B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 140; Flight Crew Type 6000
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Company Policy; Human Factors
As we cleared the runway; Ground cleared us across Runway 26L and into the Ramp via Taxiway E3. There was another carrier aircraft that was holding for us to enter the ramp. As we passed the other aircraft; the First Officer called Ramp twice before getting a response. At that time; we had entered the ramp as I believed that Ground had cleared us onto the ramp to get out of the way for the other carrier to continue taxiing. He told us we could not enter the ramp without talking to him and told us; 'Sorry would not cut it.' He then cleared us. Both the First Officer and I could not find any such names on the Commercial Chart pages. We saw vehicles crossing the ramp in front of us and stopped short of that roadway. He informed us that we had stopped at the half road; not the quarter road. We then asked for an explanation and he explained that the ramp was divided by three areas. We could not find any of that terminology on any of the ground charts. We then proceeded to the gate without further incident.
An ATL arrival was questioned by 'Ramp Control' regarding entry into the ramp area. The flight crew indicated that improvements in the charting depictions were needed reference 'ramp names/locations'.