FLC OF AN MLG ACR ACFT ALMOST 'PWR-BACKED' OFF ARPT RAMP AREA DUE TO UNLIGHTED RAMP.

Narrative

LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS AT FIELD DUE TO LCL WX CAUSING RAPID/EARLY DUSK. COMMENCED A STEADY CTLED PWR-BACK WITH 1.22 EPR. RECEIVED COME FORWARD SIGNAL. REARWARD MOVEMENT ALMOST STOPPED WHEN ANXIOUS RADIO CALL FROM RDU RAMP STATED 'FLT XXX; BRING IT UP.' PLT INCREASED THRUST; ACFT CAME FORWARD; STOPPED ACFT. RAMP THEN STATED THAT WE ALMOST WENT BACK TOO FAR BUT THAT HAVING NOTED THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PLANE THAT BELIEVE YOU'RE OK. CREW DECIDED TO MAKE A LOGBOOK ENTRY. CREW INSISTED ON A MAINT INSPECTION. AT THIS POINT THE CREW NOTICED THAT THE RAMP AREA WAS NOW BRIGHTLY LIGHTED. WE REALIZED THAT THE RAMP LIGHTS HAD NOT BEEN ON DURING PWR-BACK. MAINT INSPECTION NOTED NO PROBS. MAINT INSPECTOR SAID THAT WE HAD STAYED ON THE RAMP. LOGBOOK WAS CLRED. UPON LNDG DEST; BOTH PLTS DID THOROUGH POST-FLT INSPECTION -- CLEAN MACHINE. CONCLUSION: WERE RAMP LIGHTS ON A TIMER? ANYWAY; THE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE ON SOONER. BELIEVE THAT LACK OF LIGHTING AFFECTED PERCEPTIONS BY RAMP CTL; GUIDE MAN AND CREW. BELIEVE THAT LACK OF LIGHTING ALMOST CAUSED TAXI EXCURSION INCIDENT.