A day in the life of... a marshaller

A typical day

“At the start of a shift I drive around and see what tasks there are to do and if there any special circumstances. I work in a team with around four colleagues each shift. We take turns to be coordinator and between us decide who is going to park which plane. Generally we work at the gates where there is no docking system, but sometimes there are system malfunctions meaning we need to go to other locations too. It’s our job to make sure that a plane always has somewhere to park!”

How do you park a plane?

The pilot is of course the one in charge of the engine and brakes, but Schiphol’s marshallers have the important task of safely guiding aircraft to precisely the right spot. “I arrive at the aircraft stand on time and make sure it’s clear of materials and foreign objects, and check that the passenger bridge is in place. After that, I wait until the plane has landed and monitor it via VHF radio until I have it in sight. I then confirm that it’s the correct aircraft and get in the right position to marshall it in.”

Troubleshooting

“People think that marshallers just park planes with those red bats, but there’s more to it,” explains Danny. “Besides parking planes, we are also troubleshooters when anything happens that may disrupt aircraft flow, like foreign objects on the taxiway.” This kind of troubleshooting requires a lot of expertise. “We need to know a great deal about our job and the many different procedures involved, but also about the airfield, where we’re allowed to drive, radio protocols and much more. Every year we get tested on this.”

Unforeseen events

No two days are the same for a marshaller, but now and again something really unexpected happens. “I recently had to drive in front of a plane and guide it to the gate after it had made an emergency landing due to a medical emergency on board. It was supposed to land in London but came to Schiphol because a passenger needed medical attention. When pilots are diverted to Schiphol who are unfamiliar with the airport, we marshallers guide them to their parking stand. In this case we sprang into action so that medical care could be given as quickly as possible.”

Finding balance in shift work

While he loves his job, there are some aspects of it that are quite challenging. The main one is shift work. “There are early, late and night shifts lasting eight hours. The early shift is the busiest as we have a landing peak with the big intercontinental planes coming in. Having different shifts is not easy, mainly in terms of the physical effects, like your sleep patterns. And you do have to make some sacrifices in your social life. You really have to plan your home life carefully to ensure a good balance.”

Rewarding work

The best part of the job? Parking planes of course! “I like using all the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to help keep the operation running. It’s really rewarding when circumstances are challenging, like snow or fog. There’s so much to consider.” There are very unique moments too. “One time a Transavia plane came in with Peter Pan stickers. On board, in the cockpit, was a terminally ill child. The plane got a water salute and I parked it. That was special. It’s also exciting when I drive in front of military aircraft. And when a plane like the Beluga lands. You don’t see these kinds of things every day.”

Catching the Schiphol virus

It’s clear that Danny is passionate about his job as marshaller at the airport. When asked what makes working at Schiphol so great he says: “It’s a cliché, but once you have started working at Schiphol you never want to leave. The so-called Schiphol virus. It’s a dynamic environment with so many processes going on, and we marshallers get to experience that close up. People outside Schiphol are always very interested in my job!”