• Posted: August 25, 2016

What a flight operations officer is and what they do.

Flight operations officers are responsible for and control the day to day running of an airlines control centre. They ensure that delays are minimised by ensuring that the right aircraft is at the right place, at the right time and the right crew is present. The actual job and rolls can vary depending on the

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What a flight operations officer is and what they do.

Flight operations officers are responsible for and control the day to day running of an airlines control centre. They ensure that delays are minimised by ensuring that the right aircraft is at the right place, at the right time and the right crew is present.

The actual job and rolls can vary depending on the company, but some of the standard functions or responsibilities of flight operations officers are:

  • These officers will deal with serious issues that can affect the airline. These issues to include traffic control and terrible weather conditions.
  • Ensure that all flights are on time by monitoring the aircraft.
  • They need to think ahead of time so that they can deal with any flight programme issues before they have a ripple effect.
  • They also need to ensure that the right type of aircraft is going to be used and that said aircraft is in the right place to receive the correct maintenance.
  • Flight operations officers arrange the maintenance and repairs to aircraft. They need to liaise with repair centres.
  • The officers will draw up rosters and schedules to ensure the right number of crew members are on board the flight. They will also arrange fill-ins for any absent crew members.
  • They report to their duty managers but they can also fill in as duty managers when required.

Flight operations officers have the overall responsibility of running the airlines operations control centre. Staff meetings are held every day where issues are discussed, they also oversee all major operational decisions and they will come up with solutions to certain problems. They will also raise issues in other departments which could influence the performance of the airline.

Flight operations officers need to work in variable shifts in order to cover all the long hours that come with the job. They may be required to work early mornings, weekends, late at night, even on public holidays. Overtime plays a big role when there are delays. They may be required to be on call 24/7.

Most of the flight operations officers work in offices at an airport and some will work from their airline’s head office. In smaller airline companies, they may be required to be present in the areas where the aircraft park. They may be outside during severe weather conditions and when they are outside they have to wear high visibility jackets and ear protection.

You can learn to be a Flight Operations Officer at DTM Aviation. Here you will be equipped with decades of knowledge and experience so that you can handle any task. Enquire today!