Onboarding plan
Airfield Operations Specialist Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new airfield operations specialist from first day to full productivity.
Airfield Operations Specialist onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: AAAE Certified Member, Part 139 training (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: airport radios; operations vehicles; friction testers; wildlife hazing tools
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Airfield Operations Specialist training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Get clearance to enter runways
- Prevent runway incursions
- Wear high-visibility gear
- Follow ARFF coordination
- Shadow an experienced airfield operations specialist through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: do a daily runway inspection
- Supervised practice: issue a NOTAM
- Supervised practice: manage a wildlife hazard
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Inspect runways and taxiways: independently
- Check airfield lighting: independently
- Manage wildlife hazards: independently
- Coordinate snow removal: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, AAAE Certified Member)
- Discuss the career path: Operations Agent → Operations Specialist → Airfield Manager
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do a Daily Runway Inspection | |||
| Issue a NOTAM | |||
| Manage a Wildlife Hazard | |||
| FAA Part 139 | |||
| Airfield inspection | |||
| Wildlife management | |||
| NOTAMs |
How to measure onboarding success
- Units per hour or stops per day versus target
- Pick, scan or delivery accuracy
- Incidents and equipment damage
- 30- and 90-day retention
How Airfield Operations Specialist training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Airfield Operations Specialist Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Airfield Operations Specialist Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Airfield Operations Specialist Career
- Final Knowledge Check