B767 pilot reports confusion at lfpg while attempting to follow the alpha loop to his assigned gate....

Narrative:

Taxiing in on alpha; we stopped after crossing the bridge on the south side with the nose slightly left. We were confused as to where taxiway alpha went; as there are no signs or ground markings. Three pilots; all not sure where to proceed. Stopped; I queried ground control as to which way to proceed; he said proceed straight ahead. We proceeded straight ahead; turns out alpha bends left. No signs; no ground markings; and ground control telling us to proceed straight ahead. The aircraft nose was pointed almost directly east where we stopped. Well; we proceeded ahead as directed; and then he says we missed alpha; so we made a left on victor and had to go around the whole circle again. I don't think I could have asked ground in any clearer terms (from what I recall); but obviously we had a language/understanding issue. I suggest the briefing page have verbiage to the effect that taxiway alpha follows a counter clockwise circle around the perimeter of the satellite terminals. The airport diagrams poorly reflect the status of this taxiway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 pilot reports confusion at LFPG while attempting to follow the Alpha Loop to his assigned gate. A query to ground control does not alleviate the confusion.

Narrative: Taxiing in on alpha; we stopped after crossing the bridge on the south side with the nose slightly left. We were confused as to where taxiway alpha went; as there are no signs or ground markings. Three pilots; all not sure where to proceed. Stopped; I queried ground control as to which way to proceed; he said proceed straight ahead. We proceeded straight ahead; turns out alpha bends left. No signs; no ground markings; and ground control telling us to proceed straight ahead. The aircraft nose was pointed almost directly east where we stopped. Well; we proceeded ahead as directed; and then he says we missed alpha; so we made a left on victor and had to go around the whole circle again. I don't think I could have asked ground in any clearer terms (from what I recall); but obviously we had a language/understanding issue. I suggest the briefing page have verbiage to the effect that taxiway alpha follows a counter clockwise circle around the perimeter of the satellite terminals. The airport diagrams poorly reflect the status of this taxiway.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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	880516
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LFPG.Airport
State Reference	FO
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75 Flight Crew Type 2700
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Taxiway

B767 pilot reports confusion at lfpg while attempting to follow the alpha loop to his assigned gate. A query to ground control does not alleviate the confusion.