A taxiing B747-400 is almost invisible to a taxiing SF340 PIC during a night operation in the rain a...

Attributes
ACN	510329
Time
Date	200105
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nzaa.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	510329
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe conflict : ground less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 0
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : engineering procedure
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While taxiing at night in the rain at auckland international airport, new zealand, I was startled to see an air carrier X B767-400 crossing immediately in front of me. The boeing had navigation lights on and a taxi light, but no logo light on the tail. In the conditions, with the backgnd lighting, and without the logo light illuminated on the tail, the boeing was extremely difficult to see. I fear it will not be long before a more serious conflict occurs. The B747's dark paint scheme makes it virtually invisible at night. Please ask them to use the logo light. It will also be good marketing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TAXIING B747-400 IS ALMOST INVISIBLE TO A TAXIING SF340 PIC DURING A NIGHT OP IN THE RAIN AT NZAA, FO.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN AT AUCKLAND INTL ARPT, NEW ZEALAND, I WAS STARTLED TO SEE AN ACR X B767-400 XING IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BOEING HAD NAV LIGHTS ON AND A TAXI LIGHT, BUT NO LOGO LIGHT ON THE TAIL. IN THE CONDITIONS, WITH THE BACKGND LIGHTING, AND WITHOUT THE LOGO LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE TAIL, THE BOEING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE. I FEAR IT WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE A MORE SERIOUS CONFLICT OCCURS. THE B747'S DARK PAINT SCHEME MAKES IT VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE AT NIGHT. PLEASE ASK THEM TO USE THE LOGO LIGHT. IT WILL ALSO BE GOOD MARKETING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A taxiing B747-400 is almost invisible to a taxiing SF340 PIC during a night operation in the rain at nzaa, first officer.