In my “Frankfurt vs. Heathrow” post I ironised about the need for push-back out of a “mid-apron” parking position before taxiing in Frankfurt. I must admit that I did not thought twice before criticizing this procedure. I took a better look before my last flight out of Frankfurt and I understood the obvious reason behind this push-back…

Many airports have parking spaces “in the middle of nowhere” that increase the parking capacity. Bus transfer and open-air boarding usually do not add any fun to the hassles of airline travel. May be in good weather, when the aircraft is parked close to the active runway, looking at landings and take-offs can be good, but it is anyway for a short period of time only. So from the passenger point of view, mid of apron parking is not really an advantage.

The problem for aircraft entering such stands is lateral guidance. If it is not possible to paint sufficiently long taxiway lines on the tarmac the sole option left to guide incoming aircraft is manual marshalling. You know, the guys with these funny batons who make signs to guide pilots. If you don’t know what I mean, look at these snippets from Airplane! A very bad example of marshalling can be seen from the 50th second.

The man in this scene is however no official LAX marshaller (the movie was partly shot in Los-Angeles) but one of the directors, Jerry Zucker. This is probably a bit off topic, but I’m a big fan of Airplane!

Aircraft can taxi on their own in the now infamous parking stands in Frankfurt because they are equipped with a lateral guidance guidance system similar to those equipping gate parking in all airports. No need for a marshaller, but as these systems have to be right in front of the cockpit, these stands have to be dead-ends. No marshaller to come in, but push back required on the way out. Just another way to organize airport operations. To finish on another movie reference, let me say that Frankfurt airport is not stupid… it is different.