Working as an Airfield Management Specialist in the Air Force is a more in depth field than it may sound like. You are the person that is directly responsible to make sure that the condition of the Airfield is up to specifications, free from debris, and in good condition for aircraft to land and taxi, and take off. Your training as an Air Force Airfield Apprentice will train you to inspect aprons, taxiways, and runways on airfields around the world, and how to manage, operate and monitor airfield conditions. You will learn how to deal with such issues as airfield construction while still keeping an Airfield open for aviation traffic. You will be required to drive a vehicle, usually a truck or SUV on the airfield to regularly inspect the conditions and to monitor the effects of weather, and other environmental factors and how it affects airfield quality.
The Air Force Airfield Apprentice is the primary response person for ground emergencies and various in flight issues. You will be trained how to use mechanical and electronic equipment to monitor airfield conditions, including the effects of ice, snow, rain and other factors, to help determine if aircraft can safely use the airfield. You will be responsible to remove wildlife and birds on or near the airfield using Oryotechnics. This is the launch of supped up firecracker like devices toward wildlife using a shotgun, rifle or pistol, to humanely scare them away from the airfield. You may also be trained and equipped with bio acoustical sound devices designed to do the same thing, scare wildlife away. The Airfield Management Apprentice is also responsible for issuing notices to Airmen for any existing flight hazards present at your airfield or in your flight space that may be dangerous. Your duties will include checking weather and weather notices, inspecting flight plans and transmitting them to Air Traffic Control Centers, and communicating with Air Traffic Control using radio, telephone or computer equipment. You will use ground to ground and ground to air radios to communicate airfield conditions and find out flight plans and conditions from aircrews in flight or on the ground.
Other duties of Airfield Management Apprentices include maintaining airfield navigational aids such as visible windsocks, airfield diagrams, and other flight planning displays for use by aircrews operating out of your airfield. At times multiple shift work is required to help insure flying and mission readiness.
