.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING FROM THE RAMP, WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 27L. THE CTLR WAS WORKING GND, TWR AND CLRNC WE WERE THE SECOND DC8 AND ATC WAS CONFUSED AS TO OUR POS. THE CAPT TOLD HIM WE WERE #2. THIS FURTHER CONFUSED THE CTLR AS THE FIRST DC8 WAS XING RWY 27L AT TXWY UNIFORM, AND WE WERE #1 AT THE HOLD SHORT. ATC SAID THEY CLRED US TO CROSS RWY 27L, BUT WE COPIED NO SUCH CLRNC. THERE WAS NO RWY INCURSION. ATC SHOULD NOT WORK 3 FREQS AT THE SAME TIME.

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.