How To Become An Aviation Project Manager

By Sally Delacruz


Among the professions in the aerospace industry is that of an aviation project manager.

A project manager refers to one who is in charge of compliance with authorities to ensure that an airport and its departments run safely and efficiently as well as overseeing staffing in airports. They are required to be present almost all the time since the success or failure of an airport depends on them.

This area of specialization has the following requirements. Firstly, a candidate must obtain a bachelors degree in airport management, business administration, public administration and finance management. This may be accompanied by certification in Accredited Airport Executive or a Certified Member Credential.

One must at least four years experience to get this job. Key skills required include being versed with knowledge in Federal aviation regulations, proper communication skills, financial analysis, management and supervisory abilities. Computer skills, especially in word processing and spreadsheets, are also a key need for candidates.

Generally, the requirements may be summarized as put down below. A candidate must have a degree in aviation management studies which include studying business, mathematics and sciences in the line of aviation such as physics. Meanwhile, one is expected to be an intern in an airport in order to gain experience and apply studies acquired. Next is the acquisition and maintenance of Airport Executives certificates and taking part in workshops and seminars involving air travel.

Such a manager is does the following roles. Initiating procedures, planning strategies for the organization, drawing designs for the same, executing the planned work, controlling activities and staff and monitoring them and closing the plan by the end of their contact term.

Initiating involves studying and determining the scope of the business and the nature of work ahead. Once those aspects are understood, specific goals and objectives for the plan are established. Thereafter, one needs to review current statistics of the business and study how operations are carried about and how to improve them. This information helps them to come up with the project plan. Several factors such as cost of operations, time, resource allocation and staff mobilization are considered.

Executing consists of operations leading to the accomplishment of the requirements made in the project plan. Here, people and resources are coordinated in an integrated system, roles assigned to team players, stakeholder expectations checked and tests performed on the initial design to determine whether it will lead to achievement of the objectives set in the initial stage. In short operations of are begun.

Another role is monitoring and controlling. This deals with activities performed in observing execution of the work framework, identifying and tackling problems arising, observing and measuring performance of players and processes and ensuring that the management plan is maintained. Auditors may advise on trends and efficiencies of strategies engaged.

In the end, the manager closes the operations. This means that there is formal acceptance and ending of the project. Files may be archived and documentation procedures executed. Two main aspects of this role are contract closing and ending the work plan.




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