Marshalling signals

What is the marshaller telling you?

Marshalling

Pick a group or test yourself with the names hidden.

• 1 · Wingwalker / guide right wand up, left down From the wingtip: the aircraft's movement on or off the stand is unobstructed. Right hand above head, wand up; left wand pointing down toward the body.
• 2 · Identify gate both wands straight up Fully extended arms straight above the head, wands pointing up.
• 3 · Go to next signalman arms up, then point Point both arms up, then move them out to the side and point the wands toward the next signalman or the taxi area.
• 4 · Straight ahead wands up and down Arms out and bent at the elbows; move the wands up and down between chest and head.
• 5a · Turn left pilot's view Right arm and wand out at 90°, 'come ahead' with the left hand. The speed of the motion tells the pilot the rate of turn.
• 5b · Turn right pilot's view Left arm and wand out at 90°, 'come ahead' with the right hand. The speed of the motion tells the pilot the rate of turn.
• 6a · Normal stop arms out, slowly up to cross Fully extend arms and wands at 90° to the sides and slowly move them above the head until the wands cross.
• 6b · Emergency stop abruptly cross above head Abruptly extend arms and wands to the top of the head, crossing the wands.
• 7a · Set brakes open palm, then fist Raise hand just above shoulder height, open palm; with eye contact, close it into a fist. Don't move until the crew gives a thumbs up.
• 7b · Release brakes fist, then open palm Raise hand just above shoulder height as a fist; with eye contact, open the palm. Don't move until the crew gives a thumbs up.
• 8a · Chocks inserted wands jab inward above head Arms and wands fully extended above the head; jab the wands inward until they touch. Make sure the crew acknowledges.
• 8b · Chocks removed wands jab outward above head Arms and wands above the head; jab the wands outward. Don't remove chocks until the flight crew authorises it.
• 9 · Start engine(s) circle right, point left Right arm at head level, wand up, circling; left arm raised above the head pointing at the engine to be started.
• 10 · Cut engines slice across the throat Wand held forward at shoulder height, brought to the left shoulder and swept across to the right, like a cut across the throat.
• 11 · Slow down patting, waist to knees Arms out, patting downwards: the wands move up and down between waist and knees.
• 12 · Slow down engines one side wave one wand Arms down with the wands pointing at the ground; wave the right or the left wand up and down to slow the engines on that side.
• 13 · Move back rotate arms forward Arms in front at waist height, rotate them forward. To stop the rearward movement use signal 6a or 6b.
• 14a · Backing, tail to starboard left wand down; right arm sweeps Point the left wand down and bring the right arm from overhead to horizontal forward, repeating the right-arm movement.
• 14b · Backing, tail to port right wand down; left arm sweeps Point the right wand down and bring the left arm from overhead to horizontal forward, repeating the left-arm movement.
• 15 · Affirmative / all clear right wand up Right arm at head level, wand up, or a thumbs up; left arm at the side by the knee. Also a technical/servicing signal.
• 16 · Hover arms out at 90° Fully extend arms and wands at 90° to the sides. Signals 16 to 20 are for hovering helicopters.
• 17 · Move upwards arms out, lift Arms out at 90°, palms up, move the hands upwards. The speed shows the rate of ascent.
• 18 · Move downwards arms out, lower Arms out at 90°, palms down, move the hands downwards. The speed shows the rate of descent.
• 19a · Move horizontally left pilot's view Extend an arm horizontally at 90° to the right side; sweep the other arm the same way.
• 19b · Move horizontally right pilot's view Extend an arm horizontally at 90° to the left side; sweep the other arm the same way.
• 20 · Land arms crossed low, wands down Cross the arms with wands downwards in front of the body.
• 21 · Hold position / stand by arms down at 45° Arms and wands straight down and out to the sides at 45°. Hold this until the aircraft is clear to move on.
• 22 · Dispatch aircraft salute A standard salute with the right hand or wand. Keep eye contact with the crew until the aircraft starts to taxi.
• 23 · Do not touch controls fist above head Right arm fully above the head, fist closed or wand horizontal; left arm at the side by the knee.
• 24 · Connect ground power make a T above head Arms above the head, left hand open flat, right fingertips touching its palm to form a T. At night illuminated wands may form the T.
• 25 · Disconnect power break the T Form the T above the head, then move the right hand away from the left. Don't disconnect until the flight crew authorises it.
• 26 · Negative right arm out, wand down Right arm straight out at 90°, wand pointing down, or thumbs down; left hand at the side by the knee.
• 27 · Interphone hands cup the ears Extend both arms at 90°, then move the hands to cup both ears.
• 28 · Open/close stairs sweep to left shoulder Right arm at the side, left arm raised at 45° above the head; sweep the right arm toward the top of the left shoulder. Mainly for aircraft with front integral stairs.
• ARFF 1 · Recommend evacuation beckoning arm Arm out horizontal, hand raised at eye level, beckoning backward; other arm against the body. Given from the left front of the aircraft.
• ARFF 2 · Stop wrists crossed in front of head Arms crossed at the wrists in front of the head. Halt an evacuation in progress, or stop aircraft movement or other activity.
• ARFF 3 · Emergency contained umpire's 'safe' Arms out and down at 45°, moved inward below the waist until the wrists cross, then back out. No outside evidence of danger: all clear.
• ARFF 4 · Fire fan one wand, point the other Fan the right wand from shoulder to knee while pointing the left wand at the fire.
• Pilot · Brakes engaged fingers out, then fist Raise arm and hand, fingers extended, horizontally in front of the face, then clench the fist.
• Pilot · Brakes released fist, then fingers out Lift an arm in front of your face with the fist closed and held flat, then open the fingers.
• Pilot · Insert chocks hands cross in front of face Arms out with palms facing away, then bring the hands in so they cross in front of the face.
• Pilot · Remove chocks crossed hands move apart Start with both hands crossed before your face, palms facing away, then swing the arms out.

Memory hook: Arms cross above the head: stop.

Takeaway: Every signalman is DGCA-approved and wears a fluorescent vest; wands or bats by day, lit wands at night.