Transport and logistics
Aviation operations manager - Aircraft Handling Manager
Managing the environment, facilities and services at airports, military bases, heliports and other airfields - including the safe arrival, turnaround and departure of aircraft.
Summary
An aviation operations manager has accountability for compliance, safety and security within their area, must effectively plan and manage the use of resources and ensure compliance with processes and procedures. They may manage an aviation operation in a variety of contexts, such as a commercial airport, military base / aerodrome, heliport or other airfield. Specialist roles, all focussed around the management of aircraft arrival, turnaround and departure, as well as the environment and facilities, require knowledge, skills and behaviours to complete complex aviation tasks and management of others to enable compliance with regulations through a safe, secure and effective aviation operation. Effective communication and decision making across all levels of the organisation and with stakeholders across the aviation operation are essential. Aviation operations management comprises six distinct managerial areas within an aviation environment. The aviation operations manager will complete ALL core knowledge, skills and behaviours, along with ONE of the six specialist functions, all of which interlink to form the overall operation.
Typical job titles include
- Air Traffic Control (ATC) manager | Aircraft handling manager | Aircraft movement manager | Fire service watch manager | Flight operations manager | Passenger operations manager
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Health and safety legislation in aviation relevant to the organisation and own role
K2:
How to manage aviation security and what action to take in the event of a breach of security
K3:
How to manage and comply with aviation procedures and regulations to meet legislative and organisational requirements within own area of responsibility
K4:
How to manage communications with users, staff and external agencies, selecting appropriate methods and language
K5:
How to identify and procure sufficient, suitable resources (e.g. finance, staff, equipment, supplies) within the organisation in line with budgetary and organisational requirements
K6:
Understand fully the importance of cohesive airside
K7:
operations and how each specialist function links with each other, as well as agencies, contractors and visitors to ensure compliance with procedures and adherence to requirements
K8:
The agreed levels of performance and standard operating procedures within own area of responsibility
K9:
How to manage staff and resources to ensure compliance with procedures to mitigate disruption, incidents and emergencies in area of responsibility
K10:
The rights and responsibilities of staff and the organisation’s systems and procedures for ensuring effective management of staff e.g. recruitment, performance reviews, learning and development, discipline, grievance, industrial relations
K11:
The maximum utilisation of available payload, the importance of correct ZFW calculation and constitution, the fundamentals of correct aircraft weight and balance, procedures and processes to plan effectively the necessary resources to ensure sufficient unit load device (ULD) availability and the requirements for and importance of all documentation systems/processes related to aircraft handling operations
K12:
All facets of ramp operation and management, including the wider organisation’s links to and reliance upon the aircraft handling department
K13:
The procedures and processes for the safe movement of aircraft within own area of responsibility, including how to schedule and handle aircraft to maintain flow and meet required operational standards of performance
K14:
The procedures and processes to ensure adequate and necessary resources (team members, vehicles and ACHE), to ensure sufficiently serviceable airside handling aids are available, and that baggage handling and air cargo facilities are operational for in-bound, transfer, out-bound and make- up, including those provided via a third party if applicable
Technical Educational Products
- ST0039: Aviation operations manager - Aircraft Handling Manager (Level 4) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0039A
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £27,642 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8233 Air transport operatives
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 8233/99 Air transport operatives n.e.c.
S1:
Manage safety within area of responsibility, ensuring staff are compliant with safety requirements in aviation environments
S2:
Manage aviation security in own area of operations ensuring team members follow organisational procedures and ensure accurate reporting and recording of information
S3:
Manage compliance with legislation, aviation procedures and regulations within own area of responsibility
S4:
Manage communication with users, staff and external agencies, selecting appropriate methods and language in aviation operations
S5:
Manage resources effectively to ensure the efficient running of department in line with organisational procedures
S6:
Manage their own area of responsibility to meet the needs of the wider organisation, ensuring the needs of the site, customers, visitors and service users are met in adherence to business operational procedures and requirements
S7:
Manage team and facilities to deliver results according to agreed levels of performance whilst ensuring standard operating procedures are adhered to
S8:
Manage staff and resources to ensure compliance with procedures and actions to minimise the impact on aviation operations in the event of disruption, incidents or emergencies
S9:
Effectively manage all aspects of own staff’s performance e.g. recruitment, performance reviews, learning and development, discipline, grievance, industrial relations
S10:
Manage, within own remit, maximum payload utilisation in line with organisation’s commercial targets, adherence to ZFW, weight and balance in accordance with specific aircraft requirements and the use and maintenance of specialised equipment, including ULDs, in accordance with organisation’s policies and procedures, regulatory requirements and completion of correct documentation
S11:
Manage effective ramp operation, including arrival, turnaround and departure, for the organisation, ensuring relevant communication with all other airport stakeholders and government agencies to ensure the effectiveness of the whole aviation operation
S12:
Ensure safe movement of aircraft, including effective scheduling and aircraft flow management, in line with stakeholders’ operational targets
S13:
Plan and manage the required amount of specialist team members, vehicles and handling aids airside, to meet current and future tasking and ensure systems and procedures for air cargo and baggage handling are completed to standard within own remit and area of responsibility
Technical Educational Products
- ST0039: Aviation operations manager - Aircraft Handling Manager (Level 4) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0039A
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £27,642 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8233 Air transport operatives
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 8233/99 Air transport operatives n.e.c.
B1:
Promote and instil the values of the organisation to all colleagues
B2:
Promote a respectful culture embracing diversity and inclusion
B3:
Encourage empowerment, ownership and responsibility within team
B4:
Encourage integrity and accountability within team, leading by example
B5:
Seek and provide feedback to manage continuous development of self, team and processes
B6:
Be technologically astute and keep abreast of industry developments and innovations
B7:
Be vigilant and proactive in embedding a safe, secure and compliant working culture
Technical Educational Products
- ST0039: Aviation operations manager - Aircraft Handling Manager (Level 4) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0039A
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £27,642 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8233 Air transport operatives
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 8233/99 Air transport operatives n.e.c.
