Airfield Operations Specialists
SOC: 53-2022.00 · Job Zone 3 (Medium preparation)
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.
AI Impact Summary
Airfield Operations Specialists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 41/100. Significant displacement is estimated between 2038 and 2046. Of 24 analyzed tasks, 13 are highly automatable, particularly in routine_cognitive. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$56,750
per year
Mean Wage
$67,120
per year
Employment
17K
workers
Wage Range
$35,200 - $111,030
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 24.9%
Skill Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (7)
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (5)
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Airfield Operations Specialists professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Persuasion
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Task Breakdown
24 tasks analyzed
Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.
Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.
Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.
Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.
Plan and coordinate airfield construction.
Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions.
Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.
Train operations staff.
Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.
Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.
Maintain flight and events logs, air crew flying records, and flight operations records of incoming and outgoing flights.
Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.
Coordinate changes to flight itineraries with appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies.
Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.
Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft.
Procure, produce, and provide information on the safe operation of aircraft, such as flight planning publications, operations publications, charts and maps, or weather information.
Receive and post weather information and flight plan data, such as air routes or arrival and departure times.
Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies.
Receive, transmit, and control message traffic.
Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments.
Conduct departure and arrival briefings.
Post visual display boards and status boards.
Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.
Check military flight plans with civilian agencies.
| Task | Category | AI Capability | Risk Score | Time % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation. | Non-Routine Analytical | 35 | 41.0 | 8% |
| Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies. | Non-Routine Manual | 0 | 9.0 | 4% |
| Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds. | Non-Routine Manual | 10 | 13.0 | 5% |
| Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 15 | 21.0 | 6% |
| Plan and coordinate airfield construction. | Non-Routine Analytical | 60 | 51.0 | 4% |
| Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 10 | 19.0 | 6% |
| Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 20 | 23.0 | 5% |
| Train operations staff. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 15 | 21.0 | 3% |
| Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning. | Routine Cognitive | 85 | 83.2 | 5% |
| Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders. | Routine Cognitive | 60 | 73.2 | 5% |
| Maintain flight and events logs, air crew flying records, and flight operations records of incoming and outgoing flights. | Routine Cognitive | 85 | 83.2 | 5% |
| Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties. | Routine Cognitive | 65 | 75.2 | 4% |
| Coordinate changes to flight itineraries with appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies. | Routine Cognitive | 65 | 75.2 | 3% |
| Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights. | Non-Routine Analytical | 65 | 53.0 | 3% |
| Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft. | Routine Cognitive | 80 | 81.2 | 8% |
| Procure, produce, and provide information on the safe operation of aircraft, such as flight planning publications, operations publications, charts and maps, or weather information. | Routine Cognitive | 85 | 83.2 | 4% |
| Receive and post weather information and flight plan data, such as air routes or arrival and departure times. | Routine Cognitive | 85 | 83.2 | 4% |
| Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies. | Routine Cognitive | 80 | 81.2 | 5% |
| Receive, transmit, and control message traffic. | Routine Cognitive | 80 | 81.2 | 4% |
| Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 35 | 29.0 | 2% |
| Conduct departure and arrival briefings. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | 20 | 23.0 | 2% |
| Post visual display boards and status boards. | Routine Cognitive | 90 | 85.2 | 2% |
| Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance. | Routine Cognitive | 80 | 81.2 | 2% |
| Check military flight plans with civilian agencies. | Routine Cognitive | 70 | 77.2 | 2% |
Community Assessment
Do you agree with this risk score?
Related Jobs
Chief Executives
11-1011.00
General and Operations Managers
11-1021.00
Advertising and Promotions Managers
11-2011.00
Marketing Managers
11-2021.00
Sales Managers
11-2022.00
Computer and Information Systems Managers
11-3021.00
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.