AN ACR CAPT REGISTERS HIS CONCERN THAT A NEW SELF PARK SYSTEM IS NOT AS SAFE AS THE OLD GUIDEMAN PROCEDURE.
Synopsis
AN ACR CAPT REGISTERS HIS CONCERN THAT A NEW SELF PARK SYSTEM IS NOT AS SAFE AS THE OLD GUIDEMAN PROCEDURE.
Narrative
THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN WE APCH THE GATE AT A 90 DEG ANGLE. FROM THE COCKPIT; ONE MUST PASS THE LEAD-IN LINE AND WHEN THE LINE PASSES JUST BEHIND THE FO'S LAST WINDOW; ONE BEGINS THE TURN. WE CANNOT SEE OUR ACFT WINGS NOR THE TFC APCHING FROM OUR R IN THIS INSTANCE. THERE IS A HUGE BLIND SPOT AS THE CREW TRANSITIONS FROM GOING STRAIGHT FORWARD TO MAKING A 90 DEG; OR LESS; TURN. WITHOUT A GUIDEMAN TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY; AND ACT AS OUR EYES; THE CHANCE FOR A GND MISHAP IS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY. WATCHING THE RAMP GND VEHICULAR TFC AT DFW MAKES ANY GND SAFETY INDIVIDUAL CRINGE. I WAS GREETED AT THE GATE BY A RAMP SUPVR ASKING WHY I HAD REFUSED TO USE THE AUTOMATED DOCKING GUIDANCE SYS (DGS). I MUST SAY THAT I WAS SURPRISED THAT AFTER REQUESTING A GUIDEMAN ON THE RAMP FREQ AND STATING THAT I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE USING THE SELF PARKING SYS; THAT A RAMP SUPVR WOULD MEET ME AFTER PARKING AND ASK THE SAME QUESTION. THE DGS SELF PARKING SYS DECREASES GND SAFETY; WILL INCREASE GND MISHAPS; IT TRANSFERS TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF PARKING OUR ACFT TO THE CREW. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF BLIND SPOTS THAT ARE PRESENT WHILE TAXIING AN ACFT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.