KORD

dahhcon

Well-Known Member
Quick question. I was looking at the A/FD for O'Hare and saw under communications a Ground Metering Frequency. I was not sure what this was, but I have a guess based on what the name is. Anyone have any more details?
 
It's an interim frequency(position) between ramp and ground.

Ramp says "United 345 pushed off of C34" to metering
Metering says "United pushed off of C34 ready to taxi" to ground.
Ground wait's however long and tells metering, "I'm ready for United 345."
Metering says, "United 345, Monitor ground 121.75"
Ground calls "United 345 taxi 28 via R H A bridge A18 D ZV M."

It's really a function of removing wasted seconds of "United 345 off of C34 ready to taxi with X-ray"
 
Basically ground at ORD is so busy they don't have time for call-ups. Most of the time they seem to think they're too busy to let pilots read back clearances either.
 
When it's not busy Ground Metering may seem like a no-brainer type of position to work, but when the heavy departure rushes come out ground metering will place the flight progress strips in an order that allows the most effective order of aircraft to clear alleys and to get departures to their assigned runways. This is why, at ORD, you may have been the first to call ground metering, but youll be the last to start taxiing.
 
...Most of the time they seem to think they're too busy to let pilots read back clearances either.

Well, I guess when you taxi out 120 departures in an hour during a rush, while alternating departure fixes to four different departure runways while coordinating with the other (sometimes TWO) other ground controller, we should save some time to hear you say, "A, A7, T". :)
 
Well, I guess when you taxi out 120 departures in an hour during a rush, while alternating departure fixes to four different departure runways while coordinating with the other (sometimes TWO) other ground controller, we should save some time to hear you say, "A, A7, T". :)

That's fair, and I understand being ORD based for the last 8 months, but realize that we see a lot more airports than ORD, and it's the only airport in the country (maybe the world) that operates like this. Operations like that anywhere else would get your butt chewed by the controllers. In fact in places like Newark, you'll hear the tower say every once in a while "Hey everybody watch out, Air India is strolling down Papa and not talking to anybody, like me, so get out of his way," where in Chicago that would seem pretty standard.
 
I'm sure the faa performed careful analysis to ensure any deviation caused by not being able to read back an ord clearance would be solely the crew's fault.
 
Is this an unwritten rule at ORD or is it stated/written somewhere?

because


2−4−3. PILOT ACKNOWLEDGMENT/READBACK

a. When issuing clearances or instructions, ensure acknowledgment by the pilot. If no acknowledgment is received, attempt to re−establish contact. If
attempts are unsuccessful, advise the FLM/CIC.

NOTE−
Pilots may acknowledge clearances, instructions, or other information by using “Wilco,” “Roger,” “Affirmative,” or other words or remarks.

REFERENCE− AIM, Para 4−2−3, Contact Procedures.

b. If altitude, heading, or other items are read back by the pilot, ensure the read back is correct. If incorrect or incomplete, make corrections as appropriate.
 
It's an unwritten rule at ORD, but you can be damn sure that if you mess it up and cause a problem they are going to burn you for NOT reading back what you thought was the clearance. However, if you DO read it back they will often times yell at you anyways. Personally, I'd rather just get yelled at instead of risking my certificate, but I only go in there a few times a year so it's not too bad.
 
Unwritten rules suck.

ORD is an acquired taste to be certain, a lot of our pilots from other bases are scared to even go there which cracks me up. I find the place amusing most times - for instance we once taxied to the gate without talking to a soul since being cleared by tower to land. From the north side clear to the south side.

Oh and while I'm at it, for you relative noobs to ORD (Xjet, ASA fresh SkyW captains) need to learn some 'box' etiquette. Keep it tight, move down when there is room and for *bleeps* sake don't park sideways!

Yep, an acquired taste to be sure.
 
ORD is an acquired taste to be certain, a lot of our pilots from other bases are scared to even go there which cracks me up. I find the place amusing most times - for instance we once taxied to the gate without talking to a soul since being cleared by tower to land. From the north side clear to the south side.

Oh and while I'm at it, for you relative noobs to ORD (Xjet, ASA fresh SkyW captains) need to learn some 'box' etiquette. Keep it tight, move down when there is room and for *bleeps* sake don't park sideways!

Yep, an acquired taste to be sure.

I love the sideways guys. WTF are they thinking?
 
I'm sure the faa performed careful analysis to ensure any deviation caused by not being able to read back an ord clearance would be solely the crew's fault.

Believe me if your taxi clearance requires you to hold short of a runway or in the opinion of the controller poses some kind of hazard, we will ask for a readback. Any clearance that could end up in a pilot deviation, like heading or altitude with a takeoff clearance is ALWAYS ensured with a readback.
 
...for instance we once taxied to the gate without talking to a soul since being cleared by tower to land. From the north side clear to the south side.[ /QUOTE]

Believe me, ground saw you, and figured, "SkyWest...probably making his way to the fox gates." :)

Oh and while I'm at it, for you relative noobs to ORD (Xjet, ASA fresh SkyW captains) need to learn some 'box' etiquette. Keep it tight, move down when there is room and for *bleeps* sake don't park sideways!

Thank you!!! Along those same lines, nothing worse than a United Airbus taking up an entire half of the box when I'm trying to fit six more RJ's in there!
 
Believe me, ground saw you, and figured, "SkyWest...probably making his way to the fox gates." :)

Oh I figured so, I usually assume you guys are quick to notice those of us who know what we are doing :)

Thank you!!! Along those same lines, nothing worse than a United Airbus taking up an entire half of the box when I'm trying to fit six more RJ's in there!

Very true! And it sucks for us, because then we have to head clear up to the 32R pad when I have a commute to catch!
 
Oh I figured so, I usually assume you guys are quick to notice those of us who know what we are doing :)

And we certainly do appreciate those of you that do have an idea what is going on. Makes our jobs so much easier.
 
Oh and while I'm at it, for you relative noobs to ORD (Xjet, ASA fresh SkyW captains) need to learn some 'box' etiquette. Keep it tight, move down when there is room and for *bleeps* sake don't park sideways!

Same thing with the boxes at DCA. I can't tell you how many times I've contemplated pulling into the HUGE space somebody left between their wing and the Mainline Airbus sitting in the corner.
 
Also Metering will give amendments to routing when weather is bad so that ground isn't tied up with people copying.

ORD is definitely an acquired taste. I started out hating it, but it was because I didn't understand how things moved or worked there. Now I love how efficient it is when I have to sit in JFK waiting and waiting because there is only one person working ground and 40 aircraft trying to get to one runway. ORD knows how to move aircraft! Now, the signature ramp control at ORD is an entirely different story...lol.
 
Also Metering will give amendments to routing when weather is bad so that ground isn't tied up with people copying.

ORD is definitely an acquired taste. I started out hating it, but it was because I didn't understand how things moved or worked there. Now I love how efficient it is when I have to sit in JFK waiting and waiting because there is only one person working ground and 40 aircraft trying to get to one runway. ORD knows how to move aircraft! Now, the signature ramp control at ORD is an entirely different story...lol.

"Ok....push...who's calling for push? Eagle flight...what gate? Yeah you're cleared to push...Jetlink, taxi....ahh...west...east....west....west line to metering...oh....oh no, who, Eagle flight did you push? I cleared you to do what? Oh no, now the alley's backed up....ahh....ahhh...ahh...."
 
"Ok....push...who's calling for push? Eagle flight...what gate? Yeah you're cleared to push...Jetlink, taxi....ahh...west...east....west....west line to metering...oh....oh no, who, Eagle flight did you push? I cleared you to do what? Oh no, now the alley's backed up....ahh....ahhh...ahh...."

Is Ninos still there? He's the one who would clog the mess out of the foxtrot alley during ever morning departure bank, and then tell you how experienced he is and how you suck.

I think the ORD controllers are the best I dealt with anywhere.
 
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