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Airfield Operations Specialist

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What You Need to Know About Airfield Operations Specialist

Airfield Operations Specialist Example 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 Do Airfield Operations Specialists Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.
  • Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.
  • Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.
  • Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.
  • Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.
  • Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.

Skills Needed to be an Airfield Operations Specialist

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.

Types of Airfield Operations Specialist Jobs

  • Airport Operations Coordinator
  • Flight Operations Planner
  • Flight Operations Manager
  • Airfield Manager
  • Airport Operations Crew Member

Are There Job Opportunities for Airfield Operations Specialists?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 8,900 jobs in the United States for Airfield Operations Specialist. 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.

Airfield Operations Specialist Average 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.

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 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

How to Become an Airfield Operations Specialist

What education or degrees do I need to become an Airfield Operations Specialist?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Who Employs Airfield Operations Specialists?

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Below are examples of industries where Airfield Operations Specialists work:

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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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