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Marshall fixed and rotary aircraft

URN: PPLAOG48
Business Sectors (Suites): Aviation Operations on the Ground
Developed by: People 1st
Approved on: 2021

Overview

This standard is about marshalling fixed and rotary aircraft.  You must be able to use and interpret hand signals to communicate with the flight deck crew, and safely marshal aircraft. You must know and understand your organisation's and the airport/airfield's low visibility, adverse weather and emergency procedures. 

This standard is for those working in an airport/airfield who are responsible for marshalling aircraft.

When you have completed this standard, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to:
• Marshall fixed and rotary aircraft

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. Confirm stand capabilities and prepare the aircraft stand/ramp area in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures
  2. Prepare and use the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and marshalling equipment in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures and relevant legal requirements
  3. Confirm that the stand area is clear of foreign object debris (FOD)
  4. Remain aware of adjacent stand activity
  5. Recognise when a wing walker is required in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures
  6. Confirm the route of the aircraft that is to be marshalled
  7. Marshall the aircraft in line with organisational and airport/airline procedures and relevant legal requirements
  8. Interpret signals from the flight deck crew of the aircraft 
  9. Use the required signals to allow the flight deck crew to position the aircraft
  10. Coordinate the actions of additional marshallers as required in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures
  11. Maintain your own, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ health, safety and welfare when marshalling aircraft
  12. Provide the flight deck crew with guidance to safely position the aircraft
  13. Complete the required documentation for marshalling aircraft in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures and relevant legal requirements


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements for marshalling aircraft and the importance of adhering to them at all times 2. How to confirm stand capabilities and prepare the aircraft stand/ramp area 3. The personal protective equipment (PPE) required for marshalling aircraft  4. The types of health and safety risks to yourself, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ when preparing to marshal aircraft 5. The importance of being aware of adjacent stands activity when marshalling aircraft 6. How to confirm the route the aircraft is to be marshalled 7. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's  procedures and relevant legal requirementsw for using marshalling equipment  8. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures for coordinating with additional marshallers 9. The dimensional and turning characteristics of the aircraft you are marshalling 10. How to interpret standard signals from the flight deck crew of an aircraft  11. How to use and interpret standard marshalling signals 12. How to marshal the aircraft during daytime and night time operations 13. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's low visibility and adverse weather procedures 14. How to maintain your own, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ health, safety and welfare when marshalling aircraft 15. When and how to activate your organisation's  and the airport/airfield's emergency stop procedures 16. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's  procedures and relevant legal requirements for completing documentation for marshalling aircraft

Scope/range

Signals from the flight deck crew of an aircraft include: 
a) Brakes engaged
b) Brakes released
c) Insert chocks
d) Remove chocks
e) Ready to start engines
f) Disconnect ground power
g) Insert ground power unit (GPU)
h) Insert air start unit (ASU)

Marshalling signals include:
a) Emergency stop
b) Proceed under guidance of another marshal
c) Move ahead
d) Open up starboard engine or turn to port
e) Open up port engine or turn to starboard
f) Stop
g) Start engines
h) Chocks inserted
i) Chocks away
j) Cut engines
k) Slow down
l) Slow down engines on indicated side
m) This bay
n) All clear
o) Marshalling finished
p) Hover
q) Land
r) Move upwards
s) Move downwards
t) Move horizontally
u) Move back
v) Release load
w) Release brakes
x) Engage breaks
y) Start engine(s)
z) Attach or detach the ground power unit (GPU), air start unit (ASU)
aa) Start/stop rotors

bb) Fire

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Your Organisation
This is the company you work for or are contracted to

Organisation’s Procedures
These are the procedures your organisation has in place to ensure compliance with relevant rules, regulations, instructions, policies, procedures, legislation and laws relevant to the activity

PPE
Personal protective equipment

FOD
Foreign object debris

Aviation terms, phrases and hand signals have been standardised to improve communication and safety across the global aviation industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) set out the standard for nonverbal communication and guidance signals in the IATA Standards in the Airport Handling Manual (AHM) and IATA Ground Handling Manual (IGOM). The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) set out the common language used for verbal communication including radiotelephony, the phonetic alphabet and phraseology to be used.

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

2026

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

GoSkills

Original URN

GSKAOG48

Relevant Occupations

Transport Drivers and Operatives, Transport Operations and Maintenance

SOC Code

8233

Keywords

marshall, aircraft, hand signals