The ground marshallers are very important to the safe and routine operation of any airport. In this article, you will find out how ground marshallers do their job, when they do their job, and what some the different signals mean. Lets dive in.
An aircraft ground marshaller directs planes to designated parking spots using standardized hand signals, wands, or radio, ensuring safe movement on the tarmac. They are crucial for ground safety, often responsible for pre-flight checks, guiding aircraft with “follow-me” vehicles, and ensuring no foreign object debris (FOD) is present. Their wands are usually red, in a very bright color, so that anybody can see the signals clearly from the flight deck. Their salaries range between $38,000 and $63,200 annually.
Marshallers work on the apron. They work on a shift basis as in many other jobs. They should be able to work at any time, in the daytime, or at midnight. They should also be able to work in any weather. Airports never close, so they should have the skills to work in any conditions. After all, being a marshaller is not a desk job. While some of their jobs require specific certifications, many positions focus on experience in ground operations, attention to detail, and a, solid understanding of aviation safety.
Aircraft marshalling signals are a standardized “silent language” regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the FAA to ensure pilots and ground crews are able communicate clearly in loud airport environments. To help aircrafts find their gates, the marshaller will put both their hands up. To signal an aircraft to come forward, the marshaller waves both hands up and down. To indicate the aircraft to slow down, the marshaller’s arms are extended downward with palms facing the ground, moving slowly up and down. To signal a stop, the marshaller crosses both arms to make an X.
In conclusion, being a marshaller is difficult and tedious. They have to work in all weathers, and at all times. They also have multiple responsibilities. Therefore, they should be respected by everybody, not just the pilots. They make the lives of pilots much easier. All in all, marshallers are ground crew workers with mainly the responsibility of guiding planes into their stands.