Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 354
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling
We taxied into a very tight gate; a tow in. It was night. As we approached the pushback tug; we were blinded by the very bright LED headlights. All night vision was gone; [we were] in a tight area. We stopped and called Ops to have them tell the folks to turn off lights. They said lights do not turn off. We turned on all of our external lights to taxi in. The Assistant Station Manager came up and we talked about it. The Captain who was taking over the aircraft heard us; and also spoke of how it blinds us when the ramp is wet and the glare. We were informed that all Company ground equipment have the lights hard-wired to ON if the equipment is running. As everything is going to be extremely bright LEDs; they need to be OFF. Imagine trying to see the Ground Crew; equipment; Safety lines and all other threats while looking into LED headlights. The ground equipment; at least the pushbacks; should have a way to turn off lights or should be turned OFF at all times as we approach it!
Air carrier Captain reported being unable to see out cockpit window at night during taxi into gate due to ground equipment headlights shining into cockpit.