A method for guiding an aircraft toward a stopping position within an aircraft stand of an airport comprises using a visual docking guidance system (VDGS) associated with the aircraft stand for displaying first instructions for guiding the aircraft toward the stopping position. The first instructions are based on an initial determination of the aircraft-type and on first sensed positional information of the aircraft. Aircraft-type data that is stored in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag carried by the aircraft is then read. Using the VDGS, second instructions are displayed for guiding the aircraft toward the stopping position based on the aircraft-type data and based on second sensed positional information of the aircraft.