What happened
On 20 June 2006, an Airbus A320, registration C-GTDG, was taxiing to Stand 9 at Cardiff Airport to prepare for passenger boarding. The commander was utilizing the Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) to precisely position the aircraft. As the aircraft approached the stop line, the left engine fan cowl made contact with a small baggage tug and an attached set of steps that had been left unattended within the stand area.
The aircraft was brought to an immediate halt, and the crew disembarked without injury. There were no injuries to the seven crew members on board. The impact resulted in damage to the leading edge of the left engine fan cowl.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the presence of the equipment on the stand. It was discovered that a previous aircraft, a Boeing 737, had been parked at the same stand. Following that flight's departure, a tug had been used to move steps away from the aircraft. However, the driver was unable to clear the area due to a blocked path and left the equipment in place, intending to move it once the stand was clear.
At the time of the incident, the airport was undergoing significant ramp construction, which had led to inconsistent parking arrangements and a lack of effective policing regarding equipment placement. The investigation also looked into the operation of the VDGS. It was noted that the VDGS units were permanently illuminated, which could lead a pilot to believe a stand is safe to enter even if ground personnel are not present to verify the area is clear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was the presence of unattended equipment within the parking stand area.
- The commander's attention was likely focused on the VDGS interface and the requirement for precise stopping, which prevented the detection of the tug.
- The airport's parking management was in a state of flux due to ongoing construction, allowing vehicles to be parked in unassigned locations.
- The permanent illumination of the VDGS created a risk that pilots might assume a stand is clear without visual confirmation from ground staff.
Safety action
Following the incident, the airport authority implemented several changes, including:
- Reviewing risk assessments for aircraft marshalling and docking.
- Installing switches for VDGS systems so they are only activated after ground crews have inspected the stand.
- Implementing improved parking arrangements and stricter policing of equipment placement.
- Evaluating the relocation of the ramp controller's position to the operations tower for better visibility.