Airfield Operations Specialists
Human Advantage 70%
Significant human skills needed
AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.6 / 10
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
Ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft. Duties include coordination between air-traffic control and maintenance personnel, dispatching, using airfield landing and navigational aids, implementing airfield safety procedures, monitoring and maintaining flight records, and applying knowledge of weather information.
Also Known As: Airfield Operations Specialist, Airfield Services Officer, Airline Dispatcher, Airport Agent, Airport Operations Agent, Airport Operations Coordinator, Airport Operations Crew Member, Airport Operations Officer +18 more
Core Tasks
- Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
- Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.
- Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields.
- Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.
- Initiate or conduct airport-wide coordination of snow removal on runways and taxiways.
- Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.
- Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.
- Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions.
- Plan and coordinate airfield construction.
- Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft.
- Train operations staff.
- Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.
- Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies.
- Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.
Supplemental Tasks (13)
- Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.
- Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.
- Receive, transmit, and control message traffic.
- Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.
- Procure, produce, and provide information on the safe operation of aircraft, such as flight planning publications, operations publications, charts and maps, or weather information.
- Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.
- Post visual display boards and status boards.
- Receive and post weather information and flight plan data, such as air routes or arrival and departure times.
- Conduct departure and arrival briefings.
- Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments.
- Maintain flight and event logs, air crew flying records, and flight operations records of incoming and outgoing flights.
- Coordinate changes to flight itineraries with appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies.
- Check military flight plans with civilian agencies.
Emerging Tasks
New and evolving responsibilities for this role:
- Inspect airfield conditions to ensure safety and compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
- Issue notices to advise flight crews of airfield status.
- Train operations staff on topics such as driving on airfields and security identification display area (SIDA) procedures.
Education & Training
Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (25)
Tools & Equipment (25)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Air & Space Transportation Advanced Manufacturing
Zone 3
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Zone 5
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