A319 flight crew has close encounter with jetbridge during taxi in to gate at lga.

Attributes
ACN	709816
Time
Date	200609
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	709816
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe ground encounters other non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Airport
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Arriving lga we were assigned gate X. Normally this is a B757 gate (I believe uses 2L). I have used it perhaps twice in 7 yrs. It is a dogleg gate; not well lit and requires some sharp turns. The guide man arrived; cleared the area; then climbed on top of the tug to guide us. I followed his guidance slowly and cautiously as I am not used to this gate. After a couple of lateral corrections; the guidance is all direct ahead. I am not feeling comfortable because I am concerned about hitting the tug but; at his instruction; I inched forward the last 6 or 7 ft until I received a stop signal. The jetway passed very closely by my side window but my concentration was focused on receiving instructions from the guide man who is directly in front of me. The light bulb goes on in everyone's head at the same time (mine; the first officer and guide man) -- he thinks our aircraft is a B757! I open the window and the #1 engine nacelle is definitely under the jetway with perhaps 1 ft of clearance. The tug is hooked up and the aircraft is pushed back a few ft to the correct spot. Aircraft never made contact with anything. A320's should not be parked at gate X or; if unavoidable; have at least 2 guide men to do so. 15+ hour duty day didn't help; combined with unusual gate for A320 and perhaps lga operations needs to review guide man training.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW HAS CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH JETBRIDGE DURING TAXI IN TO GATE AT LGA.

Narrative: ARRIVING LGA WE WERE ASSIGNED GATE X. NORMALLY THIS IS A B757 GATE (I BELIEVE USES 2L). I HAVE USED IT PERHAPS TWICE IN 7 YRS. IT IS A DOGLEG GATE; NOT WELL LIT AND REQUIRES SOME SHARP TURNS. THE GUIDE MAN ARRIVED; CLRED THE AREA; THEN CLBED ON TOP OF THE TUG TO GUIDE US. I FOLLOWED HIS GUIDANCE SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY AS I AM NOT USED TO THIS GATE. AFTER A COUPLE OF LATERAL CORRECTIONS; THE GUIDANCE IS ALL DIRECT AHEAD. I AM NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HITTING THE TUG BUT; AT HIS INSTRUCTION; I INCHED FORWARD THE LAST 6 OR 7 FT UNTIL I RECEIVED A STOP SIGNAL. THE JETWAY PASSED VERY CLOSELY BY MY SIDE WINDOW BUT MY CONCENTRATION WAS FOCUSED ON RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE GUIDE MAN WHO IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE LIGHT BULB GOES ON IN EVERYONE'S HEAD AT THE SAME TIME (MINE; THE FO AND GUIDE MAN) -- HE THINKS OUR ACFT IS A B757! I OPEN THE WINDOW AND THE #1 ENG NACELLE IS DEFINITELY UNDER THE JETWAY WITH PERHAPS 1 FT OF CLRNC. THE TUG IS HOOKED UP AND THE ACFT IS PUSHED BACK A FEW FT TO THE CORRECT SPOT. ACFT NEVER MADE CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. A320'S SHOULD NOT BE PARKED AT GATE X OR; IF UNAVOIDABLE; HAVE AT LEAST 2 GUIDE MEN TO DO SO. 15+ HR DUTY DAY DIDN'T HELP; COMBINED WITH UNUSUAL GATE FOR A320 AND PERHAPS LGA OPS NEEDS TO REVIEW GUIDE MAN TRAINING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.