Airfield Operations Specialists

Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
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.

Education

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

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.

Examples

These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.

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.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $28K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $35K
Median Salary: $51K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $74K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $98K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
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.

Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.

Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields.

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.

Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.

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.

Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.

Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.

Train operations staff.

Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.

Receive, transmit, and control message traffic.

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.

Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.

Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.

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.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Accounting software
Intuit QuickBooks
Application server software
Apache Webserver
Calendar and scheduling software
Operations scheduling software
Data base user interface and query software
Oracle software
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise application integration software
Extensible markup language XML
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
SAP
Expert system software
Decision Support Technologies Propworks
Graphics or photo imaging software
Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software
Internet Protocol Television Systems
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software
Microsoft SharePoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Communications Devices and Accessories
Mobile radios
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Explosive materials
Pyrotechnic pistols
Fire protection
Multipurpose fire extinguishers
Fishing and hunting equipment
Shotguns
Hand tools
Paint stripping equipment
Heavy construction machinery and equipment
Crack sealing equipment
Lighting Fixtures and Accessories
Airfield lighting equipment
Material handling machinery and equipment
Wheeled forklifts
Motor vehicles
Fire vehicles
Personal safety and protection
Protective glasses
Pest control products
Animal traps
Security surveillance and detection
Security alarm systems
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Public Safety and Security
89%
Importance

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.

Transportation
85%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

English Language
84%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service
81%
Importance

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.

Education and Training
75%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Telecommunications
73%
Importance

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Administration and Management
72%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Clerical
68%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Law and Government
68%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Computers and Electronics
66%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
80%
Importance

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.

Monitoring
80%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Coordination
75%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking
75%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension
75%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking
75%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Complex Problem Solving
68%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Writing
68%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning
65%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Instructing
65%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Top 10 Abilities
Deductive Reasoning
83%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Problem Sensitivity
83%
Importance

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.

Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Written Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Inductive Reasoning
75%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Speech Clarity
75%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Far Vision
73%
Importance

The ability to see details at a distance.

Information Ordering
73%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Near Vision
73%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Top 10 Work Activities
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
95%
Importance

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
94%
Importance

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
92%
Importance

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
89%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
88%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Documenting/Recording Information
87%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Getting Information
87%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
86%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
86%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
85%
Importance

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Detailed Work Activities

Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards.

Inspect facilities.

Plan flight operations.

Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.

Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security or safety regulations.

Assist others during emergencies.

Remove snow.

Confer with coworkers to coordinate maintenance or cleaning activities.

Coordinate operational activities.

Maintain facilities.

Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.

Coordinate flight control or management activities.

Plan work operations.

Monitor vehicle movement or location.

Train transportation or material moving personnel.

Pilot aircraft.

Record operational details of travel.

Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.

Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.

Work Context
Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Consequence of Error

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?

Structured versus Unstructured Work

To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Education
Majors
Major
Air Transportation
Interests
Conventional
72%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Enterprising
72%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Investigative
53%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic
53%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Social
34%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Artistic
15%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Top 10 Work Styles
Dependability
90%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail
88%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Integrity
88%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Stress Tolerance
85%
Importance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility
80%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Cooperation
80%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Independence
78%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Leadership
78%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Initiative
76%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Achievement/Effort
75%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Work Values
Support
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Working Conditions
60%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Achievement
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Relationships
53%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.