Operations Officer

Published: Tuesday, 18 July 2017 16:01

In Cameroon, as in most of the ICAO contracting states, exercising the functions of an Operations Officer requires obtaining a license issued by a civil aviation company.

Operation officer are operating technicians who must ensure that aircrafts leave and arrive at airports in the optimal conditions of safety. A profession not always easy but exciting. The career of an operating agent covers several ground handling jobs, notably: Operations officer and Ground Handling agent.

The Operation Officer is responsible for ensuring the correct coordination of the actors involved on the aircraft during a stopover. In addition to his supervision function, the operations officer prepares flight schedule, ensures loading arrangements, mass specifications essential for flight execution in the best conditions of safety.

The Ground Handling agent is the conductor who has control over the operations within the confines of the airport platform he is working on. He must ensure that aircrafts leave and arrive at airports in optimal conditions of security.

Career developments are numerous, especially towards positions in commercial services. If we happen to find consistency in the tasks and responsibilities of the agents of Operation Officers, their work varies according to their evolution within an airline, an assistance company, an industry or an aviation administration. In the course of their training, they receive instructions which essentially cover flight operations, navigation, air traffic, meteorology, air transport regulation, sales and commercial negotiation.

The training of Operation Officers can be dispensed either to the national school of aviation of Toulouse, or Ecole Supérieur des métiers de l'Aéronautique de Montpellier in France, or again in an accredited Private Institution. The theoretical training lasts one academic year and the entrance examination is open to all candidates who are holders of the GCE Advanced Level, Science Series. Admission is possible for candidates with a good mastery of English Language, aeronautical knowledge and a pilot license (Even private) or an airline transport pilot license (ATPL).

Practical training is provided in companies and the length of the study varies according to the candidate's curriculum, who must be trained in company procedures and computer systems before being "released".