Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 348; Flight Crew Type 13400
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Airport; Procedure
I am reporting a safety concern. Upon pulling into gate in TPA (and really anywhere else); we encountered very heavy rain falling (Ramp [Control] in this case was closed); so Ramp used the MAPS Signal Light Bar. This report is not dependent on using the Mobile Aircraft Parking System; however. This report is to highlight [that] during heavy downpour of rain the J-line is near indiscernible. I suggest the marshaller (absent the MAPS vehicle); first stand on the final parking spot where the nose wheel will finally rest and take his lit wands and purposefully wave vertically up and down on to where the extended J-line is located (or; make the J-line visible in times where it is under heavy water). After the pilot locates the J-line; then; and only then; I suggest the marshaller relocate himself to the staging position to further guide the aircraft to the gate; until then; without being able to easily locate the J-line (including at what angle to enter the gate area); it is next to impossible to locate the extended J-line to line up the aircraft. This is a HAZARD. In times of using the MAPS vehicle; directionality is only dependent on the MAPS signals; and the aircraft may already be unaligned to enter; despite perhaps receiving a left a left or right arrow from the MAPS vehicle to enter. This needs to be clarified and further looked at. Of course; if it is unsafe to enter the gate area; stop; set the parking brake; and radio your intentions to ramp personnel; but this is a report to highlight the lack of training which will cause undue hazards.
Air carrier Captain reported the J-line used for alignment guidance entering the ramp area is hard to see in heavy rain conditions; and the marshaling procedure should be changed to account for that.