What should you establish with the cockpit personnel before parking beside the aircraft?

Establishing eye contact with cockpit personnel before parking beside the aircraft is crucial for a number of safety reasons. Eye contact serves as a clear, non-verbal communication method that ensures both the ground personnel and the pilots are aware of each other's presence and intentions. It helps to confirm that the pilots can see the ground crew and understand that they are in position to proceed with parking. This is particularly important in avoiding accidents and ensuring safe maneuvering around the aircraft.

While other forms of communication, such as verbal communication or signal gestures, are also important in ensuring safety on the airfield, eye contact provides an immediate and direct acknowledgment that both parties are on the same page. In busy airfield environments where noise and other distractions can occur, establishing direct visual acknowledgment can enhance situational awareness more effectively than other methods alone.