The duties of an aircraft marshaller focus on guiding planes at an airport. In this job, you signal the pilots in an airplane, directing them to a gate and positioning the airplane so it can connect to an air bridge or ramp. You may also drive a vehicle to lead the plane to the gate or out to the runway.

The guidance of an aircraft during the "landing off" (landing and taxiing) phase is a hand-off between three key professionals. During the final approach and touchdown, the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) in the tower provide the pilot with clearance and runway assignments. Once the wheels are on the ground and the plane exits the runway, the Ground Controller directs the pilot through the complex network of taxiways. Finally, as the plane approaches the gate, an Aircraft Marshaller (the person with the orange glowing wands) provides visual signals to help the pilot align the nose-wheel perfectly and stop at the correct point for the jet bridge. In 2026, many major airports also use automated Visual Docking Guidance Systems (VDGS), which use lasers and LED screens to show the pilot exactly how many meters they are from the stop line.