Aircraft marshalling

File:RAF C-17 being marshalled at Heathrow.ogv

A Royal Air Force Boeing C-17 being marshalled at London Heathrow Airport (2011).

File:Turkish air force transall c-160d followmecar arp.jpg

Turkish Air Force Transall C-160D behind the Follow-me car at RIAT, England.

File:US Navy 110209-N-0864H-813 Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Drew Iverson directs an SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter to take off from the U.S. 7th Fleet com.jpg

A long exposure of a United States Navy Landing Signalman Enlisted (LSE) directing a SH-60F Sea Hawk to take off using marshalling wands

Aircraft marshalling is visual signalling between ground personnel and pilots on an airport, aircraft carrier or helipad.

Activity

Marshalling is one-on-one visual communication and a part of aircraft ground handling. It may be as an alternative to, or additional to, radio communications between the aircraft and air traffic control. The usual equipment of a marshaller is a reflecting safety vest, a helmet with acoustic earmuffs, and gloves or marshaling wands–handheld illuminated beacons.

At airports, the marshaller signals the pilot to keep turning, slow down, stop, and shut down engines, leading the aircraft to its parking stand or to the runway. Sometimes, the marshaller indicates directions to the pilot by driving a "Follow-Me" car (usually a yellow van or pick-up truck with a checkerboard pattern) prior to disembarking and resuming signalling, though this is not an industry standard.

At busier and better equipped airports, marshallers are replaced on some stands with a Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS), of which there are many types.

On aircraft carriers or helipads, marshallers give take-off and landing clearances to aircraft and helicopters, where the very limited space and time between take-offs and landings makes radio communications a difficult alternative.

U.S Air Force procedures

Per the most recent U.S Air Force marshalling instructions from 2012, marshallers "must wear a sleeveless garment of fluorescent international orange. It covers the shoulders and extends to the waist in the front and back. [...] During daylight hours, marshallers may use high visibility paddles. Self-illuminating wands are required at night or during restricted visibility."

Marshallers like other ground personnel must use protective equipment like protective goggles or "an appropriate helmet with visor, when in rotor wash areas or in front of an aircraft that is being backed using the aircraft's engines." It also prescribes "earplugs, muff-type ear defenders, or headsets in the immediate area of aircraft that have engines, Auxiliary Power Unit, or Gas Turbine Compressor running."

Noise exposure

Excessive noise can cause hearing loss in marshallers, either imperceptibly over years or after a one time acoustic trauma. In the United States noise limits at work are set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Aircraft signals

Aircraft signals vary slightly among the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Standardization Agreement 3117, Air Standardization Coordinating Committee Air Standard 44/42A, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signals. the US Air Force generally follows ICAO guidance if its guidance conflicts with FAA, ICAO, or NATO documents. The ICAO defines numerous important codes for use in international aviation.

• Aircraft hand signal all clear.svg

  All clear

• Aircraft hand signal flagman directs.svg

  Flagman directs pilot (stop)

• Aircraft hand signal insert chocks.svg

  Insert chocks

• Aircraft hand signal pull chocks.svg

  Pull chocks

• Aircraft hand signal start engine.svg

  Start engines

• Aircraft hand signal cut engines.svg

  Cut engines

• Aircraft hand signal proceed straight ahead.svg

  Proceed straight ahead

• Aircraft hand signal turn left.svg

  Turn left

• Aircraft hand signal turn right.svg

  Turn right

• Aircraft hand signal slow down.svg

  Slow down

• Aircraft hand signal stop.svg

  Stop (emergency stop)

Helicopter signals

• Helicopter hand signal takeoff.svg

  Lift off

• Helicopter hand signal land.svg

  Land

• Helicopter hand signal move upward.svg

  Move upward

• Helicopter hand signal move downward.svg

  Move downward

• Helicopter hand signal move left.svg

  Move left

• Helicopter hand signal move right.svg

  Move right

• Helicopter hand signal move forward.svg

  Move forward

• Helicopter hand signal move rearward.svg

  Move rearward

• Helicopter hand signal hold-hover.svg

  Hold hover

• Helicopter hand signal release load.svg

  Release sling load

External links

• UK marshalling signals, airfield markings and lighting standards. PDF (1.82 MB), from the CAA.