Air carrier First Officer reported needing to avoid tug drivers that have been intruding into the Ramp Area due to the lack of clear road markings for the G; H; K; and L gates at ORD Airport.
Synopsis
Air carrier First Officer reported needing to avoid tug drivers that have been intruding into the Ramp Area due to the lack of clear road markings for the G; H; K; and L gates at ORD Airport.
Narrative
Hello; I would like to submit a general safety concern. I am a FO based in ORD and have flown over 700 hours now in and out of ORD. My concern is the missing access road markings in certain Ramp areas. I noticed all of Terminal 1; and all E and F gates have access roads painted to allow luggage tugs; fuel trucks; catering trucks; etc.; a safe way to move around the Ramp without interfering with aircraft movement. These road markings are not marked for all G; H; K; and L gates. I have had numerous times seen luggage tugs drive straight over the Ramp and sometimes double or triple stack behind aircraft at the gate; thus bringing them more intruding into the Ramp Area. There needs to be clear access road markings behind the gates in Terminal 3 and G gates. We have had to stop before because a tug was way behind the gate driving and clearly in our path of movement in the Ramp Area. Since there are no markings right now; tug drivers don't have a boundary to reference and go beyond the limits of driving in the Ramp Area. Soon or later there's going to be a wing tip hitting a tug; even though the aircraft is on the line. Clear road markings painted behind the gates would make it easier for tugs to see where they are allowed to drive.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.