What is the function of this person and how does their job impact an airports operation?
I was reading a few airport operation job openings and saw that this position was open with very little pay but the requirements were quite high.
Thanks for any feedback!
Airport Operations can vary with the day. Honestly I almost never do the same thing twice.
FIDS screens are the signs you see at the airport that show flight status in the terminal. I guess I’ve never really thought about the fact that there’s a ‘behind the scenes’ with em, as I’ve always worked at smaller airports with the good ole Visitron signs where we threw the plastic numbers on the board. I just assumed FIDS were somehow linked up with each airline’s system.
I’d guess this person ensures the flight info is accurate and updates the system for the displays. I’d guess it’s a good entry level position too get a foot in the door at the particular airport authority.
Entails positive control of aircraft within the assigned area in accordance with procedures set forth by FAA and contracted agencies. Insure compliance with all airport and company safety protocols. Assignment of common-use facilities (international gates, ticket counters, baggage makeup belts and claim belts) using combined software applications (Flight Information Display System/“FIDS”). Identification and resolution of issues within an integrated software environment is an integral function of the job. Operation of information display systems, video cameras and monitors, and aeronautical VHF telecommunications equipment is required. Effective implementation of emergency and failure management procedures. Flight operations are conducted 24/7/365. Day, swing and midnight shifts, weekdays, weekends and holiday work is required. Extended shifts and/or callbacks may be necessary. Periodic shift rotation can be anticipated in order to maintain familiarity with all operational situations.
That’s the job description.
What kind of job does this sound like?
This sounds like the person in control of an airline’s ramp area. Sort of like an air traffic controller but only for the ramp.
So if this position requires actual ramp control or at least plays a vital role in the control of an aircraft while on airport grounds, why does the position provide such little pay? Is this considered an entry-level position or is this vendor just low-balling its employee’s pay?
Thanks for all the great help thus far.
It’s the pay that the airline or airport can get someone to do the job.
What is the pay rate?
$15.00 an hour. As a college student, I work at a hotel and make just under this amount.
I do apologize if this pay rate is on par with industry standards, the requirements just seemed like a lot for someone in a position to accept $15.00/hr.
Thanks!
$15.00 an hour. As a college student, I work at a hotel and make just under this amount.
I do apologize if this pay rate is on par with industry standards, the requirements just seemed like a lot for someone in a position to accept $15.00/hr.
Thanks!
Don’t know if it’s on par but the organization placing the ad evidently thinks they can get a person to do it for $15.
That’s actually a bit more than entry level, not previously rated air traffic controllers in the FAA make. It goes up some from there, but initially, yeah, that’s about right.
$$per hour is all relative, depending on region. You may make $15/hour at a hotel in a larger city, but in a rural area like where I live, $15 hour is above average. There are websites that compare cost of living between areas. I once looked how much more I would have to make to move to Las Vegas for a job, and it was nearly double.
This is San Francisco. The Bay Area is some of the most expensive living in the country.
Thanks for all of the input.
And has some low paying jobs because of more labor available than jobs available.
I don’t think it really has to with directing aircraft at gates as much as it is to update the FIDS displays.
Beyond the pay, I think it’s good to look at the possible foot in the door it could create. Airport operations jobs can be hard to come by, and this may be a good foot in the door .
Let’s hope so.
Damiross,
You’re from the Bay Area and obviously aware of our situation here. Just want to throw this out there–
Can airports, airlines, and the companies they outsource their work to, afford to offer lower wages just because of an economic condition? I’m hoping this position only requires work with a board and not an actual aircraft because similar jobs that are true Ramp Controller positions provide at minimum 40K annually.
Scary to think where aviation is going.
Thanks again both of you.
They think they can. I think it’s being penny wise and pound foolish.
Most companies can’t see beyond their corporate nose when it comes to making a profit. They cannot see that paying a decent wage today could save them money in the long run due to less overturn of employees. All they care about is making a profit today, not tomorrow or the next day.
“Can airports, airlines, and the companies they outsource their work to, afford to offer lower wages just because of an economic condition? I’m hoping this position only requires work with a board and not an actual aircraft because similar jobs that are true Ramp Controller positions provide at minimum 40K annually.”
Yes…and then some. As Damiross pointed out:
" has some low paying jobs because of more labor available than jobs available." Things unfortunately rings true all thru out the nation. Corporate greed has somewhat swamped the general public one way or another.
“Scary to think where aviation is going.” 
You really meant to say where it has been in the last 20years and where it will continue. The handwriting was on the wall; low pay, long hours, lowered work ethics in maintenance and customer service, security, hell even the utmost profession as I would like to think, has lost its pizazz. Reports of Commercial pilots drunk before departure, lax attitude towards thier duties. etc etc…
sorry…bored at work and was just rambling. Waaay too much joe this morning.
Just think of some of the pilot pay out there. My airline experience (ground agent in pretty much every craft) was at all regionals (allbeit some owned by the major carrier). The fresh FO was making in the 20k-30k range, and usually at the lower end of that. Capt pay was alright after about 10 years at most, avg 40-70k, BUT when you think of the cliche 50 lives in my hands at 1 time, it surely doesn’t sound like much.
As a ground agent, and supervisor, and trainer through 2004, I never made more than 11.75 and hr. Now granted for my local that was 
ok, but I’m at a railroad now doing roughly the same thing and am on the better half of doubling it. My airline career was about 12 years long. The reason I did it, it was in my blood. I loved it. The crazy hours, the diversions, the delays, the deicing, the heavy bags you dropped on your foot. AND, it did set me up for my railroad job, although that wasn’t the mission at the time.
I guess the point is, weigh it all out, it could be a foot in the door, it could be something you really enjoy, to me that was worth more than money at the time.