Airport operations management

H

hvactech

New Member
Does anybody here work or know someone who works in airport management field? I'm trying to get my foot in the door at our local airport as a skilled maintenance technician ( had interview yesterday). Of course it will be a pay cut from what I do now, but at least I think it would be a good opportunity to gain some airport experience and hopefully advance, since most organization like to promote from within. All the jobs I see posted on the AAAE website require 3 to 5 years of progressive leadership experience at an airport. Any thoughts?
 
I've been out of airport ops for sometime now, however, I would say familiarize yourself with TSR Parts 1540, 1542, 1544. Also, Part 139. Like you said, you want to get your foot in the door. Once you're in, DON"T GET OUT. The airport ops community is a small knit community, believe it or not, just like the flying community. But, once you're in, the world is your oyster.



atp
 
I wish I knew that answer! I have a B.S. in Aviation Management (Magna Cum Laude) and have filled out almost 200 applications since I graduated; I'm yet to even get an interview. I also did a 600 hour internship as part of my degree in a flight ops. department and when it was over all I got from it was a letter of recommendation.

Hopefully something breaks soon, but if not it looks like I will be working a minimum wage job with $60,000 in college debt....

Good luck to you and your career endeavors!
 
EMUtoATC said:
I wish I knew that answer! I have a B.S. in Aviation Management (Magna Cum Laude) and have filled out almost 200 applications since I graduated; I'm yet to even get an interview. I also did a 600 hour internship as part of my degree in a flight ops. department and when it was over all I got from it was a letter of recommendation.

Hopefully something breaks soon, but if not it looks like I will be working a minimum wage job with $60,000 in college debt....

Good luck to you and your career endeavors!
Click to expand...


I'm assuming these are entry-level positions you're applying for. Correct?

Not sure what sources you're using, but when I was applying I used aaae.org and airports.com. With the latter, I would identify the airport and click on Job Opportunites or if I was re-directed to the city's website that the airport was located in, I would click on Employment Opportunities and go from there. Also check to see if you've got alumni working in key positions.

With credentials like yours, you shouldn't be out of work much longer. Good luck. All the best.



atp





atp
 
atpwannabe said:
I'm assuming these are entry-level positions you're applying for. Correct?

Not sure what sources you're using, but when I was applying I used aaae.org and airports.com. With the latter, I would identify the airport and click on Job Opportunites or if I was re-directed to the city's website that the airport was located in, I would click on Employment Opportunities and go from there. Also check to see if you've got alumni working in key positions.

With credentials like yours, you shouldn't be out of work much longer. Good luck. All the best.


atp





atp
Click to expand...

Yes they have been all entry level; but it even seems for those they are looking for at least a few years experience. I have looked a bit into both websites. Looks like I should check them out further. Mostly I have been using jsfirm.com, with no luck. Thanks for the information though, I truly appreciate it!

And the job hunt continues.....
 
Like anything in aviation - be prepared to move.


Also consider some of the following,

1. Read up/understand FAR 139
2. Get involved with your local Airport Support Network if one is available
3. Start attending your city/county meetings - especially if airport(s) is/(are) on the agenda
4. Start networking.

I know the Anderson IN airport is looking for a manager and that is a few hours down the road from DTW
 
Really? Looks like I'll be making some calls :) Thanks for the help! And I hear ya on the networking. I'm good friends with the Ops. Manager at DTW and he was like "I would not hesitate to hire you if I hadn't just cut 3 people." Him and severaly people have told me like things actually. But like everything, it seems it's more of "who" you know, and not necessarily what you know.
 
Man, I posted this thread back in August...nice to see some activity! What I've done since then was become a member of the NWAAE chapter. Networking is probably the key to get your foot in the door. I've considered signing up for the AAAE CM program. Not sure what else I could do at this point, other than keep applying for positions that are not to far from where I live...I do have family. I have BS in Aviation Management too, so I'm trying to leverage that before I move onto something else.
 
Take a job with the FAA and get experience working on program funding, then leave at 7 - 10 years vested in the federal retirement system. You'll be the candidate every airport board wants, because you'll be viewed as connected to federal allocation programs. If you see the movie Jerry Maguire, you'll understand.

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ahr/jobs_careers/occupations/other_occs/

Try entering the www.usajobs.gov system to search for openings and requirements. With a four year degree in hand you could qualify for a GS-6 or possibly higher pay step.
 
I have used usajobs.gov quite often and have filled out somewhere around 50 jobs through the site. Regarding jobs in the FAA, all the ones I find are either like navaid/approach maintenance which is not what I'm looking for, or you need a Master's because they are around GS-7/9 positions.

Thank you for your insight though!
 
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