Find Trade Colleges
What You Need to Know About Airfield Operations Specialist
Occupation Description 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.
Life As an Airfield Operations Specialist
- Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.
- Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.
- Train operations staff.
- Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.
- Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments.
- Coordinate changes to flight itineraries with appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies.
Featured schools near , edit
What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Airfield Operations Specialist?
Airfield Operations Specialists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Types of Airfield Operations Specialist Jobs
- Operations Superintendent
- Operations Agent
- Flight Operation Coordinator
- Airport Operations Crew Member
- Operations Specialist
Job Outlook for Airfield Operations Specialists
In the United States, there were 8,900 jobs for Airfield Operations Specialist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 800 new jobs for Airfield Operations Specialist by 2026. There will be an estimated 900 positions for Airfield Operations Specialist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Airfield Operations Specialist are Nevada, Utah, and Iowa. Watch out if you plan on working in Nebraska, Minnesota, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Airfield Operations Specialists Salary
The average yearly salary of an Airfield Operations Specialist ranges between $27,760 and $91,730.
Airfield Operations Specialists who work in Arizona, Nevada, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Airfield Operations Specialists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $56,490 |
| Alaska | $71,290 |
| Arizona | $75,610 |
| California | $58,300 |
| Colorado | $60,190 |
| Connecticut | $58,870 |
| Florida | $53,920 |
| Georgia | $56,620 |
| Hawaii | $50,490 |
| Indiana | $46,880 |
| Iowa | $50,570 |
| Kansas | $45,630 |
| Kentucky | $52,480 |
| Louisiana | $54,460 |
| Massachusetts | $53,970 |
| Michigan | $53,660 |
| Minnesota | $57,040 |
| Missouri | $39,120 |
| Montana | $44,530 |
| Nebraska | $49,150 |
| Nevada | $80,320 |
| New Jersey | $68,270 |
| New Mexico | $56,350 |
| New York | $58,630 |
| North Carolina | $37,070 |
| Ohio | $41,360 |
| Oklahoma | $45,750 |
| Oregon | $50,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,280 |
| South Carolina | $42,260 |
| Tennessee | $39,790 |
| Texas | $62,920 |
| Utah | $48,910 |
| Washington | $66,660 |
| Wisconsin | $38,320 |
What Tools & Technology do Airfield Operations Specialists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Airfield Operations Specialists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Linux
- FileMaker Pro
- Extensible markup language XML
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle software
- Microsoft operating system
- Apache Webserver
Becoming an Airfield Operations Specialist
Individuals working as an Airfield Operations Specialist have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Airfield Operations Specialists Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Career changers with experience as an Airfield Operations Specialist sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol via U.S. Air Force photo
More about our data sources and methodologies.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.