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Airfield Operations Specialist

All About Airfield Operations Specialists

Job 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.

List of Airfield Operations Specialist Job Duties

  • Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.
  • Post visual display boards and status boards.
  • Conduct departure and arrival briefings.
  • Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies.
  • Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments.
  • Train operations staff.

Things an Airfield Operations Specialist Should Know How to Do

These are the skills Airfield Operations Specialists say are the most useful in their careers:

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.

Other Airfield Operations Specialist Job Titles

  • Operations Agent
  • Operations Coordinator
  • Airport Operations Coordinator
  • Airport Operations Officer
  • Airport Operations Crew Member

Job Demand 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. The BLS estimates 900 yearly job openings in this field.

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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.

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Airfield Operations Specialists who work in Arizona, Nevada, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.

How much do Airfield Operations Specialists make in each U.S. state?

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?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Airfield Operations Specialists may use on a daily basis:

  • 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

What education is needed to be an Airfield Operations Specialist?

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What work experience do I need to become an Airfield Operations Specialist?

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those who work as an Airfield Operations Specialist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol via U.S. Air Force photo

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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