Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Airside Operations Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Airside Operations Coordinator is the operational backbone of apron and airside activity, responsible for safe, efficient and compliant aircraft turnaround and airside movements. This role coordinates between airlines, ground handlers, air traffic control (ATC), airport security, emergency services and maintenance to manage gate assignments, turnaround performance, AOA vehicle control, ramp safety and incident response. The Airside Operations Coordinator enforces Aerodrome Operating Procedures, supports the Safety Management System (SMS), monitors KPIs (turnaround time, on-block/off-block performance), and continuously optimizes apron resource utilization.

Key SEO phrases: Airside Operations Coordinator, apron management, aircraft marshalling, airside safety, AOA vehicle control, airport turnaround coordination, ATC liaison, SMS compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Ramp Agent / Baggage Handler transitioning to operations
Ground Handling Supervisor or Marshaller
Airport Operations Assistant / Airside Support Officer

Advancement To:

Senior Airside Operations Coordinator
Airside Operations Supervisor / Duty Manager
Airport Operations Manager / Head of Airside Operations

Lateral Moves:

Ramp Operations Supervisor
Safety & Compliance Officer (Airside / SMS)
Airfield Capacity Planner / Slot Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate and manage day-to-day airside and apron operations, including gate/stand allocations, pushback sequencing, and priority handling to ensure on-time departures and arrivals while minimizing delays and operational conflicts.
Serve as the central liaison between airlines, ground handlers, Air Traffic Control (ATC), airport security, fueling companies, de-icing providers and aircraft maintenance teams to coordinate safe, efficient turnarounds and resource deployment.
Monitor live flight activity via AODB/SITA/flight tracking systems and proactively adjust apron assignments and ramp resources to mitigate delays, conflicts, and aircraft on ground (AOG) situations.
Issue, audit and enforce Airside Driving Permits (ADP) and AOA vehicle access, ensuring all vehicles and drivers operating on the apron meet airport licensing, insurance, and safety requirements.
Oversee aircraft marshalling and parking operations, authorizing stand movements and ensuring compliance with docking clearances, tow procedures and ground handling safety protocols.
Conduct pre-shift briefings, tool-box talks and safety briefings for ramp crews, marshallers and ground support staff to ensure consistent adherence to SMS procedures and operational priorities.
Activate and coordinate airside response for incidents, runway excursions, spills, fires or security events; liaise with airport rescue & firefighting (ARFF), police and airline operations to execute emergency response plans.
Investigate and document airside incidents, safety occurrences and near-misses, completing occurrence reports, root-cause analysis and corrective action follow-up within the Safety Management System (SMS).
Maintain NOTAM awareness and disseminate important operational alerts (NOTAMs, AIP amendments, runway/stand closures, bird/wildlife activity) to stakeholders and update digital displays and operations dashboards accordingly.
Maintain and optimize apron configuration, signage and temporary stand changes during construction or contingency operations, coordinating with airfield engineering and planning teams.
Manage turnaround performance metrics (TOBT/TSAT/TOW/TEX), analyze delays and recovery plans, preparing daily/weekly KPI reports and recommending process improvements to improve punctuality and throughput.
Plan and coordinate special operations: wide-body, ferry flights, cargo charters, VIP movements, and irregular operations (IROPS), ensuring tailored ground handling, security and passenger facilitation services are in place.
Supervise and coordinate de-icing and anti-icing operations in coordination with airlines and meteorological updates, ensuring safety, compliance and minimal impact on throughput.
Enforce dangerous goods (DG) handling protocols on the apron and during cargo transfer, coordinating with cargo agents and security to ensure compliant segregation, documentation and emergency response procedures.
Schedule and manage airside staffing rosters, fatigue-compliant shift patterns and on-call escalation for critical positions to maintain 24/7 airside coverage and rapid incident response capability.
Perform routine airside inspections and daily checklists for stands, pushback areas, AOA fences and vehicle routes; report defects, coordinate repairs and close out maintenance actions with ground engineering.
Coordinate wildlife hazard management activities with aerodrome ecology teams, scheduling bird-scaring or habitat mitigation to minimize strike risk during peak movements.
Provide frontline customer service to airline operations control centers, pushing proactive communications about stand changes, delays, and operational constraints to preserve airline relations and passenger experience.
Manage access control during special events and AOG operations, authorizing temporary escorting, visitor passes and contractor activities while maintaining operational security and segregation zones.
Maintain and update airside operational documentation, standing instructions, aerodrome procedures and contingency plans; ensure currency and accessibility to all stakeholders.
Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives by capturing lessons learned from incidents, participating in cross-functional working groups and implementing process changes to enhance apron throughput and airside safety.
Coordinate training and competency checks for marshallers, airside drivers and ramp staff, maintaining records of certifications, recurrent training and assessment outcomes.

Secondary Functions

Prepare and distribute daily and ad-hoc operations reports, including turnaround analytics, KPI dashboards and capacity forecasts for senior leadership.
Support operational trials and service introductions (new routes, aircraft types, equipment) by developing airside plans, risk assessments and training briefs for stakeholders.
Assist with airfield capacity planning, slot coordination and summer/winter seasonal planning exercises to align resources with forecasted demand.
Participate in audits (regulatory, airline, internal) and support corrective action plans to maintain compliance with CAA/FAA/EASA/ICAO regulations and airport-specific operating procedures.
Maintain relationships with vendors and suppliers for ground support equipment (GSE), ensuring priority repairs and spare allocation during high-impact events.
Assist in developing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids and digital checklists to standardize airside workflows and support new employee onboarding.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Airside operations coordination and apron management (stand allocation, pushback sequencing, AODB/flight tracking)
Aircraft marshalling and ramp circulation procedures, including knowledge of wingtip clearance, tow/tug operations and GPU handling
Airside Driving Permit (ADP) administration, AOA vehicle control and airside vehicle safety protocols
Safety Management System (SMS) implementation, incident/occurrence reporting and root-cause analysis
Familiarity with NOTAMs, Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP) and integration of NOTAM/ATC guidance into operations
Dangerous Goods (DG) awareness for airside handling and segregation procedures
Emergency response coordination with ARFF, police and airline operations (incident command familiarity)
Flight data systems and operations tools: AODB, SITA, Amadeus Airport Systems, or local equivalents; proficiency with operational dashboards
KPI monitoring and operational analytics (turnaround time metrics, on-block/off-block performance, AOG reporting)
Radio communications (airside VHF/ground radio) and formal liaison with ATC and airline OCC
Microsoft Office suite (Excel for reports/analysis) and basic database/reporting skills

Soft Skills

Strong situational awareness and decision-making under pressure during high-tempo operations and irregular operations
Clear, concise stakeholder communication and liaison skills across airlines, ATC, security and maintenance teams
Leadership and team coordination to manage cross-functional ramp crews and contractors
Problem-solving and process improvement mindset with practical bias for action
Excellent organizational skills, multi-tasking and prioritization during shift work
Cultural awareness and customer-focused approach when interacting with international airline partners
Resilience, adaptability and a calm demeanor during emergencies and schedule disruptions

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma (Secondary education) plus accredited airside driving and marshalling certifications OR equivalent vocational training.

Preferred Education:

Associate or Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Airport Operations, Logistics, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aviation / Airport Management
Logistics and Supply Chain
Transport Safety / Occupational Health & Safety
Business Administration (operational focus)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2 to 5 years working in ramp, ground handling or airport operations roles with demonstrable airside exposure.

Preferred:

3 to 7 years in airside coordination, ramp supervision or airport operations with experience coordinating multiple stakeholders, managing incident response and delivering operational KPIs.

Additional desirable qualifications: current Airside Driving Permit (ADP), marshalling endorsement, SMS training, Dangerous Goods awareness, and prior experience with AODB or airport operations software.