Airfield Operations Specialists

/ $50K-$80K, Bachelor's Degree, Career Discovery, Conventional (Organizers), Enterprising (Persuaders), Realistic (Doers)

Career Overview

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

  • Airport Operations Agent
  • Airport Operations Coordinator
  • Airport Operations Officer
  • Airport Operations Specialist

Alternate Job Titles

  • Airfield Operations Specialist
  • Airfield Services Officer
  • Airline Agent
  • Airline Dispatcher
  • Airport Agent
  • Airport Operations Agent
  • Airport Operations Coordinator
  • Airport Operations Crew Member
  • Airport Operations Officer
  • Airport Operations Specialist
  • Airport Ramp Agent
  • Airport Security Officer
  • Airport Services Supervisor
  • Airport Supervisor
  • Aviation Operations Specialist

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • 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.

Emerging Responsibilities

As this field evolves, you may also:

  • Inspect airfield conditions to ensure safety and compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
  • Issue notices to advise flight crews of airfield status.
  • Monitor and manage the operation of drones within the airport airspace to ensure safe aircraft operations.
  • Train operations staff on topics such as driving on airfields and security identification display area (SIDA) procedures.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Public Safety and Security
  • Transportation
  • English Language
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Telecommunications
  • Administration and Management

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Active Listening
  2. Monitoring
  3. Reading Comprehension
  4. Speaking
  5. Critical Thinking
  6. Coordination

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Comprehension
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Speech Clarity
  • Information Ordering
  • Near Vision
  • Written Expression

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Dependability
  • Cautiousness
  • Attention to Detail
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Self-Control

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Support
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions
  • Achievement
  • Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Experience Required: 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.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft SharePoint

Tools & Equipment

  • Airfield access control systems
  • Airfield lighting equipment
  • All terrain vehicles ATVs
  • Animal traps
  • Bucket lifts
  • Crack sealing equipment
  • Desktop computers
  • Dump trucks
  • Emergency response vehicles
  • Fire vehicles
  • Identification card printers
  • Lawn mowing tractors
  • Mobile radios
  • Multipurpose fire extinguishers
  • Paint stripping equipment

Work Environment

  • Contact With Others
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • Consequence of Error

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$35,200
Median$56,750
Top Earners (90th percentile)$111,030

Workers Employed Nationally: 16,640

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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