If you’ve ever sat on the left side of the plane, you’ve probably seen them. A man or woman wearing a brightly colored vest and ear protectors, holding daylight-fluorescent wands, table tennis bats, or gloves, and moving them in a bunch of different directions, as if they were saying something in a certain special sign language.
What is Aircraft Marshalling?
Actually, a certain “sign language” was exactly what they were doing. “Aircraft marshals” (sometimes called “signalmen,” and not to be confused with “air marshals”) move their hands or batons in certain patterns as a means of visual communication. Their specific movements guide a plane’s cockpit crew during taxiing, parking, and other ground maneuvers. These signals help ensure safe and efficient operations at airports by directing aircraft movements with specific hand gestures and wands.
Who Are the Marshals and When Are They Needed?
Marshalling is done by a designated signalman/marshaller who directs the ground movement of aircraft by signaling to the pilot of the aircraft from the ground. The designated marshaller doesn’t require any sort of FAA certificate but is someone who’s trained in marshalling hand signals as well as the local airport marshalling procedures.
Not all airports require a marshaller to direct aircraft ground movements. The risk of possible aircraft collision with objects, people, and other aircraft will determine if a designated marshaller is required at the airport full-time, part-time, occasionally, or never.
Where Are Aircraft Marshals Positioned?
As we said earlier, the marshaller is always on a plane’s left side – they’re in a position so the pilot, who always sits on the left side, can see them as easily as possible.
If a plane is being pushed back with a tug, there may be 2 marshallers – one to act as the main marshaller and one to act as a guide.
What Do Aircraft Marshalling Signals Mean?
There are different signals for planes and for helicopters. We’ll save the copters for another day ;-).
There are about 2 dozen different signals that a marshaller may give a pilot. Here are the basic ones in a pretty fun video:
The others can be found on this chart.
How Do Pilots Respond to Marshalling Signals?
Of course, communication is a two-way street and the pilot needs to be able to communicate with the agent doing the marshaling signals, as well. Pilots use these signals in the cockpit, ensuring their hands are clearly visible to the marshaller. When necessary, they illuminate their hands to help the marshaller see them. Here are a couple of them:
Marshalling with a Twist: The Entertainers
Some marshallers make it their business to entertain….themselves? The passengers in the plane?
And some have their craft down to a science. A very, very fun science.
What is a Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS)?
It should be noted that some airports use a stand guidance system. This is a system that gives information to the pilot who’s attempting to park an aircraft at an airport stand (read: a parking spot), usually via visual methods (hence it being called a VDGS). There are several different types of VDGS systems.
A marshaller may or may not still be needed, even when utilizing a VDGS.
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