Air Carrier First Officer reported the parking location depicted on the Jeppsen chart for gate is not the actual location of the gate in JNB; Johannesburg. Parking correctly required a tug to help reposition the aircraft.
Synopsis
Air Carrier First Officer reported the parking location depicted on the Jeppsen chart for gate is not the actual location of the gate in JNB; Johannesburg. Parking correctly required a tug to help reposition the aircraft.
Narrative
It was our crews first trip to JNB. We were all excited and well prepared for the flight. Studied; briefed and talked about all company procedures and docs available to us. I was PM (Pilot Monitoring). We had a very late runway change to landing JNB from 03R to 03L. Completed the FMS work and brief. Nice uneventful flight to JNB. Upon landing; vacating the runway and contacting Ground; I gave them our aircraft registration and parking stand assignment: XXX. Ground then reconfirmed our parking stand XXX. We vacated the runway on November. Ground issued taxi instructions November to Alpha then they said either Taxiway G9 to the stand or G8 to the stand. The Captain thought he heard G9. At this point we were about abeam G9 on Alpha. The Captain stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I contacted Ground to verify continued taxi instructions. I queried confirm Aircraft X continue A to G8 to parking stand XXX? Ground responded continue A G8 to parking stand XXX. We taxied then as directed. Upon taxing in to the ramp apron; we had two wing walkers but no Marshaller. The Captain stopped the aircraft; and we waited about two minutes for a Marshaller. Once the Marshaller appeared the Marshaller was somewhat hidden behind the power cart. The Marshaller then moved to a different location. The Captain asked to shut down the right engine; and the Captain began following the Marshaller's instructions as the Marshaller was directing us into the gate. The entire ramp was clear; the parking silhouette was clear; we were the only aircraft on the ramp; however the parking set up and the way we were being marshaled just did not seem right or look right; all three crewmembers were discussing this. The nose wheel was lined up directly on the line so we continued straight in as directed by the Marshaller. As we continued to follow the Marshaller; they wanted a sharp turn to the right; that is when I immediately noticed a very faded and hard to see dashed paint line on an angle. This Gate XXX ; was not a straight in gate; it was a diagonal gate. The Captain immediately stopped the airplane; and set the parking brake. We decided we were not moving until we communicated with the Ground Crew to verify the parking position and we were requesting a tug to continue to parking. This clearly was the best and safest course of action. We waited about 25 minutes for a tug to arrive. The tug hooked up; pushed us back and maneuvered us into the parking gate. The JEPP AMM page does not show this as an angled gate. The JEPP Company page does show it as an angled gate; however it shows it in a different location. Once at the gate the Ground/Ramp Crew entered aircraft. The Ramp Agent stated to us almost apologetically; that this Gate XXX is only used for longer layovers and frequently causes flight crews confusion because of the numerous faded solid and dashed lines on the apron. As stated earlier; all 3 crew were well prepared for our first flight to JNB. Great flight. Having never parked at this ramp we thoroughly briefed what we could expect once on the apron. All of us had the expectation of a straight in parking stand based upon the JEPP AMM parking diagram and the JEPP taxi diagram. Only after reviewing the JEPP company page; did we recognize the gate is depicted as a diagonal gate; but the JEPP company page and the JEPP AMM and taxi diagram page show Gate XXX in a different location. All around confusing depictions of the parking spot between the different JEPP pages. The best and safest course of action; was to stop and request a tug.To look at all 3 JEPP parking pages. We looked at and read the JEPP company parking page; but did not recognize the depiction of the gate on this page. We used the JEPP AMM page and taxi diagram page to reference the gates actual position. Also a change is needed in the JNB company briefing guide to reflect that this gate is used for longer term parking; the painted lines referencing this gate are very faded and theconfusion other flight crews have experienced when this gate is used.
Second reporter narrative
Aircraft X ZZZZ-JNB; flight was uneventful; until we were switched to JNB approach. We were told and briefed WITBANK 4A ILS 3R; and Apron told us to expect gate XXX. When switched approach we were then told Radar vectors ILS 3L. FO then Programmed the FMS and doubled checked his work. FO then briefed the CAP the approach and said looks like we can be off by H. Approach and landing were uneventful; however we didn't exit until N. When we exited the runway at N; I was heads down on the AMM to help verify the taxi route; when GRND said to exit N; A; G9 gate D3A. FO stated I think she meant G8; and he verified over the radio 'understand A; G8; D3A' GRND replied something along the lines of 'That's right'. It was at that I point when I looked up and realized we were already past G9 because of its proximity to N. We turned into G8 and started looking for the Marshaller; and all we saw were 2 wing walkers. CAP stopped the aircraft; while we gathered our bearings. CAP then noticed the marshaller tucked to his far right; and started following instructions via the wands. The instructions seemed to be all over the place from my perspective; and it what as this point; I believe we as a crew realized gate XXX was actually a diagonal spot compared to the straight in spots all adjacent to it; as we referenced the AMM and believed it was a straight in spot. After what appeared to be a few more frantic wand waves by the marshaller; CAP brought us to a stop when it became apparent we couldn't make the turn into the spot. The ground crew then came and hooked up; and we discussed a tow in. We then waited approximately 20 minutes for a tug to arrive; and it took the tug 2 attempts of backing us up and pulling forward to get us properly in the spot. After finally opening up the aircraft; and talking to the Ramp agent; gate XXX is only used for longer layovers; and has historically given crews trouble for parking. My biggest lesson learned is to not rely on the AMM alone for parking bay identification; had I looked at the 10-10 page it would have been clear gate XXX was a diagonal spot blocking gates XX and XY. Also recommend placing on the Company pages and airport briefing pages; for long layovers; expect diagonal spot parking XXX. Plan to enter on taxiway prior to spot.Believing spot was a straight in spot as depicted on the AMM.Recommend placing on the Company pages and airport briefing pages; for long layovers; expect diagonal spot parking ZZZ. Plan to enter on taxiway prior to spot.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.