Airport Management/Operations/Planning interview questions

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ktsai91

Well-Known Member
I recently met with two airport managers I know for a while to discuss my career goals for a career in airport management, operations, or planning.

They asked me not only a series of the standard interview questions but also some aviation and airport specific questions that they use in an interview for an airport position. I was able to answer most of those aviation/airport-specific type questions correctly.

Has anyone ever done a job interview for a position in an airport management? If so, did they ask you very specific questions geared towards a position in airport management (components of an ILS, color of runway and taxiway lights, color of runway and taxiway markings, etc.)? If so, what are the airport-specific questions they ask you in the interview, other than what I just listed as examples?

Also just a side question: Would having a degree in aviation management or administration give me an edge in an interview for an airport management position since I took several aviation courses in college and are able to answer those specific questions correctly? Or do you think anyone with a non-aviation degree are able to still answer those aviation questions correctly and still have an edge in the interview?
 
I have worked in airport operations for a number of years. Both on the civil and military side. A suggestion is to complete the AAAE's Airport Certified Employee (ACE) operations course.
Topics that come to mind are FAR 139 if you will be working at an air carrier airport.
It definitely helps to know all airport markings and signage.
It also helps to know the A/C -150 series.
FAR Part 77, objects affecting navigable airspace.
Also Part 1542 TSA and airport security regulations.

Talking to various people in the airport management industry, having a degree is almost like that for a pilot do you have one yes or no? The big ticket items are the AAAE certifications.

Hope some of this information helps.
 
Thanks for the reply Hawks. Very helpful. Yes I do have a bachelors degree in aviation administration and an associates degree in business administration. When I was getting my bachelors degree in college, I took some courses relating to airport management. One of my aviation professors and also the two airport managers I know recommended me getting the C.M. accreditation from AAAE. And I was president for my college's AAAE student chapter for one year.

One last question. I worked at an air cargo handling facility last summer and again currently after I recently graduated from college last month. I hope to switch into airport management, ops, or planning some day. My question is can I still be hired to work in the airport management industry, even though I have some work experience in working at an air cargo facility? While I believe air cargo and airport management are in the same field of aviation, are they different enough that they are not related to each other? I am pretty sure that a hiring manager who works in airport management would want a person who has work experience in airport ops, planning, or another related field in airport management, not someone who works at an air cargo facility. Is that true?
 
ktsai91 said:
Thanks for the reply Hawks. Very helpful. Yes I do have a bachelors degree in aviation administration and an associates degree in business administration. When I was getting my bachelors degree in college, I took some courses relating to airport management. One of my aviation professors and also the two airport managers I know recommended me getting the C.M. accreditation from AAAE. And I was president for my college's AAAE student chapter for one year.

One last question. I worked at an air cargo handling facility last summer and again currently after I recently graduated from college last month. I hope to switch into airport management, ops, or planning some day. My question is can I still be hired to work in the airport management industry, even though I have some work experience in working at an air cargo facility? While I believe air cargo and airport management are in the same field of aviation, are they different enough that they are not related to each other? I am pretty sure that a hiring manager who works in airport management would want a person who has work experience in airport ops, planning, or another related field in airport management, not someone who works at an air cargo facility. Is that true?
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I am running around with my head cut off at the moment and will reply with an answer to you question.
 
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