Date: 202001
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: CLT.Airport, NC
Weather elements / visibility: Rain
Light: Night
Aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ramp CLT
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: First Officer
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Airport
Primary problem: Airport

Narrative: While attempting to line up properly with the DGS (Docking Guidance System); both I and the FO (First Officer) were literally unable to see the J line. I lined up with the DGS very slowly as best I could; and gingerly inched forward; stopping; and even illuminating the taxi light a few times. To no avail. Neither one of us could pick up the J line with certainty. The FO suggested calling for a Marshaller for better and safer guidance. I happily agreed; and with the marshaller's guidance we were able to correct our path to the J line which was in fact to our left. The FO notified the ramp ops of our exact difficulty and suggested that future crews parking at the gate that evening should be advised and offered the suggestion of a full compliment of marshallers.It had been raining in CLT most of the day; up to and including our arrival. There were a few periods of heavy rain in the surrounding hours of our arrival. At any rate; the rain wasn't in fact heavy for us; it was raining and the ramp was extremely wet and shiny looking. Something about this gate area and the surrounding terminal lighting just made it a bear to see the markings.I'm not sure exactly what the solution is; but I do think it needs to be looked at. The fact that both of us had such difficulty leads me to believe most others would have just as hard a time.  Though I'm sure all are crews would deal with it professionally; I don't think it's as safe as it could be with those conditions in the future. The FO was a great help to me; and on behalf of myself and all our other personnel; I appreciate it.  Looking back on it; though we believed it was safe to reposition with the marshaller's help; the safety margins could have been increased had I just shut down the engines and had a tug hooked up to us. Something I will very much consider if faced with such difficulty in the future.


Second narrative: After a successful flight into CLT; we were arriving at the gate for parking. It was night and also raining. Between the dark; the rain; and the light from the flood lights reflecting off of the ramp; it was nearly impossible to see the lead in line and the safety zone lines. The DGS (Docking Guidance System) sign became active when we approached the gate. I expressed my concern with the Captain and asked him if he could see the line; and he could not. I suggested that we wait until we had a marshaller to continue to park. I called operations to ask for marshallers; but before I could ask; they walked out. It was at that point that we realized that we were far off to the right of being aligned. We swung to the left and finally could see the lead in line and safely taxiied the rest of the way into the gate with the help of the marshaller. Had we continued on what we perceived as being aligned; we would have been far off to the right and there would have been potential to damage the aircraft by striking ground equipment.Night time; rain; flood lights reflecting light; and old non reflective paint in the gate areas and ramp.The ramp and gate areas need to be repainted with a thick layer of high reflective paint to increase visibility during all conditions.


Synopsis: Air carrier Captain reported being unable to see the lead-in line and other ramp markings approaching the gate during night and rainy conditions at CLT airport. Marshallers were needed to guide the aircraft to the gate.