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How does an airliner adjust and move exactly over the coloured lines before stopping in front of the jetways?

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  • $\begingroup$ Closely related aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/25493/… $\endgroup$
    – 60levelchange
    Commented Jul 24, 2020 at 6:54
  • $\begingroup$ I'm pretty sure there is another question which has details of several of the automatic gate systems, but I just can't find it... $\endgroup$
    – jcaron
    Commented Jul 24, 2020 at 16:25

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There are a few different ways. Probably the most low-tech and widespread is by marshaller guidance, which is a person outside the aircraft guiding the pilots by means of visual signals:

enter image description here

The exact hand signals to use are defined by the ICAO, meaning that they are identical no matter where in the world you are flying.

Most larger airport have some sort of "docking system" at some or all of their stands. There are different types, but they are all external systems that provide visual guidance for the pilots, just like a marshaller. The simplest form is a big mirror next to the parking position:

enter image description here

More common are electronic docking systems, which use various sensors to detect the exact position of the aircraft and calculate any corrections needed by the pilots. They are placed directly in front of the position where the aircraft must stop, typically mounted on the terminal building or a high mast:

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ Also, most jetways have some degree of movement, so the plane doesn't have to be super precise, because the end of the jetway can then be moved up to the plane by ground crew before they open the doors. (This is critical for situations where different types of aircraft may dock at the same gate.) $\endgroup$
    – Darrel Hoffman
    Commented Jul 24, 2020 at 15:45
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    $\begingroup$ And when the pilots (or the marshaller) get it wrong, you then have to wait for a tug to pull the plane in. In some places like the cramped terminals in LAX, the aircraft actually stops quite a distance from its gate position and is pulled into its final position (using the same vehicles which are used for pushback). $\endgroup$
    – jcaron
    Commented Jul 24, 2020 at 16:17

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