{"id":"F2005B00776","name":"Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R2) 2004 - Civil Aviation Order 20.3 - Air service operations - Marshalling & parking of aircraft (02/12/2004)","slug":"civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r2-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-3-air-service-operations-marshalli","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32207,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B00776-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"MARSHALLING AND PARKING OF AIRCRAFT","sectionType":"part","heading":"MARSHALLING AND PARKING OF AIRCRAFT","content":"# MARSHALLING AND PARKING OF AIRCRAFT\n\n1 APPLICATION\n\n1.1 This section applies to all aircraft operating at aerodromes established under the Air Navigation Regulations 1947, aerodromes licensed or authorised under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, and Department of Defence aerodromes in respect of which an arrangement under section 20 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 is in force.\n\n2 RESPONSIBILITY FOR MARSHALLING AND PARKING AIRCRAFT\n\n2.1 An operator is responsible for marshalling and parking of the operator’s aircraft on an aerodrome.\n\n2.2 An operator must ensure that any person designated for marshalling and parking duties uses the standard hand signals set out in Appendix I.\n\n3 PARKING AREAS\n\n3.1 The aerodrome licence-holder or proprietor, as the case requires, is responsible for designating parking areas on an aerodrome.\n\n3.2 A person must not park an aircraft outside the areas designated in accordance with subparagraph 3.1 without permission of the aerodrome licence-holder or proprietor, as the case may be.\n\n4 STANDARD HAND SIGNALS\n\n4.1 The hand signals set out in Appendix I have the meanings indicated in that Appendix.\n\n4.2 These signals are to be given as required by persons involved in the parking of aircraft.\n\n4.3 Pilots in command of aircraft are to comply with all signals so given except where a pilot in command of an aircraft considers that to do so would jeopardise the safety of the aircraft or of its passengers or of persons or property on the ground.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"APPENDIX I","sectionType":"part","heading":"APPENDIX I","content":"## APPENDIX I\n\nSTANDARD HAND SIGNALS TO BE USED BY GROUND PERSONNEL  \nMARSHALLING AIRCRAFT\n\nNote 1: These signals are designed for use by the signalman, using lights where necessary, to facilitate observation by the pilot, and facing the aircraft in a position:\n\n    (a) for fixed wing aircraft — forward of the left wing tip within view of the pilot; and\n    (b) for helicopters — where the signalman can best be seen by the pilot.\n\nNote 2: The meaning of the relevant signals remains the same if bats, illuminated wands or torchlights are held.\n\nNote 3: The aircraft engines are numbered, for the signalman facing the aircraft, from right to left (i.e. No. 1 engine being the port outer engine).\n\n![](image.001.png)1. To proceed under further guidance by signalman\n\nSignalman directs pilot if traffic conditions on aerodrome require this action.\n\n2. This bay\n\nArms above head in vertical position with palms facing inward.\n\n3. Proceed to next signalman\n\nRight or left arm down, other arm moved across the body and extended to indicate the direction of the next signalman.\n\n4. Move ahead\n\nArms a little aside, palms facing backward and repeatedly moved upward-backward from shoulder height.\n\n![](image.002.png)5. (a) Turn to your left\n\nRight arm downward, left arm repeatedly moved upward-backward. Speed of arm movement indicates rate of turn.\n\n(b) Turn to your right\n\nLeft arm downward, right arm repeatedly moved upward-backward. Speed of arm movement indicates rate of turn.\n\n6. Stop\n\nArms repeatedly crossed above head (the rapidity of the arm movement should be related to the urgency of the stop, i.e. the faster the movement the quicker the stop).\n\n7. Start engine\n\nLeft hand overhead with appropriate number of fingers extended to indicate the number of the engine to be started, and circular motion of the right hand at head level.\n\n8. (a) Insert chocks\n\nArms down palms facing inwards, swing arms from extended position inwards.\n\n(b) Chocks away\n\nArms down palms facing outwards, swing arms outwards.\n\n![](image.003.png)9. Cut engines\n\nEither arm and hand level with the shoulder, hand across throat, palm downward. The hand is moved sideways with the arm remaining bent.\n\n10. Slow down\n\nArms down with palms toward ground, then moved up and down several times.\n\n11. (a) Engage brakes\n\nRaise arm and hand, with fingers extended, horizontally in front of body, then clench fist.\n\n(b) Release brakes\n\nRaise arm, with fist clenched, horizontally in front of body, then extend fingers.\n\n12. Slow down engine(s) on indicated side\n\nArms down with palms toward ground, then either right or left hand waved up and down indicating that the left or right side engine(s) respectively should be slowed down.\n\n13. Move back\n\nArms by sides, palms facing forward, swept forward and upward repeatedly to shoulder height.\n\n14. Turns while backing\n\nFor tail to starboard: point left arm down, and right arm brought from overhead, vertical position to horizontal forward position, repeating right arm movement.\n\n![](image.004.png)For tail to port: point right arm down, and left arm brought from overhead, vertical position to horizontal forward position, repeating left arm movement.\n\n15. All clear\n\nRight arm raised at elbow with thumb erect.\n\n16. Hover\n\nArms extended horizontally sideways.\n\n17. Move upwards\n\nArms extended horizontally to the side beckoning upwards, with palms turned up. Speed of movement indicates rate of ascent.\n\n18. Move downwards\n\nArms extended horizontally to the side beckoning downwards, with palms turned down. Speed of movement indicates rate of descent.\n\n  \n\n19. Move horizontally\n\n![](image.005.png)Appropriate arm extended horizontally sideways in direction of movement and other arm moved in front of body in same direction, in a repeating movement.\n\n20. Land\n\nArms crossed and extended downwards in front of the body.\n\n21. Winch up\n\nLeft arm horizontal in front of body, fist clenched, right hand with palm turned upwards making upwards motions.\n\n22. Winch down\n\nLeft arm horizontal in front of body, fist clenched, right hand with palm turned downwards making downward motions.\n\n23. Your load has not released\n\nRight arm held across chest, palm facing down. Left hand pointing up to form ‘T’.\n\n24. Release sling load —  \nrelease winch load\n\nLeft arm extended forward horizontally, fist clenched, right hand making horizontal slicing movement below the left fist, palm downward.","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Order consolidates and prescribes responsibilities and a standard set of hand signals for marshalling and parking. It does not appear to expand the instrument’s scope beyond its original purpose of standardising ground signalling and allocating parking control at regulated aerodromes. The measures are regulatory clarifications rather than a substantive broadening of regulatory reach: they allocate operational duties (to operators and aerodrome proprietors) and set a uniform signalling standard (Appendix I) without introducing new categories of regulated activity or new enforcement powers."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument: 4 main numbered paragraphs plus Appendix I (compact structure).","Single substantive cross‑references to external instruments (Air Navigation Regulations 1947, Civil Aviation Regulations 1988, Civil Aviation Act 1988 s.20) — limited legal cross‑linking (1.1).","One important conditional exception: pilot may refuse to follow a signal where it would jeopardise safety (4.3) — introduces fact‑specific judgment calls.","Appendix I is detailed (24 distinct signals, position notes and image references) which raises operational complexity though not legal complexity.","No layered exceptions or multiple schedules; few defined terms; no penalty or enforcement regime in this text."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument makes aircraft operators responsible for marshalling and parking at regulated aerodromes, requires their appointed marshals to use a prescribed set of hand signals, gives aerodrome proprietors the duty to designate parking areas (with parking outside them requiring permission), and obliges pilots to follow ground signals unless doing so would jeopardise safety.\n\nIt standardises ground signalling and parking control to reduce confusion and improve safety; it affects operators (training/compliance costs), ground personnel (must use the standard signals), aerodrome owners (mark/manage parking) and pilots (comply subject to a safety exception)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing standard hand signals for aircraft marshalling and parking. The scope has not expanded beyond ground operations at aerodromes."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 1,500 words)","Only 4 main operative sections plus an appendix","No defined terms section – terms used are ordinary English or aviation common knowledge","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling regulations and Act","Simple conditional logic: only one exception (pilot may disregard signals for safety)","Appendix consists of visual/diagrammatic instructions with plain English descriptions","Linear structure with no nested provisions or sub-subsections"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThis is a Civil Aviation Order that sets the rules for how aircraft are guided and parked on the ground at airports and airfields in Australia.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Airline and aircraft operators** – they are responsible for making sure their planes are marshalled (guided) and parked properly\n- **Ground crew** – anyone who directs aircraft movement on the ground\n- **Pilots** – they must follow the ground crew's signals unless it would be unsafe\n- **Airport owners and licence-holders** – they decide where planes can park\n\n**Key rules:**\n\n- **Operators** must ensure their ground staff use specific hand signals when guiding planes\n- **Airports** must designate specific parking areas, and planes can't park outside these areas without permission\n- **Pilots** must obey the ground signals, but can ignore them if following them would be dangerous\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis Order prevents collisions and accidents on the ground. Airports are busy, noisy places where pilots often can't see everything around them. Standard hand signals create a universal \"language\" that works even when radio communication fails or when there's a language barrier. The signals cover everything from \"stop immediately\" to \"start engine number 2\" to \"your load is stuck\" (for helicopters).\n\nThe Appendix includes 24 specific hand signals with detailed descriptions of arm positions and movements – like crossing arms above your head to signal \"stop,\" or making a throat-cutting gesture to signal \"cut engines.\""}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r2-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-3-air-service-operations-marshalli","history":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r2-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-3-air-service-operations-marshalli/history","analysis":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r2-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-3-air-service-operations-marshalli/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r2-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-3-air-service-operations-marshalli/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r2-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-3-air-service-operations-marshalli/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/civil-aviation-amendment-order-no-r2-2004-civil-aviation-order-20-3-air-service-operations-marshalli/documents"}}