McDonnell Douglas Undifferentiated or Other Model
Situational Awareness; Other / Unknown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
On taxi out we developed a pneumatic problem that required coordination with Maintenance (MX). Ground directed us to taxi into the Juliet Pad for this coordination and we complied pointing southwest and holding just short of taxiway Papa. While troubleshooting our problem with MX; the Captain noticed an approaching aircraft taxiing east to west on Papa. We did not hear ground advise us or this traffic of a potential conflict. As the approaching Airbus approached we noticed a potential conflict and flashed our lights in the limited time allowed to avoid their right wingtip impacting the nose of our aircraft. With a last second jink from them to their left; they avoided an impact by approximately three feet. We alerted ground and subsequently resolved our problem and taxied back to the gate for MX action. Our directed holding position was not adequately clear for oncoming aircraft. We assumed Indy Ground would keep traffic clear of our assigned location while we coordinated our problem with MX. Assign a different holding location with adequate clearance or different taxi route for other aircraft.
First Officer reports being instructed by IND Ground to hold in the Juliet pad short of Papa while troubleshooting a pneumatic problem. An A300 is noticed taxiing west on Papa and it appears a conflict will develop. The flight crew flashes their lights and a last second jink to the left by the A300 avoids the collision.