Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
On initial call to taxi-out from the ramp; Tampa Ground issued the following instructions: 'Air Carrier X; taxi via Alpha; Bravo 6; Whiskey.' We waited to hear if he was going to say anything else but he didn't. We asked him to clarify and he re-stated those taxi instructions exactly as before. I responded with: 'OK for Air Carrier X you want us to taxi via Alpha; Bravo 6; and Whiskey; then stop for further instructions?' The Controller replied with a raised voice; 'NO; I want you to taxi to Runway 18R!' I replied that he hadn't cleared us to taxi to that runway and hadn't even mentioned the runway in his clearance. His reply was something to the effect of; 'Well; the active runway is on the ATIS and you DID say you had the ATIS.' Tampa Ground Controller should be reminded of the importance of using standard phraseology when issuing taxi instructions. At no airport that I have flown to has the runway been omitted from the taxi instruction unless we have not been cleared to taxi to that runway. At no other airport have I been told that the runway to taxi to can be omitted because it is included in the ATIS.
Air Carrier taxiing for departure at TPA questioned ATC's lack of runway information contained in the taxi clearance. ATC responded that the runway information was contained on the ATIS and not required in the taxi clearance.