Aircraft Marshaling

When aircraft are moving under their own power the view from the cockpit may be restricted or the pilot may find extreme difficulty in judging the clearances between other aircraft or obstructions especially when trying to park in a parking area. To do this in a safe way a method of aircraft marshaling is utilized.

• Aircraft Marshaller should wear a distinctive bright high visibility surcoat or vest to be easily identified.
• When an aircraft lands, the marshaller concerned must first identify himself to the pilot by extending his arms above his head, with palms or bats facing forwards.
• Once identified, the marshaller should then stand where he can be clearly seen by the pilot and all of the marshaller signals are clearly observed.
• During start-up the marshaller should always stand in a set position, which is usually, slightly ahead of the aircraft between the left wingtip and the cockpit.
• At night marshaling signals are given using wand torches.

Pilot`s singnals to the marshaller on ground  are as follows.

Raised arm with clenched fist.	Brakes 'On'
Raised arm with fingers extended.	Brakes ‘Off’
Arms extended palms facing outwards thumbs extended, move hands inwards to cross in front of face.	Insert chocks
Arms extended palms facing inwards thumbs extended, move hands outwards from in front of face.	Remove chocks
Raise the number of fingers on one hand indicating the number of the engine to be started.  For this purpose the aircraft engines are numbered as follows: No 1 engine should be the port outer engine. No 2 engine should be the port inner engine. No 3 engine should be starboard inner engine. No 4 engine should be the starboard outer engine.	Ready to start engine