CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY ADVISORY CIRCULAR

OF THE PHILIPPINES
AC 08-003
UNIVERSAL SIGNALS FOR
AIRCRAFT GROUND MARSHALING

SECTION 1 POLICY & GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 PURPOSE
This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance
No person may be allowed to participate in
to ensure that ground personnel and pilots
ground movement of aircraft unless they
conform to the universal signals for ground demonstrate competency in the use and
marshalling of aircraft. understanding of the signals included in this
advisory circular.

1.2 STATUS OF THIS AC

This AC is an original issuance.

1.3 BACKGROUND
A. Standardized universal signals for ground marshalling of aircraft are required to be used for
international operations of aircraft.
B. The signals included in this advisory circular are published by ICAO in Annex 2 and provided
here for use by pilots and inclusion in the operators’ manuals.

1.4 APPLICABILITY
This advisory circular is applicable to all ground personnel, pilots, operators and service
providers involved in the ground marshalling of aircraft..

1.5 RELATED REGULATIONS

The following Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCARs) requirements are applicable to the
aircraft ground marsha‘ling—
 Pilots, operators and other personnel shall comply with universal aviation signals: Part 8
 Operators must include these universal ground marshalling signals in their operations manual:
Part 9

1.6 RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Copies may be obtained from Document Sales
These ICAO publications are source documents Unit, ICAO, 999 University Street, Montreal,
for this advisory circular— Quebec, Canada H3C 5H7.

 Annex 2; Rules of the Air.

 Advisory Circulars are intended to provide advice and guidance to illustrate a means, but not necessarily the only means, of
complying with the regulations, or to explain certain regulatory requirements by providing informative, interpretative and
explanatory material.
 Where a regulation contains the words “prescribed by the Authority,” the AC may be considered to “prescribe” a viable method
of compliance, but status of that “prescription” is always “guidance” (never regulation).
2 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

SECTION 2 SIGNALS FROM THE PILOT TO A SIGNALMAN

A. The PIC or SIC shall use the following
 These signals are designed for use by a pilot in the
signals when communicating with a cockpit with hands plainly visible to the signalman,
signalman: and illuminated as necessary to facilitate
observation by the signalman.
1) Brakes engaged: raise arm and hand,  The aircraft engines are numbered in relation to the
with fingers extended, horizontally in signalman facing the aircraft, from right to left (i.e.
front of face, then clench fist. No. I engine being the port outer engine).

2) Brakes released. raise arm, with fist

The moment the fist is clenched or the fingers
clenched, horizontally in front of face, are extended indicates, respectively, the
then extend fingers. moment of brake engagement or release.

3) Insert chocks: arms extended, palms outwards, move hands inwards to cross in front of
face.
4) Remove chocks: hands crossed in front of face, palms outwards, move arms outwards.
5) Ready to start engine(s). Raise the appropriate number of fingers on one hand
indicating the number of the engine to be started.

SECTION 3 SIGNALMAN PREPARATION

3.1 POSITIONING  The meaning of the relevant signals remains the

The signalman shall be positioned— same if bats, illuminated wands or torchlights are
held.
1) For aeroplanes, forward of the left-wing  The aircraft engines are numbered, for the
tip within view of the pilot; and signalman facing the aircraft, from right to left (i.e.
No. I engine being the port outer engine).
2) For helicopters, where the signalman  Signals marked with an asterisk are designed for
can best be seen by the pilot. use to hovering helicopters.

3.2 AREA CLEARANCES The design of many aircraft is such that the path
Prior to using the ground marshalling signals, of the wing tips, engines and other extremities
cannot always be monitored visually from the
the signalman shall ascertain that the area flight deck while the aircraft is being manoeu-
within which an aircraft is to be guided is clear vred on the ground.
of objects which the aircraft might otherwise
strike.

SECTION 4 SIGNALS FROM THE SIGNALMAN TO A PILOT

The following marshalling signals shall be used
These signals are designed for use by the sig-
from a signalman to an aircraft— nalman, with hands illuminated as necessary to
facilitate observation by the pilot, and facing the
aircraft in a position.
AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS 3

4.1 WINGWALKER CLEARANCE SIGNAL

1. Wingwalker/guide

Raise right hand above head level with wand pointing up;
move left-hand wand pointing down toward body.

Note.— This signal provides an indication by a person

positioned at the aircraft wing tip, to the pilot/ marshaller/
push-back operator, that the aircraft movement on/off a
parking position would be unobstructed.

4.2 ARRIVAL AT THE GATE

2. Identify gate

Raise fully extended arms straight above head with

wands pointing up.

3. Proceed to next signalman

or as directed by
tower/ground control

Point both arms upward; move and extend arms outward

to sides of body and point with wands to direction of next
signalman or taxi area.
4 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

4. Straight ahead

Bend extended arms at elbows and move wands up and

down from chest height to head.

5 a). Turn left

(from pilot’s point of view)

With right arm and wand extended at a 90-degree angle

to body, make “come ahead” signal with left hand. The
rate of signal motion indicates to pilot the rate of aircraft
turn.

5 b). Turn right

(from pilot’s point of view)

With left arm and wand extended at a 90-degree angle

to body, make “come ahead” signal with right hand. The
rate of signal motion indicates to pilot the rate of aircraft
turn.

6 a). Normal stop

Fully extend arms and wands at a 90-degree angle to

sides and slowly move to above head until wands cross.
AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS 5

6 b). Emergency stop

Abruptly extend arms and wands to top of head, crossing

wands.

4.3 BRAKE & CHOCK SIGNALS

7 a). Set brakes

Raise hand just above shoulder height with open palm.

Ensuring eye contact with flight crew, close hand into a
fist. Do not move until receipt of “thumbs up”
acknowledgement from flight crew.

7 b). Release brakes

Raise hand just above shoulder height with hand closed

in a fist. Ensuring eye contact with flight crew, open
palm. Do not move until receipt of “thumbs up”
acknowledgement from flight crew.
6 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

8 a). Chocks inserted

With arms and wands fully extended above head, move

wands inward in a “jabbing” motion until wands touch.
Ensure acknowledgement is received from flight crew.

8 b). Chocks removed

With arms and wands fully extended above head, move

wands outward in a “jabbing” motion. Do not remove
chocks until authorized by flight crew.

4.4 ENGINE-RELATED SIGNALS

9. Start engine(s)

Raise right arm to head level with wand pointing up and

start a circular motion with hand; at the same time, with
left arm raised above head level, point to engine to be
started.
AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS 7

10. Cut engines

Extend arm with wand forward of body at shoulder level;

move hand and wand to top of left shoulder and draw
wand to top of right shoulder in a slicing motion across
throat.

11. Slow down

Move extended arms downwards in a “patting” gesture,

moving wands up and down from waist to knees.

12. Slow down engine(s)

on indicated side

With arms down and wands toward ground, wave either

right or left wand up and down indicating engine(s) on
left or right side respectively should be slowed down.
8 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

4.5 POWERBACK SIGNALS

13. Move back

With arms in front of body at waist height, rotate arms in

a forward motion. To stop rearward movement, use
signal 6 a) or 6 b).

14 a). Turns while backing

(for tail to starboard)

Point left arm with wand down and bring right arm from
overhead vertical position to horizontal forward position,
repeating right-arm movement.

14 b). Turns while backing

(for tail to port)

Point right arm with wand down and bring left arm from
overhead vertical position to horizontal forward position,
repeating left-arm movement.
AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS 9

4.6 ALL-CLEAR SIGNAL

15. Affirmative/all clear

Raise right arm to head level with wand pointing up or

display hand with “thumbs up”; left arm remains at side
by knee.

Note.— This signal is also used as a technical/

servicing communication signal.

4.7 HELICOPER-RELATED SIGNALS

*16. Hover

Fully extend arms and wands at a 90-degree angle to

sides.

*17. Move upwards

Fully extend arms and wands at a 90-degree angle to

sides and, with palms turned up, move hands upwards.
Speed of movement indicates rate of ascent.
10 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

*18. Move downwards

Fully extend arms and wands at a 90-degree angle to

sides and, with palms turned down, move hands down-
wards. Speed of movement indicates rate of descent.

*19 a). Move horizontally left

(from pilot’s point of view)

Extend arm horizontally at a 90-degree angle to right

side of body. Move other arm in same direction in a
sweeping motion.

*19 b). Move horizontally right

(from pilot’s point of view)

Extend arm horizontally at a 90-degree angle to left side

of body. Move other arm in same direction in a sweeping
motion.

*20. Land

Cross arms with wands downwards and in front of body.

AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS 11

4.8 FIRE SIGNAL

21. Fire
ENGINE

Move right-hand wand in a “fanning” motion from

shoulder to knee, while at the same time pointing with
left-hand wand to area of fire.

BRAKE

4.9 HOLD POSITION SIGNAL

22. Hold position/stand by

Fully extend arms and wands downwards at a 45-degree

angle to sides. Hold position until aircraft is clear for next
manoeuvre.

4.10 RELEASE AIRCRAFT FOR TAXI

23. Dispatch aircraft

Perform a standard salute with right hand and/or wand to

dispatch the aircraft. Maintain eye contact with flight
crew until aircraft has begun to taxi.
12 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

4.11 TECHNICAL/SERVICES COMMUNICATION SIGNALS

24. Do not touch controls

(technical/servicing
communication signal)

Extend right arm fully above head and close fist or hold
wand in horizontal position; left arm remains at side by
knee.

25. Connect ground power

(technical/servicing
communication signal)

Hold arms fully extended above head; open left hand

horizontally and move finger tips of right hand into and
touch open palm of left hand (forming a “T”). At night,
illuminated wands can also be used to form the “T”
above head.

26. Disconnect power

(technical/servicing
communication signal)

Hold arms fully extended above head with finger tips of

right hand touching open horizontal palm of left hand
(forming a “T”); then move right hand away from the left.
Do not disconnect power until authorized by flight crew.
At night, illuminated wands can also be used to form the
“T” above head.
AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS 13

27. Negative
(technical/servicing
communication signal)

Hold right arm straight out at 90 degrees from shoulder

and point wand down to ground or display hand with
“thumbs down”; left hand remains at side by knee.

28. Establish communication

via interphone
(technical/servicing
communication signal)

Extend both arms at 90 degrees from body and move

hands to cup both ears.

29. Open/close stairs

(technical/servicing
communication signal)

With right arm at side and left arm raised above head at
a 45-degree angle, move right arm in a sweeping motion
towards top of left shoulder.

Note.— This signal is intended mainly for aircraft with

the set of integral stairs at the front.

SECTION 5 STANDARD EMERGENCY HAND SIGNALS

A. The following hand signals are established as the minimum required for emergency
communication between the aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) incident commander/
ARFF firefighters and the cockpit and/or cabin crews of the incident aircraft.
B. ARFF emergency hand signals should be
In order to communicate more effectively with
given from the left front side of the aircraft
the cabin crew, emergency hand signals may
for the flight crew. be given by ARFF firefighters from other posi-
tions.
14 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

5.1 RECOMMEND EVACUATION

5.2 RECOMMENDED STOP

5.3 EMERGENCY CONTAINED

AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS 15

5.4 FIRE

End of Advisory Circular

RAMON S. GUTIERREZ
Director General

Date of Issue :_______________

23 September 2011
16 AC 08-003: GROUND MARSHALLING SIGNALS

This Page Intentionally Left Blank