Beware of planes holding short of the gate

[pelmet]

If you have a large wingspan(not including 747-8/A380), how can you tell if you will clear the tails of the aircraft at the gates? When none of the aircraft is crossing over the painted ramp boundary. You can see it in this picture at the O'Hare southeast cargo area.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=chicago+ ... zxdkBhC-8M

From the pilots perspective, you may be wondering if your wingtips will be clear but all you need to do is confirm that all of the aircraft/equipment that you will be passing are on the other side of that line. Vancouver Airport has the same kind of white lines as in the picture and they can be seen on google earth. Sometimes when the big jets are parked at their gate, their tail is almost at the white line but regardless of the aircraft size at the gate, if they are extending onto the taxiway side of the white line, it may be best in the large wingspan jets to just hold short and wait until the aircraft has been towed into the gate.

"HB-JMF, an Airbus A340-300 aircraft operated by Edelweiss Air, conducted flight SWR8010 from
Zurich (LSZH), Switzerland to Vancouver Intl (CYVR), BC. Upon arrival at gate 64, HB-JMF was
marshalled into the gate area, signaled to stop and set the parking brake. The engines were shut
down. The ground personnel connected a tug and were preparing to tow the aircraft to the final
gate parking position. Meanwhile, C-GHPU, an Air Canada Boeing 787-800 aircraft operating flight
AC566 from CYVR to San Francisco Intl (KSFO), CA was taxiing westbound on JA taxiway, abeam
gate 64, when the left wing tip contacted the tail section of HB-JMF. There were no injuries. Both
aircraft sustained substantial damage."

[boeingboy]

Generally speaking - if the airplane is behind the white line - any aircraft taxiing will be clear of conflict. However this situation was unique. There had never been an A340 fit to gate 64 at that time and YVR were in charge, and due to the terminal expansion they wanted to fit bigger aircraft to it. This is why they were pulled by a tug the final few feet....so that YVR could mark for the proper lines. The 787 was cleared to taxi and had the right of way with YVR staff vehicles giving the all clear. As it turns out - the taxi lines need to be adjusted somewhat.

YVR accepted responsibility for the accident right away and is paying all costs accociated with this incident. The 787 was fixed in a day and the Edelweiss A340 only departed last week. In was in Air Canada's hanger for a few weeks. It needed a new tailcone and elevators.

[16SidedOffice]

There had never been an A340 fit to gate 64 at that time and YVR were in charge, and due to the terminal expansion they wanted to fit bigger aircraft to it.

The BA A380 as well as various B77W's, and A350's routinely use 64 with a much larger span and fuselage length. The A340 at the time was just so far back off of the gate.

[pelmet]

There had never been an A340 fit to gate 64 at that time and YVR were in charge, and due to the terminal expansion they wanted to fit bigger aircraft to it.

The BA A380 as well as various B77W's, and A350's routinely use 64 with a much larger span and fuselage length. The A340 at the time was just so far back off of the gate.

If the gate has been used for big jets in the past, I'm not sure what is particularly new here except perhaps that the A340 was not over the white line. That is the hazard. It would be interesting to know if the 787 maintained the taxiway centerline or was trying to maneuver off the centerline and around the Airbus. It would also be interesting to know why the airport felt that they should pay for the repairs....if that actually happened.

Here is what happens when one is not careful on such a situation.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKJStVLxkHg

Sometimes, places like Chicago are really busy on the radio and the blocking aircraft is on the ramp frequency making any potential coordination difficult. If you are fortunate and anticipate a problem such as here at gate G20 in Chicago, stopping well back of the blocking aircraft may allow you to cross over to a parallel taxiway instead of possibly running out of patience and ending up like this guy.......

https://www.google.ca/search?q=eva+coll ... enYCZtQqsM:

[boeingboy]

Sorry - I was thinking of the new gate 64.
The gates were recently re-numbered, and with the terminal work - YVR was involved with this.

And yes - YVR accepted responsibility and they are picking up the bill.

[pelmet]

Happened again. Might just be better to be patient....

"C-GWJU, a Boeing 737-600 aircraft operated by WestJet, was conducting flight WJA141 from
Edmonton Int'l (CYEG), AB to Vancouver Int'l (CYVR), BC with 5 crew and 80 passengers on
board. The flight crew stopped short of the lead-in line for gate B15, with engines running, awaiting
ground crew to marshal the aircraft to the gate. C-FZWS, a Boeing 737-700 aircraft operated by
WestJet, was conducting flight WJA717 from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson Int'l (CYYZ), ON to CYVR
with 5 crew and 87 passengers on board. This aircraft was taxing eastbound on the apron towards
the lead-in line for gate B13, when the left winglet contacted the right-hand horizontal stabilizer of
C-GWJU. There were no injuries. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage."