One of the most dangerous parts of a flight is ground operations. Big Deal, I hear you say. Well, it is risky because the visibility from the captains chair is limited. The engine effectively blocks forward vision of objects (and people) on the ramp. Bloke ran over a cone a couple weeks ago at 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport. He couldn't see the cone and the ramp person directing him apparently didn't see it either. Fortunately, no damage.

So Bloke decided that it was about time for a training session for the ground personnel at the museum. He has put together a good presentation but wanted some real life shots from his perspective in his airplane. We set up a course in front of the hanger of a gas can and stuffed tiger (I assure you it it Bloke's, not mine) at 50 feet and a Red Coke Zero box at 170 feet. That is the course in the top photo. In the bottom photo is what I could see from the pilot's seat in the airplane. Although I could see Bloke and his wands, the coke carton was completely shielded from view.

So, how are you supposed to marshal an airplane on the ramp? First thing is position yourself to the port side of the airplane in plain view of the pilot. Second, don't direct the airplane over obstructions on the ramp. Third thing, change procedures so that obstructions are banned from the ramp, particularly cones. People love to deploy cones for "safety" reasons and crowd control. They have no place on the ramp where airplanes are maneuvering.