MD80 first officer laments the quality of individuals and the lack of training they receive to prope...

Narrative:

While pulling into gate we noticed that there were 3 bag carts over the left safety line by approximately 1-2 ft. Despite the marshaller continuing to command us forward the captain stopped the aircraft. I then opened my window and pointed out to the marshaller; who was still commanding us forward; the reason why we stopped. Despite that; confusion resulted as to why we were not pulling forward. After about a min; the bag carts and another vehicle were moved. The marshaller then again commanded us forward. We began to move forward; and I looked to the right to ensure that it was clear. I looked at the right marshaller and she had her wands crossed. I immediately yelled; 'stop! Crossed wands over here.' the captain immediately stopped. I opened the window to look further behind and after a look of confusion; the wing walker then signaled 'all clear.' upon that; we continued to the gate and parked. I would like to say better training; but a better caliber of individual is really probably more realistic. It was evident that these people were woefully incompetent or could care less about our safety as we parked the aircraft. Contract ramp crew incompetence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FO LAMENTS THE QUALITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE LACK OF TRAINING THEY RECEIVE TO PROPERLY MARSHALL AN AIRLINER INTO PARKING.

Narrative: WHILE PULLING INTO GATE WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE 3 BAG CARTS OVER THE L SAFETY LINE BY APPROX 1-2 FT. DESPITE THE MARSHALLER CONTINUING TO COMMAND US FORWARD THE CAPT STOPPED THE ACFT. I THEN OPENED MY WINDOW AND POINTED OUT TO THE MARSHALLER; WHO WAS STILL COMMANDING US FORWARD; THE REASON WHY WE STOPPED. DESPITE THAT; CONFUSION RESULTED AS TO WHY WE WERE NOT PULLING FORWARD. AFTER ABOUT A MIN; THE BAG CARTS AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WERE MOVED. THE MARSHALLER THEN AGAIN COMMANDED US FORWARD. WE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD; AND I LOOKED TO THE R TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS CLR. I LOOKED AT THE R MARSHALLER AND SHE HAD HER WANDS CROSSED. I IMMEDIATELY YELLED; 'STOP! CROSSED WANDS OVER HERE.' THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. I OPENED THE WINDOW TO LOOK FURTHER BEHIND AND AFTER A LOOK OF CONFUSION; THE WING WALKER THEN SIGNALED 'ALL CLR.' UPON THAT; WE CONTINUED TO THE GATE AND PARKED. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BETTER TRAINING; BUT A BETTER CALIBER OF INDIVIDUAL IS REALLY PROBABLY MORE REALISTIC. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE WOEFULLY INCOMPETENT OR COULD CARE LESS ABOUT OUR SAFETY AS WE PARKED THE ACFT. CONTRACT RAMP CREW INCOMPETENCE.

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.

Attributes
ACN	765157
Time
Date	200711
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground other : gate arrival
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	765157
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

MD80 first officer laments the quality of individuals and the lack of training they receive to properly marshall an airliner into parking.