Originally Posted by freezingflyboy

I don't know what you guys are talking about. The captain still has ultimate authority because he or she is the one with their hand on the parking brake. You want something done and the ground crew isn't doing it, the aircraft doesn't move. Simple as that.

Example: I was in Toronto one morning dealing with the Swissport Toon Parade and we needed a screw driver to open a jammed panel. Asked the rampers and was told that there were no screw drivers anywhere to be had on the ramp, that they were not allowed to carry screw drivers and myriad other BS. Solution? Told the lead moron that we wouldn't be going anywhere unless we got a screw driver. Two minutes later I had 4 screw drivers in my hand, 2 phillips and 2 flat head. It's amazing what that parking brake can do!