Originally Posted by
safetypee
‘That’s not the way it works at JFK, nor at quite a few large US airports.’
However, in this instance, that was how it did work; and additionally from US experience, how frequent similar situations indicate the fragility of that system’s operation.
An attitude of ‘… better get used to it’ can hide significant hazards, expecting that all crews will manage all situations, all of the time, which questions the level of safety - as observed, or as expected - who views, and when.
It would be impossible with the amount of movements at JFK to have one or two ground frequencies handle all.. that is why it’s necessary to have multiple ramp freqs,.and as you know, many of these ramps are congested to the point that one movement can jam the whole thing up.
There is NEVER anytime that I’ve operated JFK where you are uncontrolled.