Airport Management

Air Operations (Systems) is a diverse, exciting and complex role which directs and supports operations both in the UK and around the world. Whilst it includes Airport Management with task such as generating and maintaining military flying programmes, overseeing airfield operations, processing flight data information and monitoring the flight progress of all military flying across the globe, its scope goes far beyond. The three key areas of employment are within the Flight Operations, Aerospace Surveillance and Space Operations/Control domains. Officers within this specialisation will use sophisticated radar and communications technology to provide organisations with the information they need to make time-critical decisions that underpin the operational support functions of the RAF.

Roles include:

• Forming part of the tactical Mobile Air Operations Team which support deployed helicopter operations globally.
• Being the UK’s representative in a multi-national Combined Air Operations Centre.
• Using ground-based military and civilian radars to monitor, detect and identify all aircraft in and around UK airspace – 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Forming part of the team that provides the Army and other Services with air situational awareness.
• Monitoring foreign surveillance satellites and notifying friendly forces of potential hostile action and espionage.
• Maintaining space situational awareness tracking everything from space debris to the International Space Station and providing vital information to several civilian and military organisations that rely on space surveillance.
• Forming part of the team that operates the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, detecting and reporting any object that could threaten the UK or our allies.

As an Air Operations (Systems) officer you could be working from a field, a bunker, a building, a tent, an Airborne Early Warning aircraft or even on an aircraft carrier. Regardless, you will be part of a varied and stimulating organisation which offers an excellent career and worldwide employment opportunities and is at the heart of the RAF’s flying output.

Useful links

RAF Air Operations Careers page

Careers in Aerospace profile page