FLT CREW OF MD80 RPTS SHODDY PERFORMANCE OF PARKING PROCS BY GND PERSONNEL IN MIA.

Date: 2003-09 · Aircraft: MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model

Anomalies: deviation-discrepancy-procedural-other-unknown|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|ground-event-encounter-vehicle

Synopsis

FLT CREW OF MD80 RPTS SHODDY PERFORMANCE OF PARKING PROCS BY GND PERSONNEL IN MIA.

Narrative

GUIDEMAN WITH NO VEST GUIDES US IN WITH 1 WING WALKER. THERE WAS A WING WALKER ON THE R; BUT WAS NOT LOOKING AT THE PARKED TRUCK I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT. SOMEONE WALKING SAW THE CONCERN AND GAVE A THUMBS UP. THE WINGWALKER'S EYES WERE FORWARD; BUT THE MORE CONCERNING PART WAS THE NO WING WALKER ON THE L. THERE WAS A BAGGAGE CART PARKED INSIDE THE LINE FOR THE WING CLRNC. I OPENED MY WINDOW AND POINTED BACK TO MY L AFTER THE CART WAS OUT OF MY LINE OF SIGHT. THE GUIDEMAN LOOKED WHERE I WAS POINTING; AND GAVE ME A THUMBS UP. SO; I CONTINUED. AFTER HE STOPPED US; I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND REALIZED THE L WING WAS OVER THE CART. THE AGENTS ON THE JET BRIDGE TOLD THE GND CREW TO MOVE THE CART; BUT WERE TOLD IT WAS OK. I TOLD THEM IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDED TO BE MOVED. THE CART WAS MOVED; AND WE WERE TOWED IN THE REST OF THE WAY. BTWN GUIDING US AND TOWING US; THE GUIDEMAN SMOKED A CIGARETTE AND ATE SOME FRENCH FRIES. HE SEEMED VERY UNCONCERNED AND UNAWARE OF THE DANGER. THE RAMP SUPVR CAME OUT TO TALK TO ME AND AGREED THAT THE SIT NEEDED INVESTIGATION. IN RETROSPECT; SEEING THAT THE CART WAS IN THE WING LING -- I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND HAD THE CART MOVED OR GOTTEN TOWED IN PRIOR TO MY WING TIP GOING OVER THE CART. BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE; AS A CAPT; I AM NOT TRAINED IN RAMP MARKINGS. I DO NOT KNOW WHICH LINES ARE FOR THE MD80 AND WHICH LINES ARE FOR LARGER AIRPLANES. THUS; THE DECISION TO ASK THE GUIDEMAN AND TRUST HIS JUDGEMENT.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.