Super Traffic Jam at JFK

[trichorse]

Did anybody get the audio clip where the Signapore A380 and the American A380 were blocking each other and weren't sure if they had enough clearance?  I kinda only heard it out of the corner of my hearing, but I'm like "How'd that happen?" 

[RonR]

Do you know on what JFK feed this happened? Tower or ground? And do you know what time this took place? And are you sure it was an American A380? As far as I know, American doesn't have A380s...

[trichorse]

Ground, first time I remember it hitting my brain was around 9:15 - 9:30pm.  I could have sworn I heard the phrase "American Super", but there was definately a Singapore A380 involved because they asked if their departure after they were extracted from this traffic jam be expidited.

[trichorse]

Of course, that meant the situtation was going on before 9:15pm...that's just the first time I remember focusing on it.

[RonR]

OK, I found the clip you're looking for.  It's a Korean Air A380 and an American 777.  KAL085 ultimately asked for a tug even though car 93 on the ground advised there was enough clearance between the two aircraft.  I'm piecing together clip now...

Ron

[trichorse]

That's what I remember.  At one point they decide to fogo the tug because it'll be an half-hour to an hour for one to get there.  I would do this if I was sure my computer would support the required tools, but I'm not.

[trichorse]

Though where'd I get Signapore?

[RonR]

SIA25 was taxiing for takeoff as well and asked how long the delay would be...The Singapore A380 was not involved in the traffic jam

[trichorse]

That's what I get for focusing in partway in, I suppose.

[RonR]

No worries!  Anyway, thanks for pointing this traffic jam out!  Here's the clip:

[jbadger10]

Fantastic clip! I'm glad that they took the time to assess the situation before proceeding. You could tell how nervous the KAL085 pilot was!!  Great find!

[englishpilot]

Very professional all around. 

[flyflyfly]

Nice clip!
Surprising though it could take up to 60 minutes to organize a tug? This is JFK, right?  
Or maybe they intentionally exaggerated their estimate - to motivate the pilots to reconsider if they *really* needed a tug - and couldn't just taxi on carefully...

[trichorse]

I think the tugs were busy...they were having a lot of departures around then.

[mikeNC]

Holy Moly....

[jdflyer]

More on this story in the new issue of Flying magazine.  Turns out the American captain was columnist Les Abend.