Citation X (C750)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Airport; Human Factors
Here is what happened on our taxi out of SFO from the general aviation terminal. ATC: Citation X; San Francisco Ground taxi 1L via Charlie; Zulu; Bravo hold short of Taxiway Zulu. Citation X: Taxi Runway 1L via Charlie; Zulu; Bravo hold short of Zulu; Citation X. Approaching Zulu on Taxiway Charlie: ATC: Citation X; continue Zulu short of Bravo. Citation X: Zulu short of Bravo; Citation X on Taxiway Zulu; holding short of Bravo (stationary): ATC: Citation X; continue via Foxtrot One and Alpha. Citation X: Foxtrot one and Alpha; Citation X At this point I was confirming the taxi route on the airport diagram and with the PIC. We understood our original route was to taxi on Bravo to 1L; however this clearance seemed unusual and possibly incorrect. Normally one would expect ATC to reiterate Bravo taxiway in the clearance; even though I believe we were technically correct to taxi straight on Bravo. I decided to ask for clarification as we noted an opposite direction B757 approaching us very slowly and eventually turning just prior to our position. The PIC began moving ever so slowly as I spoke to ATC: Citation X: San Francisco Ground; Citation X. ATC: Citation X; San Francisco Ground. Citation X: Confirm taxi route Bravo; Foxtrot one; Alpha to Runway 1L. ATC: You were supposed to go Bravo 1 Alpha; but continue on Bravo now. Citation X: Okay so you would like us on Bravo 1 now or Bravo? As we tried to figure out why ATC wanted us on Bravo 1 (never cleared to do so); he gave me a further clearance that I misspoke on the readback. Fortunately we quickly cleared up that misunderstanding and moved on: ATC: No; I want you Bravo now to 1L; hold short of Echo. Citation X: Bravo and Echo; Citation X. ATC: Citation X; negative; hold short of Kilo now. Citation X: Bravo hold short of Kilo; Citation X. We arrived at the Bravo and Kilo intersection and shortly after: ATC: Citation X; turn right on Kilo and left on Alpha and hold your position. Citation X: Right on Kilo; left on Alpha and hold; Citation X. Just as I confirmed this taxi instruction on the diagram; I look up and all I see out of the left windscreen is an Airbus approaching rapidly from high-speed Taxiway Tango. It was so fast and unsafe that no pilot would ever pull out in front of something like that from a fixed position. The PIC had just started moving again and stopped right away as he saw the same thing as I did. I waited to contact ATC to let him know we have a traffic conflict but a few other aircraft were also calling; so ATC came back with this before I could let him know what we doing: ATC: Citation X; are you going to do anything I want you to do today? Citation X: Sir; we have a fast moving Airbus approaching from the left and it looks like he just now stopped so we now will precede Kilo; left on Alpha and hold position; Citation X. ATC: Citation X; when I give you instructions I need you to do them. When you don't do them; nothing happens. At this point we felt belittled on the radio for doing nothing more than following ATC's instructions and stopping only when it was too dangerous to continue. In response; the PIC made a radio transmission to let ATC know we were complying as best we could but reiterated the Airbus traffic conflict. ATC: Citation X; when you arrive at your destination call the tower up here. The PIC noted that we would be happy to speak with them after our flight. The rest of our exchanges with SFO Controllers were without incident and the flight proceeded normally. Upon arrival; the PIC spoke with one of our Assisted Chief Pilots to review what happened and the Assisted Chief Pilot said he would contact SFO Tower. We did not get confirmation until the end of the day but when we finally heard back the word was that the SFO Tower supervisor said the error was on their part and apologized for the Controller. The behavior exhibited by the Ground Controller; I feel; was very unprofessional and did not encourage a safe working environment. Ibelieve he had intended to give us Taxiway Bravo one but instead had said 'Foxtrot one'. I confirmed this both with the PIC; then with the Controller by restating our clearance and then at a website with the live ATC archive. Both Bravo One and Foxtrot One intersected our taxi route; creating the possibility for confusion and errors. The error on that clearance was squarely on the Ground Controller. The Controller then became very irritated when he realized we were not in the position he intended. Fortunately; we did not taxi in front of the Airbus until they were almost stopped as it would have created a very dangerous moment. We did not deviate from any ATC clearance; just delayed movement until it was safe to do so. In closing; I have never been spoken to on the radio in such a manner as this controller did. We are professionals just as he is; and I hope the SFO Tower will look for ways to improve safety on the ground at SFO rather than trying to humiliate pilots on the radio.This airport needs more hotspots on the diagram that is clear just by taking a quick look at the chart. It also needs the ADSE-X ground radar system; it is surprising that SFO has not yet had it installed. Another thought I had is standardized taxi routes may help during busy arrival and departure times. For example; 'taxi Runway 1L via the orange route; hold short of Bravo' makes the Controllers intentions clearer. The only stipulation to those routes is that SFO frequently changes taxi routes (as we just witnessed) and crosses traffic between Alpha and Bravo; sometimes more than once during a taxi-out. Another possibility is to change the way general aviation traffic is routed for departure. We used to cross the 28's in order to taxi-out. For some reason that is no longer an option and we taxi very far and through the most congested and confusing areas on the airport....all of them.
We received taxi clearance from the FBO via C; hold short of Z for Runway 01L for our non-revenue flight. Clearance was amended to proceed via Z and hold short of B. At that point we received several amended clearances after questioning Ground Control. Clearance did not make sense; and after attempting to clarify; Ground continued to provide new clearances which resulted in our aircraft facing a 757 opposite direction. I stopped the aircraft and awaited further instructions once the 757 was clear. We were told to proceed when I noticed an A320 exiting at T opposite our direction when I again stopped the aircraft. Ground responded in a belligerent manner asking 'when I was going to do as I was told'. I then took over the radio and explained he had provided us with no less than 4 clearances; when at that point I saw an impending conflict with the Airbus and stopped. The Controller then told me to call the Tower upon arrival at my destination. I spoke with our on duty Assisted Chief Pilot; and provided him the Tower number to call; and after our next leg called and was told SFO admitted the situation was their mistake and apologized for the confusion.There are way too many ways to mess up the taxi routing used at SFO from the GA side. The route used to involve crossing the 28's near mid field; but clearly the Controllers are trying to reduce their work load. In fact; the confused and inconsistent clearances simply add to their work load; and increase the likelihood of incursions or worse. Consistent clearances with fewer intersections per clearance can aid in reducing any confusion. Furthermore; when an aircraft stops due to uncertainty; attempting to humiliate that crew via VHF communications does nothing to solve the problem; especially when caused by the Controllers themselves.
CE750 flight crew describes a misunderstanding with SFO Ground during taxi from the general aviation terminal to Runway 1L.