Airfield Operations Specialists

Also called: Airfield Services Officer, Airline Dispatcher, Airport Operations Coordinator, Airport Operations Crew Member, Airport Operations Officer

Airfield Operations Specialists

Varies

estimated salary

Airfield operations specialists 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.

  • Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.
  • Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.
  • Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.
  • Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.
  • Plan and coordinate airfield construction.
  • Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions.
  • Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.
  • Train operations staff.
  • Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft.
  • Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.
  • Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.
  • Maintain flight and events logs, air crew flying records, and flight operations records of incoming and outgoing flights.
  • Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.
  • Coordinate changes to flight itineraries with appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies.
  • Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.
  • Procure, produce, and provide information on the safe operation of aircraft, such as flight planning publications, operations publications, charts and maps, or weather information.
  • Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies.
  • Receive and post weather information and flight plan data, such as air routes or arrival and departure times.
  • Receive, transmit, and control message traffic.
  • Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments.
  • Conduct departure and arrival briefings.
  • Post visual display boards and status boards.
  • Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.
  • Check military flight plans with civilian agencies.
Work Context

Work Context information for this career will be available soon.

Work Activities
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Plan flight operations.
  • Plan work operations.
  • Coordinate flight control or management activities.
  • Monitor vehicle movement or location.
  • Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
  • Train transportation or material moving personnel.
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Knowledge

Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop Hot Technology
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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