Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 58; Flight Crew Total 10500; Flight Crew Type 3300
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Airport
Taxied on to runway; a designated event parking area. Taxiing west bound along the right side of the 75 foot runway; aircraft were parked on the left side of the runway; facing north. Taxied as close to the right side; limited by the runway edge lights; while cautiously observing the left wing clearance. A mild vibration was felt similar to running over a rougher runway surface. Post flight inspection revealed that there had been an impact on the bottom edge of the left wing.The ground attendant let us know that local knowledge for parking in this area was done by weaving in between the runway edge lights on the right side of the runway. The impacted aircraft was parked with its nose protruding further out by a few feet compared to the line of parked aircraft. There were no wing walkers to provide assistance with wing clearance. Post flight measurements determined that wing tip clearance could only have been achieved by taxiing within a foot of the runway edge lights. This was later confirmed with a crew on a Global Express parked beside the damaged aircraft; as two wing walkers guided them past the aircraft with no room to spare on left wing and the right main gear. After our mishap; other large aircraft were subsequently parked on the other side of the airport. Later observing a departing aircraft; we saw how the crew taxied; weaving between the runway lights.The following morning line servicing had been moving parked aircraft further back to the runway edge. When asked why it hadn't been done on arrival; I was informed that all qualified tow crew personnel had completed their shift at XC:00. Yet the damaged aircraft had arrived shortly before XA:00. Ultimately it was my responsibility to ensure safe and proper clearances. In future; in confined and restricted taxi operations; I will make sure there are outside ground handling personnel to assist in guiding the aircraft.
BD700 Captain reported that while using a 75 ft runway to taxi; the bottom of the wing made contact with the nose of one of the parked aircraft. The runway was reportedly being used as a designated event parking area.