Boeing Company Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft; Airport; Procedure; Company Policy
This is my third report on gate XX at EWR. The FOM says: 'When the initial lead-in line of a gate is not in direct alignment with the final lead-in line; that gate is designated as a dogleg gate. Normally; this is due to obstacles that prevent a straight approach to the jet bridge.'The respondent to my first report said: 'After ensuring that the FOM guidance on page 3.70.3 is correct with Airport Operations. EWR was informed of their lack of compliance with SOP that requires two marshallers for dog led gates. Please report this again if EWR has not improved their compliance with the marshaller procedures.'The same respondent to my second report said: 'After review the gate layout gate XX is not a dog leg gate as it only as a slight bend in the lead line. The marshaller would be visible to the crew for the entire parking event.'The company cannot have it both ways. Whether you can see the marshaller or not is totally irrelevant -- if the line isn't straight; it's a dogleg gate. That FOM language is very clear. So which is it?The 10-7 page does not mention that this is a dogleg gate; and it should. The 10-7 page does mention that this is a tow-in gate for wide bodies. If it's not a dogleg gate (as claimed in the response to my second report); why would this need to be a tow-in gate for widebodies?[This aircraft] is not a small airplane. Parking at this gate with other jets on both sides is very; very tight and not at all comfortable; especially when receiving the poor marshalling signals that one usually receives in EWR. Given the company's conflicting guidance in report responses and FOM language; I will not attempt to park at this gate again until this situation is resolved. If assigned this gate; they can tow me in.
Air carrier Captain reported a discrepancy in their company manual with regards to parking at gates that do not have a straight lead in line.