If a pilot reports heavy traffic on the taxi route, what is the proper action?

• A. Tell the pilot to wait indefinitely
• B. Acknowledge, provide a revised route if possible, and ensure safe spacing
• C. Ignore the report and proceed
• D. Request the pilot to proceed faster

Answer: (B)

When the taxi route is crowded, the priority is to keep ground movement safe and efficient by guiding aircraft away from conflicts and into appropriate sequencing. The best action is to acknowledge the pilot’s report, offer a revised route if possible, and ensure safe spacing. Acknowledgement confirms you heard them and sets up clear, proactive communication. Providing a revised route helps the pilot bypass congested segments, reducing the chance of interacting with other traffic and improving overall flow. Ensuring safe spacing means actively managing the distance and timing between aircraft and any ground vehicles, using clear taxi instructions, speed adjustments, or holding as needed to prevent close calls or collisions.

Telling the pilot to wait indefinitely would stall progress without addressing the congestion. Ignoring the report misses a critical safety cue. Asking the pilot to proceed faster would compress spacing and increase the risk of conflicts.