Transport & Logistics
Aviation Manager
Aviation managers oversee the day-to-day operations of airlines, airports, or other aviation businesses.
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Entry-level education
Bachelor’s degree
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Job outlook
What does an Aviation Manager do?
Aviation managers oversee the day-to-day operations of airlines, airports, or other aviation businesses.
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Work activities
As an aviation manager, you might:
- oversee compliance with state and federal aviation rules and regulations
- ensure that an airport or its departments run efficiently and safely
- plan flight schedules
- hire and manage airport or departmental staff
- review aircraft accident reports and address the problems related to airport or airline operations
- deal with the operational aspects of emergencies that might arise at airports or with aircraft
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develop and maintain relationships with regulators, government bodies, and other airline industry representatives.
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Key skills and interests
To become an aviation manager, you would need:
- knowledge of all state and federal requirements pertaining to airport and airline operations
- strong adherence to health and safety rules and regulations
- good communication skills
- finance and budgeting skills
- decisiveness in decision-making
- critical thinking ability
- time management skills
- the ability to react calmly under pressure.
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Working hours and conditions
Working Hours
As airports, airlines and other aviation businesses are often 24/7 operations, you are likely to work on a shift system, including evenings, weekends and public holidays. In emergencies. you may be required to work or be on call, for long periods of time.
Conditions
You would usually work in an office at an airport and would spend time inside airport terminal buildings, hangars and warehouses. You may also spend some time outdoors in all weathers.
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How to become an Aviation Manager?
Entry Level Education
To become an aviation manager, you would need to obtain a degree in aviation administration, aviation management, public administration, business administration, finance or a related field. English, mathematics and physics would be appropriate subjects to study prior to university.
The Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme (AMPAP) is an initiative by a partnership between the Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
AMPAP is universally available to airport executives. Successful completion provides the International Airport Professional (IAP) post-nominal designation. IAP candidates must successfully complete four mandatory courses and two elective units within a three-year time frame.
While certification might not be required to work as an aviation manager, holding professional certification might boost your chances of finding a position.
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Job outlook
Employment of aviation managers is projected to remain neutral.
As more people fly for both business and pleasure, the number of flights per day to and from all airports, and for many airlines, will continue to increase. This will result in larger airports becoming busier, and extended hours of operation for smaller airports. Many airports are also being upgraded and extended to accommodate additional flights and larger aircraft.
All of these factors will result in increased demand for professional aviation managers across the industry.
However, increased costs faced by airlines, and resulting cost-cutting, will put increased pressure on the number of job opportunities for aviation managers in the immediate future.
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