Occupations/53-2022.00
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
36%
More resilient
Human characteristics
78%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
73%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.
- Mostly routine
Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
- Mostly routine
Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.
- 02Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.
- 03Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields.
- 04Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.
- 05Initiate or conduct airport-wide coordination of snow removal on runways and taxiways.
- 06Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.45
- Degree of automation2.61
- Time sitting3.06
- Originality (ability)2.88
- Conflict situations3.62
- Hands-on objects/tools3.41
- Outdoors / weather4.21
- Disease exposure1.60
- Decision freedom4.79
Top abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.12
- Deductive Reasoning4.12
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Speech Clarity3.75
- Inductive Reasoning3.75
- Written Expression3.62
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.75
- Active Listening4.00
- Writing3.38
- Speaking3.75
- Mathematics2.12
- Science1.62
- Critical Thinking3.75
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies3.00
- Monitoring4.00
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 13 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $55,061 2 yr $51,106 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $10,900 | 96% | 68% | 1 yr $51,035 2 yr $43,368 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $47,494 2 yr $41,789 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $46,478 2 yr $41,937 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $2,900 | 100% | 41% | 1 yr $42,774 2 yr — Associate · CIP 49.01 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $41,342 2 yr $46,869 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $5,900 | 100% | 28% | 1 yr — 2 yr $40,368 Associate · CIP 49.01 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $12,000 | 90% | 69% | 1 yr $40,017 2 yr $38,072 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 49.01 |
South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $9,600 | 99% | 66% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Air Traffic Controller 49.0105 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |