Airport Ground Staff : The Job

Airport Ground Staff : The Job

From welcoming passengers to an aircraft’s take-off, airport ground staff and air operations personnel play a crucial role in areas such as commercial activities, airline operations and the running of airports.

As true customer service or flight management professionals, these roles call for dynamism and professionalism at all times and operate in a highly regulated environment that requires strict security measures.

Work patterns are designed to ensure 24 hour service and are often “four-six”. These professions also require fluency in English and the ability to use computer-based tools.

Entry requirements include:
•    EU citizen
•    Aged between 18 and 35
•    Baccalaureate/A-Level minimum
•    Excellent presentation
•    High level of practical English (comprehension and speaking)

The profile laid out above corresponds to the selection criteria of the main air transport companies. Any application that does not meet all of the criteria may nevertheless be looked at on an individual basis by the admissions board.

Commercial Roles

Airport Passenger Handling Agent

Main roles

• Welcome passengers and provide information
• Carry out check-in, boarding and disembarkation procedures
• Make the passenger’s journey easier and provide them with all necessary information at each stage: departure, arrival, connections…

Objectives

• To make the customer’s journey easier by providing the highest level of customer service
• Ensure compliance with the commercial contract

Our training programmes

• Handling Agent (AEA)
• Airport Ground Staff Specialist Technician (TSMA)

Sales Agent (Airport, Travel Agency or Call Centre)

Main roles:

• Inform and advise clients on their journey
• Make bookings and calculate prices
• Distribute tickets and deal with irregularities

Objectives:

• Gain passenger confidence and loyalty
• Promote and sell airline products

Our courses:

• Airport Ground Staff Specialist Technician (TSMA)
• Commercial Tourism Agent (ACT)

Technical Roles

Load Planner

Main roles

• Coordinating and managing staff around the aircraft during its stopover

• Draft and hand over the necessary documents for the flight to the aircraft captain

Objectives

• Ensure aircraft safety and departure on time

Our courses

• Flight Dispatcher (TPV)
• Airport Ground Staff Specialist Technician (TSMA)

Flight Dispatcher

Main roles

• Preparation of the flight dossier for the aircraft captain (flight plan, fuel, weather conditions…)
• Management of take-off slots with air traffic organisations
• Management of the airline network and fleet

Objectives

• Ensure the smooth operation of flights

Our courses

• Flight Dispatcher (TPV)

Career Opportunities

Employment prospects are excellent for qualified personnel. In fact, even though the air transport sector is experiencing a difficult period airport activities are continuing to expand:

• Increase in passenger numbers
• Diversification of platform services
• High turn-over

Airport Ground Staff training programmes have existed at the ESMA since 1990 and 350 people are trained in accordance with ICAO and IATA regulations for these roles each year.

Statistics from a sample of 300 people in 2010 show that 82% of our school’s students are employed in the job they trained for. These training programmes are recognised by a large number of air transport companies, which increasingly ask for an ESMA skills certificate when hiring. Some of them even come to select directly from our classrooms at the ESMA.

• Scheduled & Charter Airlines : Air France, American Airlines, Air Tahiti, Lufthansa, Corsairfly,…
• Business Aviation : JetFly, Farnair, Global Jet, Speedwings,…
• Airport Services Companies : Alyzia, Aviapartner, Map Handling, Swissport,…
• Airport Managers from all over France

 
Finally, the ESMA mission doesn’t end when you obtain the certificate. Monitoring in fact continues after training via a network of former students on-line in a private community which allows students to receive job offers directly from ESMA partners and to contact former students who are now in active employment.