Narrative:

After receiving clearance to taxi from ground control via taxiway C to B short of north; we started to taxi out of the alley and onto taxiway C. Approaching taxiway intersection B; we observed an aircraft coming in the opposite direction getting close. I turned on all available aircraft lights; landing lights and strobes to get the aircraft's attention; yet the aircraft kept coming at us. I stopped the aircraft and parked the brakes just prior to taxiway B and C; the aircraft kept coming and finally stopped within twenty feet of our aircraft. We then identified the aircraft as a cessna twin. We finally got through to ground control and inquired as to who had the clearance? We were told that the twin was supposed to hold for us; which they did not. Ground asked us if we had enough room to taxi by the twin; we did not being within twenty feet of the other aircraft. The twin was then instructed to try and move out of our way so we may proceed. The twin; still nose to nose with us now; stopped; turned and taxied south on taxiway B and made a 180 degree turn and held short of intersection C. We finally then had enough room to taxi by and resume our instructions to hold short of taxiway north. Had we not stopped when we did a collision may have occurred or clearance would have been so tight that one of us may have had to be towed out of the way; this despite us turning on every light that we had to be visible.a few things came to mind as we were thinking this out later: 1) how did the twin have a clearance to cross an active runway 22R and have enough room to hold short for a B757-200 taxiing out on the same taxiway C? 2) what happened to the airport surveillance radar that is supposed to keep track of ground movements and warn of this very conflict? 3) what was the twin thinking and why didn't they stop going nose to nose with a 757-200 with every light on and still get within twenty feet? 4) who was monitoring the ground movements and runway crossings?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 Captain reported coming nose to nose with a Cessna twin on Taxiway C at BOS. Ground Control has the Cessna make a 180 degree turn and the reporter is able to continue.

Narrative: After receiving clearance to taxi from Ground Control via Taxiway C to B short of N; we started to taxi out of the alley and onto Taxiway C. Approaching Taxiway intersection B; we observed an aircraft coming in the opposite direction getting close. I turned on all available aircraft lights; landing lights and strobes to get the aircraft's attention; yet the aircraft kept coming at us. I stopped the aircraft and parked the brakes just prior to Taxiway B and C; the aircraft kept coming and finally stopped within twenty feet of our aircraft. We then identified the aircraft as a Cessna Twin. We finally got through to Ground Control and inquired as to who had the clearance? We were told that the Twin was supposed to hold for us; which they did not. Ground asked us if we had enough room to taxi by the Twin; we did not being within twenty feet of the other aircraft. The Twin was then instructed to try and move out of our way so we may proceed. The Twin; still nose to nose with us now; stopped; turned and taxied south on Taxiway B and made a 180 degree turn and held short of intersection C. We finally then had enough room to taxi by and resume our instructions to hold short of Taxiway N. Had we not stopped when we did a collision may have occurred or clearance would have been so tight that one of us may have had to be towed out of the way; this despite us turning on every light that we had to be visible.A few things came to mind as we were thinking this out later: 1) How did the Twin have a clearance to cross an active Runway 22R and have enough room to hold short for a B757-200 taxiing out on the same Taxiway C? 2) What happened to the airport surveillance radar that is supposed to keep track of ground movements and warn of this very conflict? 3) What was the Twin thinking and why didn't they stop going nose to nose with a 757-200 with every light on and still get within twenty feet? 4) Who was monitoring the ground movements and runway crossings?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.