Narrative:

Operators of new generation B737's should become (if not already) acutely aware of the 18 ft greater wingspan of B737-700's and -800's. We were under marshalling guidance (2 marshallers and 2 wing walkers) to a gate requiring a turn close-in. Captain (student) was taxing and I was in right seat. The hazard was on the left side. There was a fuel truck in the way initially, and the ground crew signaled us to stop, which we did. The fuel truck was moved and we were signaled to continue. As we made the turn into final position, the left wingtip contacted a catering truck servicing an MD80 on adjacent gate. At least one airline paints B737-700 flap-track fairings bright color so as to alert ground crew to the 9 extra ft on each side. The gates we are used to using on 'classic' B737's are sometimes woefully inadequate for the 'new generations.' this needs to be publicized. Get towed into tight gates! And don't even go in, period, if vehicles or equipment are close to white clearance lines.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 CAPT WAS BEING MARSHALED AT BOS INTO A GATE MADE FOR AN OLDER GENERATION B737. THE L WINGTIP CONTACTED A CATERING TRUCK SERVICING AN ACFT AT AN ADJACENT GATE.

Narrative: OPERATORS OF NEW GENERATION B737'S SHOULD BECOME (IF NOT ALREADY) ACUTELY AWARE OF THE 18 FT GREATER WINGSPAN OF B737-700'S AND -800'S. WE WERE UNDER MARSHALLING GUIDANCE (2 MARSHALLERS AND 2 WING WALKERS) TO A GATE REQUIRING A TURN CLOSE-IN. CAPT (STUDENT) WAS TAXING AND I WAS IN R SEAT. THE HAZARD WAS ON THE L SIDE. THERE WAS A FUEL TRUCK IN THE WAY INITIALLY, AND THE GND CREW SIGNALED US TO STOP, WHICH WE DID. THE FUEL TRUCK WAS MOVED AND WE WERE SIGNALED TO CONTINUE. AS WE MADE THE TURN INTO FINAL POS, THE L WINGTIP CONTACTED A CATERING TRUCK SERVICING AN MD80 ON ADJACENT GATE. AT LEAST ONE AIRLINE PAINTS B737-700 FLAP-TRACK FAIRINGS BRIGHT COLOR SO AS TO ALERT GND CREW TO THE 9 EXTRA FT ON EACH SIDE. THE GATES WE ARE USED TO USING ON 'CLASSIC' B737'S ARE SOMETIMES WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR THE 'NEW GENERATIONS.' THIS NEEDS TO BE PUBLICIZED. GET TOWED INTO TIGHT GATES! AND DON'T EVEN GO IN, PERIOD, IF VEHICLES OR EQUIP ARE CLOSE TO WHITE CLRNC LINES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.