Who are marshallers or guidemen?

Marshalers or guidemen are essential ground personnel responsible for directing the movement of aircraft on the airport ramp or taxiways. They play a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient operations by guiding pilots during the taxi, parking, and departure processes. Their responsibilities typically include signaling aircraft drivers with hand signals or wands, indicating when to proceed, stop, or turn.

Unlike air traffic control personnel, who manage aircraft in the airspace and coordinate movements between aircraft on runways, marshallers focus specifically on the ground operations of aircraft. Airport service managers oversee various aspects of airport operations, including customer service and facility management but do not directly control aircraft movements. Fueling personnel are responsible for refueling aircraft but do not engage in directing aircraft movements on the ground. Thus, the role of marshalers or guidemen is unique and vital to maintaining safety and organization on the airport ground.