✈️ Volume 18: Airside Operations Coordinator
The Men and Women Who Keep Airside Operations Running Smoothly
💬What Is an Airside Operations Coordinator?
If you’ve ever watched one of the airport live cams, like the one I watch from Chicago’s Midway International Airport, you can’t help but notice all the activity on the ramps and taxiways. It always reminds me of the time I drove my little rented Citroen around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris at rush hour. Organized chaos!
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The men and women responsible for all airport movements are the Airside Operations Coordinators. It’s also another “behind the curtain” job at every commercial airport and FBO. Most of us are aware of what the airline ticket and gate agents do. However, many other essential jobs in the aviation industry have a low profile with the general public.
Let’s look at what an Airside Operations Coordinator does and how it may fit with your experience, skills and interests.
🔍On the Ground, in Command
As a professional musician, I consider an Airport Operations Coordinator to be the equivalent of an orchestral conductor. She directs ramp activity, ensuring safety, responding to disruptions, and maintaining a smooth operation behind the scenes. She not only oversees the taxiways, ramps, aprons, and deicing pads, but also all movement in areas not controlled by the Air Traffic Controllers.
Key tasks may include:
Coordinating fueling, baggage handling, and towing operations
Inspecting airfield conditions, including lighting, signage, and Foreign Object Debris (FOD)
Monitoring and enforcing safety regulations
Responding to ground emergencies or irregular ops
This video provides an inside look at the role of an Airport Operations Coordinator at a major commercial airport, such as Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
🏢Big Job, Different Scales: Comparing Airport Environments
The responsibilities are the same. The support staff he works with is different. In a small airport, he is a jack-of-all-trades. In the medium-sized airport environment, he has several support staff assisting him. At a major commercial airport, he has a full complement of specialists ensuring that all aspects of the job are covered.
Small Regional Airport
Often, one person handles safety checks, wildlife control, and ops coordination.
Close relationships with tenants and general aviation pilots.
Ideal work for independent problem-solvers.
Medium-Sized Commercial Airport
Team coordination with rotating shifts.
Frequent weather-related activity, deicing coordination, and safety drills.
Works closely with ramp crews and security personnel.
Major Hub
Specialized airside teams: one for gate management, another for taxiway inspection, etc.
Constant coordination with Air Traffic Control, airline dispatch, maintenance, and snow control.
A fast-paced, high-pressure position that is ideal for those with strong multitasking abilities.
This video explains the role of an Airport Operations Coordinator.
🛡️ The FBO Path: High-Stakes, High-Touch
FBOs (Fixed Base Operators) rely on Airside Operations Coordinators to manage VIP, medical, military, and charter traffic.
Roles are often broader than those found at commercial airports:
Aircraft repositioning
Coordinating fueling and catering
Greeting crews
Dispatching ground vehicles
Supervising overnight ops
FBOs operate on short notice, with demanding clients and unpredictable schedules.
Smaller teams mean more autonomy, more accountability, and less downtime.
This video describes the work at a Fixed Base Operator.
🧠Who’s a Good Fit for This Role?
Ideal Backgrounds
Military flightline experience
EMTs, first responders, or firefighters
Ramp agents, fuelers, or deicing crew leads
Middle managers from logistics, retail, warehousing, or plant operations
What Transfers Well?
Team leadership
Calm decision-making under pressure
Shift and people scheduling
Incident documentation and compliance
The Soft Skills That Really Matter
Loyalty and trustworthiness
Reputation as a solid team player
Ability to communicate clearly under stress
Readiness to step in without being asked
I always include this section so that you can see yourself in this aviation role. Just because you have been riffed or the company you worked for for twenty-five years has gone out of business, doesn’t mean all is lost. The experience and skills you picked up over those years can transfer smoothly into this and many other ground jobs in the aviation industry.
I know. Been there. Done that. So, be sure to check out the other articles here on AvGeek in Residence.
🎓 Training, Certification & Upskilling
Online and On-the-Job Options:
FAA/Transport Canada Safety Programs
Airport Certified Employee (ACE – Ops) via AAAE
ICS/NIMS Emergency Management
Wildlife Hazard Mitigation and NOTAM basics
Training is layered:
Most entry roles include on-the-job shadowing and step-by-step checklists
Opportunities to grow skills over time—especially for those entering from outside aviation
This is a learnable job that is ideal for detail-oriented individuals in their 30s or 40s looking to shift careers and build a second act.
Tools of the Trade: A 10,000-Foot View
Airside Ops Coordinators often use:
Two-way radios for constant team coordination
Mobile apps for ramp inspections, reporting, and task tracking
Digital airfield maps and logbooks
Tech is supportive—not intimidating. Many tools are as intuitive as delivery tracking apps or spreadsheets.
Compensation & Scheduling
Small airport: $48K-$62K
Medium airport: $55K-$75K
Large hub: $70K-$95K+, with supervisory roles topping $100K
FBO roles: Vary by location and clientele, with some salaried + overtime/on-call bonuses
Shifts are often 24/7. Expect nights, weekends, and “show up now” moments when snow hits or flights divert.
🔁 Who’s Hiring?
Airport authorities (public or private)
Airlines operating at major hubs
FBOs handling business aviation
Cargo and medevac facilities at regional airports
See my Jobs Board for links to employers.
🛬Why This Job Matters
Think about it. You’ve spent twenty-five years ensuring the company you worked for met its sales targets. You trained and supervised dozens of people over the years. You hired and fired many of them yourself. All that experience is ideal for an aviation job like this.
Preventing ramp accidents and costly ground delays
Ensuring airside operations comply with aviation regulations
Responding first when emergencies occur on the tarmac
Keeping the invisible machinery of aviation running on time
Explore the opportunities! Good luck!
✈️ Stay curious!
Rob Kennedy
AvGeek in Residence
Editor’s Note: I write the articles on AvGeek in Residence in collaboration with ChatGPT. This wonderful AI tool functions as my research assistant, my editor, and my brainstorming partner. ~ Rob Kennedy