Airside Operator

Airside operators are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the airfield team, and spend much of their working day or night out on the airfield patrolling, inspecting and then addressing situations to ensure that the flow of arriving and departing aircraft are on schedule. Although every airport is slightly different, the role covers a multitude of tasks including area inspections; patrolling the perimeter fence around the airport; monitoring bird activity and clearing wildlife using specialist vehicles and equipment; monitoring aircraft turnarounds and marshalling. The airside operator works in a high risk, safety critical environment requiring excellent communication, prioritising, effective decision making, problem solving and technical skills. The role requires a keen sense of situational awareness and the need to work safely to minimise incidents and accidents.

Skills

Apply the correct procedures and guidelines to enable the aircraft to operate safely around the airfield
Inspect and patrol the manoeuvring area, runway, apron area and roads, to ensure they are fit for purpose, raising and following through faults and issues
Maintain a record of airfield serviceability and direct and control airfield maintenance
Operate a vehicle airside and provide leader service to aircraft, emergencies, and contractors / airfield users
Monitor and control bird activity and wildlife to prevent disruption on the airfield
Monitor the weather and carry out specialist duties airside to ensure operational safety is maintained in low visibility and adverse weather condition
Monitor airfield condition and operations
Carry out general safety patrols and enforcement action across the airfield
Actively use techniques that support business performance and meet objectives
Actively use techniques to operate safely, securely and efficiently, minimising accidents, incidents and near misses
Support team members to ensure the operation is delivered safely, on time and as agreed
Work consistently to accomplish the best result, challenging personal methods of working and seeking methods for improvements
Comply with legal requirements to minimise risk and inspire customer confidence; minimising disruption to the operation and maintaining the safety and security of people at all times
Take action to minimise the effect of work activities on the environment
Identify and isolate matters of concern, establish the cause and intervene accordingly to minimise disruption to the operation and risk to people
Use effective methods of communication and operate in a fair and empathic manner that achieves the desired result
Pass on knowledge and experience of operations and procedures to new recruits and colleagues
Motivate and inspire others to perform their role to the best of their ability in line with the business
Respond to customers according to their needs in line with business standards, enhancing their experience where appropriate

Knowledge

Understand aircraft characteristics and their performance, the features of aircraft and the basic principles of flight, and how to identify the type of aircraft arriving and departing from the airport.
Know how to recognise hazards and deal with spillages, foreign objects and other risks to safety and security airside.
Know the characteristics of airfield surfaces, systems, lighting and equipment; the procedures for measuring and testing airfield serviceability and standards and how to action required maintenance.
Recognise and understand the implications of road signs, markings and traffic lights; the airside speed limits, safety instructions and the regulations governing driving a vehicle airside.
Know how to recognise birds most commonly found in aerodromes and their behaviour, migration and roosting patterns and what actions to take to move birds and other wildlife away from the airfield.
Know how to recognise significant changes in the weather and understand how to interpret and record meteorological, pilot, routine and special report.
Know the business and civil licensing and inspection procedures and understand standard safety and working practices in relation to airfield operations.
Know and understand the local and organisational procedures and safety rules and how they impact on operational duties.
Understand how to achieve the business vision and objectives by taking ownership of own area of work.
Understand how operating safely, securely and efficiently with a drive to minimise disruptions to the operation impacts on the financial health of the business.
Know how to support and influence the team positively and recognise how all staff and teams are dependent on each other to meet Business objectives.
Understand how personal performance impacts on safe, secure and effective operations
Know how to work according to aviation and environmental regulations and local bye-laws and understand how to protect peoples’ health, safety and security
Understand how work activities impact on the environment
Know how to identify, plan for and minimise risks to the operation
Know how to identify and respond to individuals’ needs in different situations and communicate with customers and colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures
Know how to communicate knowledge and experience of procedures to the team
Know how to take responsibility for own role within operation, and understand how own role contributes to the team and how the team output impacts on the wider organisation
Identify the customer profile of the business, understand the business growth strategy and its competitors

Behaviours

Be adept at handling multiple tasks in a calm and organised manner
Use initiative and make sound judgements on available information
Be constantly vigilant and demonstrate a keen sense of situational awareness
Make effective and timely decisions when problems arise to keep people safe and operations flowing smoothly
Use equipment and technology responsibly and effectively
Be committed to using safe working practices and promoting a safe, open and honest working environment
Demonstrate personal drive to achieve the business vision and objectives
Be financially astute in work activities and act credibly on all matters that affect business finance
Encourage team to take a pride in their role through a consistently positive and professional approach
Use a flexible and adaptable approach in a highly-paced, changing environment
Advocate the importance of working safely and legally in the best interest of all people
Make responsible decisions to minimise the effect of work activities on the environment
Be solution focussed and remain calm under pressure, adopting a constructive attitude to dealing with problems and driving a positive outcome
Actively listen and empathise with other people’s point of view, respond politely and promote a fair, non-discriminatory and equal working environment
Support and encourage team members to develop and enhance skills to achieve the best result for customers and the business
Visibly and authentically live the brand, culture and values of the business
Actively seek feedback to improve own interaction with customers, and encourage others to do the same

Duration

12 months. The apprenticeship may be spread over a longer period to allow for seasonal business operations

Professional Qualifications / Recognition

This standard is set at Level 2.

Individuals that successfully achieve the airside operators’ apprenticeship standard will be well placed to progress to a supervisory position / apprenticeship. This standard is set at level 2. The apprenticeship standard for airside operators is supported by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Originally published on Gov.uk, this information has been re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence.