All careers

Airfield Operations Specialists

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

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.

What you’d do

  • 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.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Coordination
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Airport Operations Agent
  • Airport Operations Coordinator
  • Airport Operations Officer
  • Airport Operations Specialist
  • Airfield Operations Specialist
  • Flight Follower

Related careers

See all careers

  • Air Traffic Controllers

    Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Supervise and coordinate the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants

    Supervise and coordinate activities of passenger attendants.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Commercial Pilots

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo.

    Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree

  • Aviation Inspectors

    Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree