Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Airport Technician

🎯 Role Definition

An Airport Technician is a multi-skilled operations and maintenance professional responsible for preserving safe, efficient, and compliant airport infrastructure and ground support equipment. This role combines hands-on mechanical, electrical and hydraulic troubleshooting, preventative maintenance of runway, ramp and terminal systems, operation of ground support equipment (GSE), and regulatory compliance (FAA, TSA, environmental). Airport Technicians work across airside and landside environments, responding to operational events (de-icing, snow removal, fueling), performing inspections, documenting work in CMMS systems, and collaborating with airlines, air traffic control and operations teams to sustain safe aircraft turnarounds and airport services.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Ramp Agent / Ground Handler
Facilities Maintenance Technician
Military Aircraft Mechanic or Aviation Maintenance Apprentice

Advancement To:

Lead Airport Technician / Senior Technician
Airport Maintenance Supervisor / Station Maintenance Manager
Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Manager
Airport Operations Specialist / Safety Officer

Lateral Moves:

GSE Maintenance Technician
Baggage Systems Technician
Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Licensed Mechanic

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform routine and scheduled preventive maintenance, diagnostics, repair and overhaul of ground support equipment (GSE) including tugs, belt loaders, GPUs, air start units, de-icing trucks and lavatory service vehicles to ensure safe, reliable operation in support of airline turnarounds.
Conduct thorough visual and functional inspections of airfield assets — runway/taxiway lighting, signage, pavement markings and airfield safety equipment — and execute corrective actions or escalate defects in accordance with FAA/TSA standards and airport maintenance procedures.
Execute aircraft marshaling, chocking, towbar operations and safe towing procedures for aircraft and mobile equipment, coordinating closely with ramp operations and air traffic control to minimize aircraft movement delays.
Troubleshoot and repair electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and diesel mechanical systems on both equipment and airport infrastructure, using diagnostic tools, schematics and multimeters to restore service and improve equipment uptime.
Operate, maintain and perform winter operations on de-icing and anti-icing systems and fluid application trucks, including fluid mixing, truck maintenance, pump and nozzle repair, and adherence to environmental reclamation and reporting procedures.
Conduct safe and compliant aircraft fueling and refueling support when required, following fueling procedures, grounding and bonding protocols, and hazardous materials handling regulations (HAZMAT and airport fuel safety programs).
Lead foreign object debris (FOD) prevention programs by performing daily FOD walkdowns of ramps, taxiways and work areas, removing debris, documenting findings and recommending corrective actions to reduce foreign object damage risk to aircraft.
Respond to aircraft on ground (AOG) events, facility failures and emergency incidents (fuel spills, fire alarm activations, wildlife strikes) with rapid diagnostic assessment, temporary repairs and coordination of specialized contractors or emergency response teams as needed.
Maintain complete and accurate maintenance records, service logs and parts inventories within the airport CMMS or maintenance database; prepare documentation required for audits, safety reviews and regulatory compliance.
Inspect and maintain terminal and airside systems including HVAC units, fire suppression and safety equipment, conveyor and baggage handling components, access doors and loading bridges, ensuring continuity of passenger processing and baggage flow.
Perform troubleshooting and preventive maintenance on electrical distribution panels, runway lighting circuits, relays and control systems, coordinating outages with operations and ATC to minimize impact on flight schedules.
Operate heavy equipment and snow removal machinery safely (e.g., plows, sweepers, blowers), plan and execute snow and ice control strategies during winter events, and document actions for post-event analysis and reimbursement.
Support installation, calibration and basic programming/diagnostics for PLCs, sensors and airport automation systems used in baggage handling, fueling monitoring and environmental control equipment.
Coordinate procurement and inventory control for spare parts, fluids and consumables; work with supply chain or procurement to prioritize critical spares to keep key assets available and minimize downtime.
Provide on-the-job training and mentorship to junior technicians and seasonal staff on safe equipment operation, maintenance procedures and airport safety culture, documenting competency and training status.
Perform structural inspections and minor repair work on ground support items (chocks, dollies, carts, loading bridges), including welding, lubrication, alignment and replacement of wear parts to preserve serviceability.
Execute scheduled runway and ramp pavement inspections and minor surface repairs (patching, sealant application), reporting findings for larger repair planning and facilitating contractor work as required.
Follow all PPE, confined space, lockout/tagout and safety procedures for electrical and mechanical work; maintain a safety-first mindset and participate in incident investigations and safety briefings.
Coordinate daily with airlines, ground handlers and operations control to sequence equipment maintenance around flight schedules and minimize impact to airline on-time performance metrics.
Implement environmental controls for handling and disposing of hazardous materials, fuels and de-icing fluids in accordance with airport environmental guidelines and local/state regulations.
Maintain radios and communication equipment, ensure proper frequency usage and clear coordination during normal operations and emergency responses.
Conduct functional testing and battery maintenance for ground power units, UPS systems and battery chargers, ensuring consistent power availability for aircraft ground operations.

Secondary Functions

Assist in continuous improvement projects to reduce turnaround time, increase equipment reliability and lower maintenance costs by documenting failure modes and recommending modifications.
Support runway/airfield construction inspections by marking utilities, monitoring contractor work for compliance with airside rules and reporting any operational impacts to stakeholders.
Participate in seasonal planning activities (winter readiness, summer storm preparedness), supporting stocking of supplies, scheduling overtime staff and pre-staging equipment.
Provide customer-facing support during irregular operations — communicating status updates to airline representatives and ground staff, and escalating unresolved issues to supervisors.
Help manage vendor relationships for specialty repairs, calibrations and heavy equipment servicing, ensuring service level agreements are met and invoices are reconciled.
Assist the safety team with periodic audits, corrective action plans and documentation updates to ensure alignment with airport emergency response and safety management systems (SMS).
Contribute to inventory audits, parts reconciliation and surplus equipment disposition planning to optimize material availability and reduce unnecessary stock.
Support cross-functional teams on ad hoc projects such as new GSE acquisitions, terminal upgrades, or installation of energy-efficient systems.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven experience maintaining and repairing Ground Support Equipment (GSE): tugs, belt loaders, container loaders, de-icers, lav service trucks, GPUs, and air starts.
Strong electrical troubleshooting skills: wiring diagrams, circuit testing, relays, contactors and lighting systems diagnostics.
Mechanical & hydraulic systems competence: pumps, valves, actuators, hoses and hydraulic troubleshooting procedures.
Diesel and gasoline engine maintenance experience, including fuel systems, charging systems, cooling and basic engine diagnostics.
Proficient with pneumatic systems and compressed air troubleshooting on GSE and aircraft servicing equipment.
Experience with winter operations equipment and de-icing system maintenance, including fluid handling and environmental controls.
Knowledge of FAA, TSA and local airport operating regulations and airside safety rules; familiarity with NOTAM and ATC coordination practices.
CMMS experience (e.g., Maximo, Corrigo, EZMaint, or equivalent) for work order creation, tracking and inventory management.
HAZMAT handling and spill response knowledge; familiarity with environmental reporting requirements for de-icing and fuel incidents.
Basic PLC and sensor diagnostics for integration with baggage systems, fueling monitors or environmental control systems.
Forklift, heavy equipment and snow removal machine operation experience (certification preferred where required).
Welding, fabrication and light structural repair skills for maintaining carts, dollies and equipment frames.
Competence in reading technical manuals, wiring schematics and equipment OEM documentation.
Familiarity with MS Office, email, and basic data entry for maintenance logs and reporting.

Soft Skills

Strong safety orientation with attention to detail and adherence to procedures, PPE and lockout/tagout practices.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with pilots, ATC, airline representatives and multidisciplinary teams.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to diagnose root causes and implement practical, timely repairs.
Ability to prioritize work under pressure, particularly during irregular operations, weather events or equipment failures.
Teamwork and collaboration across shifts and departments; willingness to mentor junior staff and share knowledge.
Customer-focused attitude with professional interaction during passenger-facing or airline-facing situations.
Flexibility and adaptability to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends and on-call schedules.
Time management and organization skills for handling multiple service requests and documentation requirements.
Initiative to identify process improvements and propose efficiency gains to management.
Resilience and composure when responding to emergency situations and high-tempo operational periods.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; vocational training or trade school in mechanics, electrical, or aviation maintenance preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical certificate in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Mechanical Technology, Electrical/Electronic Technology, or Facilities Maintenance.
FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certification (preferred for aircraft-focused roles) or equivalent military maintenance experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aviation Maintenance Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Electrical/Electronics Technology
Facilities or Building Maintenance
Industrial Maintenance / Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of hands-on maintenance or operations experience in airport, aviation, ground support equipment, or industrial settings.

Preferred:

3+ years of direct airport operations or GSE maintenance experience; prior experience with winter operations, fueling support, or airfield lighting systems is highly desirable.
Demonstrated track record of maintaining documentation in a CMMS and working under FAA/TSA airside safety rules.
Certifications or licenses: forklift, heavy equipment operator, HAZMAT awareness, OSHA 10/30 (preferred), de-icing technician training, and any site-specific airside credentials.