At least part of the problem is attributable to pilots who cannot get into their thick heads the (clear and obvious) distinctions between ATC, FIS and A/G. I once overheard the driver of a twin asking for permission to start his engines at....Popham. He followed up by endless requests for clearances to taxi, phone his auntie, blow his nose etc. . .. .If the bloke at the other end of the A/G is also manning the front desk, making the butties, and tending the sheep, he may be led astray into inapt terminology by pilots blathering away using expressions such as clearance, requesting detailed traffic info etc. As is usually pointed out when this topic comes up, places like White Waltham have it down pat: if anyone asks for something they cannot give, he/she is told so politely but firmly, often just by the words "negative, air/ground only".. . . . <small>[ 08 March 2002, 08:37: Message edited by: FNG ]</small>