whataclub

I know there are some ATC guys who troll around on here who can perhaps provide some insights, and mods if this may be better suited in a different section please move it

Why is it that an airport like JFK only has one ground frequency whereas airports like ATL, MSP, and DTW (which has 4 charted ground frequencies) have multiple ground controllers? What qualifies airports for multiple frequencies? Is it based on an airport layout or traffic volume or some other factor? It seems like JFK, especially in the afternoon hours, could benefit from breaking up the workload of the ground controller, when in DTW it seems regardless of time of day you have to through 3 ground controllers to get from the gate to the runway.

Just something I was wondering when it took me 45 minutes to get from the runway to the gate in JFK the other day because of frequency congestion and everybody stepping on everybody

ToastAir

Excellent question! Could be something as simple as physical space in the tower cab itself. If I ever run into a JFK guy I'll ask and get back to you.

rightside02

Being based in JFK for a few years I don't feel it is needed , you land turn off the runway and either go left or right in Alpha ... Nuff said ,all you do is monitor point nine. I think it's a great system...

Now if your China Air cargo , or Aeromexico , then 12 more ground freqs couldn't handle the damage those poor guys do sometimes . It's truly entertaining to watch these poor souls get their butts handed to them. No that I wouldn't do any better in thier countries .

To answer your question I feel
It is not really needed because of the way the taxi ways are designed. It's the inner taxiway or outer and normally they are used like one-way streets. If everyone is on the same page it works well. Atleast I think ..

contrails

While it's been brought up, I just want to step in and say, I think DTW runs a terrible ATC operation.

rightside02

Based there for a short time with my old carrier and yes I think that place is over run with too many ground and push back freqs !

Da Magic

Who's common there? **** cough **** DELTA **** cough ****

I kid, I kid...

jmcmanna

Generally speaking....some of it has to do with staffing, and some of it has to do with the airport layout. If 2 ground controllers are going to constantly be in eachothers' way, they may have just decided to run the operation with one controller...that's the reason why the local controller may 'own' some taxiways; adding an additional cook in that part of the kitchen may help with frequency congestion, but they will be making the operation more complicated. Any time 2 controllers are sharing pavement, the opportunity for error increases.

meeko031

...there are two frequencies in jfk, point 9 (primary) and point 65 when it gets busy during the afternoons and weather days!