Narrative:

During taxi in to company ramp and parking spot the captain taxied past the designated parking spot by about 50 ft. As the first officer and myself were looking back at the designated gate the captain put all 3 engines in reverse and backed the aircraft to a position that he could make the turn into the gate. Before the first officer or I could say anything the captain was out of reverse and taxiing in the turn to park. The first officer and myself (the rfo) were not asked; briefed or told of the reverse thrust being applied. It is prohibited by our manuals. Luckily there was no aircraft behind us and no contact was made with vehicles or personnel. I was in shock and complete disbelief about what had taken place. It is widely known by all that this is not allowed or a safe thing to do.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PILOT REPORTS HIS MD11 CAPT ILLEGALLY BACKED THE ACFT WITH REVERSE THRUST IN ORDER TO TURN INTO PARKING. THIS MANEUVER WAS NOT DISCUSSED WITH THE CREW.

Narrative: DURING TAXI IN TO COMPANY RAMP AND PARKING SPOT THE CAPT TAXIED PAST THE DESIGNATED PARKING SPOT BY ABOUT 50 FT. AS THE FO AND MYSELF WERE LOOKING BACK AT THE DESIGNATED GATE THE CAPT PUT ALL 3 ENGS IN REVERSE AND BACKED THE ACFT TO A POS THAT HE COULD MAKE THE TURN INTO THE GATE. BEFORE THE FO OR I COULD SAY ANYTHING THE CAPT WAS OUT OF REVERSE AND TAXIING IN THE TURN TO PARK. THE FO AND MYSELF (THE RFO) WERE NOT ASKED; BRIEFED OR TOLD OF THE REVERSE THRUST BEING APPLIED. IT IS PROHIBITED BY OUR MANUALS. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACFT BEHIND US AND NO CONTACT WAS MADE WITH VEHICLES OR PERSONNEL. I WAS IN SHOCK AND COMPLETE DISBELIEF ABOUT WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. IT IS WIDELY KNOWN BY ALL THAT THIS IS NOT ALLOWED OR A SAFE THING TO DO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.