MD80 FLT CREW OBSERVES GUIDE MAN USING CELL PHONE WHILE DIRECTING ACFT TO GATE.

Narrative

WHILE BEING DIRECTED TO PARK AT EWR GATE THE GUIDE MAN DIRECTING THE ACFT WAS TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE. WHILE I WAS CONCENTRATING ON TAXIING AND PARKING I THOUGHT SOMETHING LOOKED UNUSUAL ABOUT THE GUIDE'S HEADSET. HE SEEMED TO BE TALKING THE WHOLE WHILE HE WAS DIRECTING THE ACFT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO OTHER PERSON WITHIN HEARING DISTANCE. AFTER THE ACFT STOPPED AND I COULD GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE GUIDE MAN; I COULD SEE THAT HE HAD HIS OPEN CELL PHONE TUCKED UNDER HIS HEADSET WITH THE MOUTHPIECE EXTENDING DOWN HIS CHEEK TO HIS MOUTH. AFTER PARKING THE AIRPLANE; I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT. HE ADMITTED HE HAD THE PHONE UNDER HIS HEARING PROTECTOR (HE COULDN'T DENY IT; IT WAS STILL THERE) BUT DENIED TALKING TO ANYONE. AS HIS LIPS WERE MOVING THE WHOLE TIME HE WAS GUIDING THE ACFT; I FIND THAT DOUBTFUL. THIS IS DANGEROUS ON A FEW DIFFERENT LEVELS. FIRST; HE NEEDS TO BE CONCENTRATING ON GUIDING THE ACFT; NOT CHATTING. HIS HEARING PROTECTION WON'T WORK FOR HIM IF HE HAS A CELL PHONE WEDGED UNDER THE EAR PIECE. HE WON'T HEAR DIRECTIONS OR THE TUG COMING THAT'S GOING TO RUN HIM OVER IF HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION.