Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
Taxi in to RDU Gates X-XX and X-XX involves passage through a narrow zone bordered on one side by gate jetways and equipment on one side; and a sloping grass area on the other. The yellow taxi stripe is worn and in poor shape. Compounding the problem is: amber ramp flood lights that make the yellow stripe hard to see and distinguish from other markings nearby; 'erased' stripes; which show up as painted lines in the reflected ramp light at top of ramp; and a black-bordered; white stripe marking the edge of a ground vehicle roadway on the parking ramp. That black bordered white stripe is easily confused for the taxi stripe. If unintentionally used as the taxi guide line; it puts the aircraft right main wheels unacceptably close to the pavement edge. Attention focused outside while attempting to acquire the jetway taxi in line; ensure wingtip clearance from ramp equipment; etc.; under these conditions; can lead to deviations from the taxi line. If taxiing on the roadway stripe; instead; deviations right of track can lead to an excursion from the paved ramp surface. All RDU ramp striping needs to be re-done. Further; painted lines need to be evaluated in night conditions; from the cockpit viewpoint; under the amber ramp light conditions; to determine marking effectiveness. Due to lighting and proximity to marked ramp roadway; a non-standard paint scheme and/or color may be needed for this area.
A pilot reported difficulty taxiing into his gate at RDU because the yellow taxi lines are faded and the bright amber ramp lighting makes the taxi lines difficult to distinguish from other background markings.