Air Marshalling

10/26/2022

Hailey Poziombka ‘23

On a cold, windy Sunday morning, I stood outside by the taxiway. With my marshalling wands in hand, I waited for someone to direct the newest arrived plane to me so I could help it align in its designated parking space. Wow, you might say, What were you doing? Well, I was marshalling the airplanes.

How did I get there? Well, I am a part of an aviation explorer post through the Illinois Aviation Academy (IAA). The IAA was founded in 1993 by Bob Werdereich. This program has prepared many young people for their pilot's licenses. I became involved with this program because I am friends with the Werdereich family. Everything went from there.

What is airplane marshalling? Simply put, marshalling planes is like directing traffic, but instead of directing cars, you direct airplanes. Marshals tell airplanes when to start and stop their engines, where to go, and how to park. If you have ever gone on a vacation overseas and looked out the window when the plane is on the ground, you would see people in orange with brightly colored wands motioning to the pilot.

That cold Sunday morning when I stood outside was this year's Grass Landing Competition. The competition started in commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent ban on flying. Now, the Grass Landing Competition commemorates that dreaded event and its resulting impact on aviation. The competition itself awards points for safety and smooth landings on a grass strip at Rochelle Airport.