A319 FLT CREW HAS CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH JETBRIDGE DURING TAXI IN TO GATE AT LGA.
Synopsis
A319 FLT CREW HAS CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH JETBRIDGE DURING TAXI IN TO GATE AT LGA.
Narrative
ARRIVING LGA WE WERE ASSIGNED GATE X. NORMALLY THIS IS A B757 GATE (I BELIEVE USES 2L). I HAVE USED IT PERHAPS TWICE IN 7 YRS. IT IS A DOGLEG GATE; NOT WELL LIT AND REQUIRES SOME SHARP TURNS. THE GUIDE MAN ARRIVED; CLRED THE AREA; THEN CLBED ON TOP OF THE TUG TO GUIDE US. I FOLLOWED HIS GUIDANCE SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY AS I AM NOT USED TO THIS GATE. AFTER A COUPLE OF LATERAL CORRECTIONS; THE GUIDANCE IS ALL DIRECT AHEAD. I AM NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HITTING THE TUG BUT; AT HIS INSTRUCTION; I INCHED FORWARD THE LAST 6 OR 7 FT UNTIL I RECEIVED A STOP SIGNAL. THE JETWAY PASSED VERY CLOSELY BY MY SIDE WINDOW BUT MY CONCENTRATION WAS FOCUSED ON RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE GUIDE MAN WHO IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE LIGHT BULB GOES ON IN EVERYONE'S HEAD AT THE SAME TIME (MINE; THE FO AND GUIDE MAN) -- HE THINKS OUR ACFT IS A B757! I OPEN THE WINDOW AND THE #1 ENG NACELLE IS DEFINITELY UNDER THE JETWAY WITH PERHAPS 1 FT OF CLRNC. THE TUG IS HOOKED UP AND THE ACFT IS PUSHED BACK A FEW FT TO THE CORRECT SPOT. ACFT NEVER MADE CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. A320'S SHOULD NOT BE PARKED AT GATE X OR; IF UNAVOIDABLE; HAVE AT LEAST 2 GUIDE MEN TO DO SO. 15+ HR DUTY DAY DIDN'T HELP; COMBINED WITH UNUSUAL GATE FOR A320 AND PERHAPS LGA OPS NEEDS TO REVIEW GUIDE MAN TRAINING.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.