Add marshallers and refuelling in MSFS with built-in services or GSX Pro, plus platform limits and fixes for missing crews and fuel trucks.
To add marshallers and refuelling in Microsoft Flight Simulator, use a service-capable parking stand and request a fuel truck through the built-in ATC or ground-services interface; native marshallers appear only where the airport supports them. On PC, GSX Pro adds interactive marshalling, animated crews and a more controlled refuelling workflow.
Which ground-service option should you use?
The built-in system is sufficient for occasional refuelling, while GSX Pro is the stronger PC option for detailed airline turnarounds and consistent marshalling.
| Option | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in ground services | Simple refuelling and native parking guidance | Availability depends on the airport and parking stand |
| GSX Pro | Interactive marshallers, fuel vehicles and complete turnarounds on PC | Requires installation, configuration and aircraft compatibility |
| Airport or crew add-on | Improving the visual activity at a specific airport | Workers may be decorative rather than callable services |
There is no native global switch that places a functional marshaller at every parking position. The airport needs correctly configured stands, service-vehicle paths and triggers; simply adding an animated person model does not create a working ground service.
How do you use the built-in marshaller and fuel truck?
Both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 can provide native marshalling and refuelling at parking positions configured to support those services.
- Choose a proper parking stand. Start from or taxi to a gate, ramp or parking position rather than a runway start, fuel pump or arbitrary point on the apron. Larger serviced airports are more reliable than small strips.
- Enable airport activity. Check that airport-vehicle and worker-density settings have not been disabled. Their names and locations differ slightly between MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024.
- Request the fuel vehicle. In MSFS 2020, use the toolbar ATC window and its ground-services choices. MSFS 2024 exposes equivalent controls through its communications and ground-operations interfaces; our step-by-step MSFS 2024 ground-services procedure covers that version in detail.
- Approach the assigned stand slowly. A native marshaller should appear ahead of the stopping point when that stand supports one. Marshallers generally trigger during taxi-in rather than being summoned anywhere on the airport.
- Secure and refuel the aircraft. Apply the parking brake and follow any engine or door requirements shown by the aircraft. Default aircraft may use the simulator’s fuel controls, while complex add-ons often require the desired fuel quantity to be entered through their EFB or load manager.
A fuel truck arriving does not guarantee that fuel will transfer automatically. Some aircraft treat the vehicle as an animation and keep fuel management inside their own systems.
How do you add GSX Pro marshallers and refuelling?
On PC, GSX Pro adds selectable parking stands, positioned marshallers, service vehicles and configurable refuelling to supported installations of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- Install GSX Pro for the correct simulator. Use its supplied installer and confirm that its background component starts with the simulator. Follow our GSX Pro installation and setup checklist if the menu or crew does not appear.
- Select the destination stand. Before reaching the gate, choose the intended parking position through the GSX menu. This tells GSX where to place the marshaller or docking guidance.
- Set the aircraft’s target fuel. Enter the required quantity through the aircraft’s supported fuel page, EFB or load manager before requesting refuelling. The correct method depends on how that aircraft models fuel loading.
- Request GSX refuelling. Call the service from the GSX menu and satisfy any parking-brake, engine or door conditions it reports.
- Avoid duplicate services. Do not request the native fuel truck and GSX truck together. Competing service systems can produce overlapping vehicles or a refuelling process that never starts.
Airport profiles can adjust stopping positions, marshaller placement and vehicle routes. They are especially useful when custom scenery places its parking coordinates differently from the simulator’s underlying airport data. Our overview of functional and decorative animated ground crews explains what each type of add-on can provide.
Why is the marshaller or fuel truck not appearing?
Missing services are usually caused by the selected stand, disabled airport activity, conflicting scenery or an aircraft with custom ground-handling logic.
- No service-capable stand: try a marked gate or ramp position at a larger airport.
- Marshaller trigger missed: select the stand before taxiing in and approach along the expected lead-in line at low speed.
- Airport activity disabled: raise the relevant worker and airport-vehicle settings above zero.
- Conflicting airport packages: two versions of the same airport can create mismatched parking spots and service paths.
- GSX profile mismatch: verify that the chosen profile belongs to the active scenery and that the parking position names correspond.
- Custom aircraft fuelling: use the aircraft’s EFB or load manager rather than forcing fuel through the simulator’s general fuel panel.
- Unsafe aircraft state: set the parking brake and, where required, shut down the engines before requesting service.
Can you add these services on Xbox or PlayStation?
Console users can use Microsoft Flight Simulator’s native ground services and compatible in-simulator Marketplace content, but they cannot run GSX Pro because it relies on external Windows software.
MSFS 2020 is available on PC and Xbox, while MSFS 2024 is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro. On Xbox, our guide to refuelling through the fuel panel, EFB or fuel truck covers the console-specific choices. The same basic native-service approach applies on PlayStation, subject to the aircraft and airport supporting it.