Will AI replace Airfield Operations Specialists?

AI can do 65% of the work Airfield Operations Specialists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 1 of their 27 tasks, while 18 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 7 still need a person.

AI is already doing this1 · 4% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.Mostly automated4% of time

AI could do this next18 · 61% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.7% of time
  • Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions.7% of time
  • Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.6% of time
  • Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.5% of time
  • Maintain flight and event logs, air crew flying records, and flight operations records of incoming and outgoing flights.5% of time
  • Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.4% of time
  • Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies.4% of time
  • Receive, transmit, and control message traffic.4% of time
  • Receive and post weather information and flight plan data, such as air routes or arrival and departure times.4% of time
  • Plan and coordinate airfield construction.2% of time
  • Procure, produce, and provide information on the safe operation of aircraft, such as flight planning publications, operations publications, charts and maps, or weather information.2% of time
  • Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.2% of time
  • Coordinate changes to flight itineraries with appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies.2% of time
  • Initiate or conduct airport-wide coordination of snow removal on runways and taxiways.2% of time
  • Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments.1% of time
  • Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.1% of time
  • Post visual display boards and status boards.1% of time
  • Check military flight plans with civilian agencies.1% of time

Robots can technically do this1 · 5% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields.Robots: structured workplaces5% of time

Still needs a person7 · 30% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.10% of time
  • Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft.7% of time
  • Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.4% of time
  • Train operations staff.2% of time
  • Conduct departure and arrival briefings.2% of time
  • Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.2% of time
  • Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.2% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

Get my personal report

What this means

AI can do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 4 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.

What to do next

  • Do the 1 task AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 18 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 1 physical task robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 7 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Air Traffic Controllers64%Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers37%Commercial Pilots29%Flight Attendants17%Recycling Coordinators58%Traffic Technicians73%

Get the weekly brief

One short email a week on how AI is changing work, including jobs like this one.

Check another job