Occupation · SOC 53-2022
Airfield Operations Specialists
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.
Median wage
$56,750
$35,200–$111,030
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
16,640
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
18 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningMonitoringSpeakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingWriting
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityTransportationEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Graphics or photo imaging softwareData base user interface and query softwareApplication server softwareExpert system softwareEnterprise application integration software
Representative 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.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.Plan and coordinate airfield construction.Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft.Train operations staff.Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies.Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.Receive, transmit, and control message traffic.Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.Procure, produce, and provide information on the safe operation of aircraft, such as flight planning publications, operations publications, charts and maps, or weather information.Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.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.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Airfield inspection checklists — complete under direct supervision to verify basic compliance with federal regulatory requirements on an active airfield.Safety procedures and posted protocols — follow and apply under guidance to maintain a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft.Airport perimeter and property access points — inspect alongside a senior specialist to identify unauthorized access or security breaches.Emergency response roles — assist assigned personnel during aircraft or medical emergencies following established response procedures.Snow removal coordination tasks — support senior staff in initiating runway and taxiway clearing operations during winter weather events.Wildlife hazard observations — report sightings and assist with basic deterrent measures on and around airport grounds under supervision.Radio communication equipment — operate using standard phraseology to relay routine messages between air traffic control and maintenance crews.Airfield operations databases — enter and retrieve basic data using provided software tools under the direction of experienced staff.Federal Aviation Administration regulations — read and reference to understand minimum compliance standards applicable to daily airfield duties.Incident observation reports — draft in clear written language following organizational templates after routine airfield inspections.
developing
Airfield condition inspections — conduct independently and document findings to confirm ongoing compliance with FAA regulatory requirements.Safety procedure implementation — apply and adjust standard protocols in familiar non-routine situations to protect personnel and aircraft operations.Controlled access inspections — perform perimeter and property surveys routinely, identifying and resolving access control discrepancies without close oversight.Emergency coordination support — execute assigned tasks during aircraft and medical emergencies with reduced supervision, communicating clearly with responding units.Snow removal operations — coordinate airfield-wide clearing activities across runways and taxiways, sequencing equipment and crews for efficient execution.Wildlife management programs — conduct hazing and deterrent activities using established techniques, logging encounters in the airfield wildlife database.Air traffic control and maintenance communications — facilitate coordination independently, ensuring accurate and timely information flow between both parties.Mobile airfield management functions — perform mobile inspection and oversight duties across the airfield, adapting to changing operational demands.Spreadsheet and office suite software — use to analyze airfield operational data, generate reports, and track recurring compliance metrics.Critical incidents and near-miss events — apply deductive reasoning to identify contributing factors and recommend corrective actions to supervisors.
proficient
Comprehensive airfield compliance assessments — execute autonomously across all inspection categories, resolving non-routine regulatory findings with appropriate corrective action.Airfield safety environment — manage the full scope of safety procedures, anticipating risk factors and adapting protocols to dynamic operational conditions.Perimeter security systems and access controls — evaluate effectiveness across the entire airport property and lead corrective responses to identified vulnerabilities.Multi-agency emergency response — direct airfield-side coordination during complex aircraft and medical emergencies, integrating communications among ATC, fire, and medical units.Seasonal operational planning — develop and supervise snow removal plans, pre-positioning resources and establishing contingency sequences for major weather events.Wildlife hazard management program — assess habitat and attractant conditions airport-wide, implementing adaptive management strategies to reduce wildlife strike risk.Telecommunications and coordination systems — troubleshoot and optimize communication workflows between air traffic control and maintenance to sustain operational continuity.Airfield management operations — oversee and supervise all airfield management activities including mobile functions, ensuring regulatory standards are met across every shift.Complex problem analysis — apply systems analysis skills to identify interdependent operational failures and develop solutions that restore safe airfield conditions.Operational documentation and reporting — produce high-quality written reports, logs, and compliance records that meet regulatory and organizational standards without revision.
advanced
Airfield operations strategy — set directional standards for compliance, safety, and efficiency programs that govern all airfield operations across the organization.Regulatory compliance framework — lead the development and continuous improvement of airfield inspection and safety procedures aligned with FAA and federal mandates.Organizational safety culture — champion and model dependability, cautiousness, and integrity, embedding these values into team norms and performance expectations.Emergency preparedness programs — design and oversee airport-wide emergency response plans, conducting exercises that integrate ATC, security, maintenance, and medical functions.Wildlife hazard management policy — establish organization-level wildlife management programs, coordinating with federal wildlife agencies to achieve long-term risk reduction.Workforce development and instruction — design training curricula and mentorship pathways that advance airfield operations specialists from emerging to proficient skill levels.Technology and systems integration — lead evaluation and adoption of enterprise application and expert system software to enhance airfield management capabilities organization-wide.Interagency and stakeholder coordination — represent the organization in relationships with FAA, TSA, local government, and airline partners to align operational and regulatory priorities.Performance metrics and systems evaluation — establish key indicators and evaluation methods that measure airfield operational effectiveness and drive data-informed continuous improvement.Administrative and resource management — oversee budget, staffing, scheduling, and policy administration for the airfield operations function, optimizing resource allocation across all operating conditions.
Also known as
847 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Battle Management Operations Apprentice (Air Force 1C531)Airborne Mission Systems Specialist Apprentice, HC-130P/N (Air Force 1A331G)Bomber Combat Systems Officer, Other (Air Force 12B4Z)Mobility Force Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, C-17 Loadmaster (Air Force 1A192C)Bomber Combat Systems Officer, B-52 EWO (Air Force 12B3D)Mobility Force Aviator, KC-135 Boom Operator (Air Force 1A1X2H)Experimental Test Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot, Reconnaissance (Air Force 18E3B)Executive Mission Aviator Journeyman (Air Force 1A158)Special Mission Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, MH-139 Flight Engineer (Air Force 1A193G)Air Operations Officer, Afloat (Navy 8620)Trainer Combat Systems Officer, Instructor, Undergraduate CSO Training (Air Force 12K4D)Mobility Force Aviator Helper, KC-135 Boom Operator (Air Force 1A112H)Mobility Force Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, EC-130H Flight Engineer (Air Force 1A192O)Mobility Combat Systems Officer, Airlift, General (Air Force 12M1S)Reconnaissance/Surveillance/Electronic Warfare Combat Systems Officer, Other (Air Force 12R3Z)Reconnaissance/Surveillance/Electronic Warfare Combat Systems Officer, EC-130 (Air Force 12R4D)Mobility Combat Systems Officer, Intra-Theater Airlift, General (Air Force 12M3W)Mobility Force Aviator Helper, C-17 Loadmaster (Air Force 1A112C)Flight Operations PlannerMobility Combat Systems Officer, Other (Air Force 12M1Z)Aviation Resource Management Superintendent (Air Force 1C092)Fighter Combat Systems Officer, General (Air Force 12F4Y)Mobility Force Aviator Journeyman, Data Mask Mobility Force Aviator (Air Force 1A152Z)Rescue Combat Systems Officer, HC-130 (Air Force 12H4P)Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer (Air Force 12EX)Special Operations Combat Systems Officer, MC-130J (Air Force 12S1P)Executive Mission Aviator Senior Enlisted Leader, E-4 Flight Attendant (Air Force 1A198H)Special Warfare, Combat Rescue Officer (Air Force 19Z3C)Special Operations Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot, MQ-1 (Air Force 18S4A)Naval Aircrewman (Tactical Helicopter) (Navy AWR)Airport Operations CoordinatorTrainer Combat Systems Officer, General (Air Force 12K1Y)Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer, EWO, General (Air Force 12E1W)Rescue Combat Systems Officer, HC-130 (Air Force 12H1P)Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Technician (Army 150U)Mobility Combat Systems Officer, Inter-Theater Airlift, General (Air Force 12M4V)Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer, Other (Air Force 12E1Z)Executive Mission Aviator Craftsman, E-4 Flight Attendant (Air Force 1A178H)Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), MQ-9 (Air Force 12U1B)Mobility Combat Systems Officer, General (Air Force 12M3Y)