Airfield Operations Specialists

Airfield Operations Specialists score 37 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #459 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 27 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 4 on its own and 15 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

37/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #459of 923 jobs
US workers: 15,190BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $56,850a year
In real AI use: 0 of 27tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 4 (15%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 15 (56%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 8 (30%)

Receive, transmit, and control message traffic.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Conduct departure and arrival briefings.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Maintain flight and event logs, air crew flying records, and flight operations records of incoming and outgoing flights.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Coordinate communications between air traffic control and maintenance personnel.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Plan and coordinate airfield construction.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Coordinate with agencies, such as air traffic control, civil engineers, or command posts, to ensure support of airfield management activities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Relay departure, arrival, delay, aircraft and airfield status, and other pertinent information to upline controlling agencies.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Provide aircrews with information and services needed for airfield management and flight planning.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Coordinate with agencies to meet aircrew requirements for billeting, messing, refueling, ground transportation, and transient aircraft maintenance.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Procure, produce, and provide information on the safe operation of aircraft, such as flight planning publications, operations publications, charts and maps, or weather information.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Anticipate aircraft equipment needs for air evacuation and cargo flights.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Post visual display boards and status boards.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Receive and post weather information and flight plan data, such as air routes or arrival and departure times.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Collaborate with others to plan flight schedules and air crew assignments.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Coordinate changes to flight itineraries with appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Check military flight plans with civilian agencies.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Initiate or conduct airport-wide coordination of snow removal on runways and taxiways.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Manage wildlife on and around airport grounds.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Perform and supervise airfield management activities, including mobile airfield management functions.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Monitor the arrival, parking, refueling, loading, and departure of all aircraft.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Train operations staff.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Use airfield landing and navigational aids and digital data terminal communications equipment to perform duties.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about airfield operations specialists and AI

Will AI replace airfield operations specialists?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Airfield Operations Specialists score 37 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #459 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 19 of the job's 27 tasks, 4 of them on its own, while 8 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which airfield operations specialists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Receive, transmit, and control message traffic"; "Maintain air-to-ground and point-to-point radio contact with aircraft commanders"; "Conduct departure and arrival briefings".

Which airfield operations specialists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation"; "Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies"; "Initiate or conduct airport-wide coordination of snow removal on runways and taxiways".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as airfield operations specialists, and what do they earn?

About 15,190 people in the US, with median pay of $56,850 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Airfield Operations Specialists

Task by task

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Questions about airfield operations specialists and AI

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