Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
We called for push back Clearance from Ramp Control. We were told to 'push to spot T on Taxiway C.' We were not told to remain on Ramp Control frequency after engine start and established on C we called Ground Control for taxi instructions. The FAA Ground Controller gave us instructions to 'taxi to Runway 9L via C cross [Runway] 13.' I turned on the aircraft taxi light and started to move the aircraft forward. I noticed another Air Carrier on Taxiway B moving at a very high rate of speed. I commented to the First Officer 'boy look how fast he is going.' As we started to move I could see that the other Air Carrier was not going to stop or was not going to pass behind us. I applied full breaking and came to a stop. The other Air Carrier passed within 5 feet of our nose. The pilot of the other Air Carrier never turned his head to look for traffic! I asked the Ground Controller who was talking the other Air Carrier. He said the county Ramp Control. I asked if Taxiway B was his movement area. 'Yes sir it is.' I then said 'you have 2 different controllers on 2 different frequencies controlling the same movement area.' 'Yes sir that's the way the county set it up.' When I talked to the Supervisor he told me that the county put the Ramp Control in to expedite the other air carrier aircraft to their gate. It would appear at all cost. Safety is not a consideration.
The Reporter stated that Ramp Control was located in a temporary ground level mobile structure north of Runway 9L/27R and probably did not have a perspective of the aircraft on the ramp which an elevated Tower would provide. The relationship between the FAA Tower and the County Government Ramp Control was a concession to an air carrier which wanted expedited handling to and from their gate. However; the lack of coordination has created a potential conflict; particularly with aircraft taxiing at high speed.
A Captain under FLL FAA Ground Control clearance took evasive action because another Air Carrier under Ramp Control was given clearance to it gate and was taxiing at a high speed without concern for other aircraft.