What happened
On February 28, 2010, a Gulfstream G450, registration N452NS, was being guided into parking Bay E43 at Dubai International Airport. The aircraft was maneuvering through a congested area, attempting to pass between a parked Challenger 604 and a parked Galaxy aircraft.
As the aircraft approached the parking position, the marshaller and wing walker coordinated to guide the jet through a zigzag path to ensure clearance. During the maneuver, the wing walker signaled for a rapid right turn to avoid the Galaxy aircraft. While the crew attempted to follow the instructions, the aircraft's left winglet made contact with the right winglet of the stationary Galaxy aircraft. The impact caused minor scratches to the N452NS winglet and tore a 50 cm section from the trailing edge of the parked aircraft's winglet. There were no injuries to the crew or passengers.
The investigation
An investigation by the GCAA AAIS examined the communication chain between the cockpit, the marshaller, and the wing walker. Investigators looked into the maneuvering speed, the visibility of signals, and the established procedures for non-standard parking at the airport. The inquiry also reviewed the training records of the ground personnel and the flight crew's situational awareness during the final moments of the taxi.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was inadequate communication between the flight crew, the marshaller, and the wing walker.
- The pilot and marshaller both misperceived the aircraft's distance from the parked Galaxy aircraft.
- The aircraft was moving at a speed that made the necessary rapid adjustments difficult to execute safely.
- There was a lack of formal, written procedures for managing aircraft marshalling in non-standard parking configurations.
Safety action
Following the incident, several recommendations were issued:
- The aircraft operator was advised to enhance procedures to ensure pilots maintain higher situational awareness and do not rely solely on marshaller signals when hazards are suspected.
- Dubai Airports was encouraged to establish specific procedures for marshalling aircraft in non-standard parking areas and to improve training regarding stand allocation awareness.
- The GCAA recommended increased oversight to ensure best practices for aircraft marshalling are integrated into aerodrome manuals.