Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 500
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
As we got close to the gate area we saw a wing walker off the left wing and two ramp personnel standing together just in front of the tug talking. The Captain stopped the aircraft as we awaited guidance to taxi to the gate. The self-guidance system was then turned on by one of the ramp personnel. We then started to taxi to the gate. As we did both ramp personnel were in clear sight watching us taxi and made no effort to get us to stop with hand signals. The lights on the self-park were difficult to make out the colors very well with the sun shining on them. We got to the point where we didn't feel comfortable continuing the taxi and decided to stop the aircraft; call Operations and ask them to have the ramp personnel guide us in by hand. Shortly thereafter one of the ramp personnel turned the automated parking system lights to green; and we taxied in the rest of the way. It was then that we realized that the lights had been red the entire time we were taxiing in; and the ramp personnel watched us taxi in and did nothing to stop us. After we parked I contacted maintenance to ask them if the self-park system was working correctly. The Captain went down to talk to the ramp workers and ask what happened with the self-park. He told the Captain that he was waiting for another wing walker and had it on red. When he asked him why he didn't simply cross his arms to stop the aircraft as he watched us taxi the whole way in; and he replied 'we were shorthanded today' and then walked off.
B777 First Officer reports stopping short of the gate to await Marshall instructions. After a few moments the self-guidance system is activated and the Captain begins moving into the gate as the ground crew observes. The Captain stops when the self-guidance system becomes difficult to see; possibly due to the sun angle. Shortly thereafter one of the ramp personnel turned the automated parking system lights to green and it was determined that the system had been off to that point.