Careers in Aviation

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the aviation sector offers employment and diverse career opportunities to 45,000 dedicated people, spanning a wide range of roles. Safely and efficiently transporting over 6 million domestic passengers annually demands a skilled team equipped with continuous training and problem-solving capabilities.

Depending on the size of airport and number of aircraft movements, some roles will be a combination of duties.

Trainer and On Job Trainer

On-going training and refresher training is running on a continual basis throughout New Zealand.

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Airport Firefighter

Never a dull moment for the role of Airport Firefighter.

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Birds leaving runway whilst aircraft departs

Wildlife Control Officer

Wildlife control officers must proactively reduce safety risks to aircraft.

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Team Leader and Team Manager

Team Leaders supervises and coordinate small teams of staff to ensure smooth day to day operations at the airport.

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Airline Assistant

Airline Assistants work front of house greeting customers at check-in.

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Terminal and Aircraft Cleaner

Maintaining a high level of cleanliness and hygiene at the airport and keeping aircraft at high levels of cleanliness ensures high customer satisfaction and safety.

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Airport Customer Service Representative

Airport Customer Service Representatives, also referred to as Customer Service Agents, provide essential front-of-house Airport support for customers.

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Dash 8 on airport apron with ramp services agents

Ramp Service Agent

A ramp handler, also known as a ramp agent or ramp service agent, plays a crucial role in airport operations in ground handling of aircraft. A ramp handler’s main responsibility is to ensure the safe and efficient handling of baggage, cargo, and equipment on the aircraft ramp area.

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Baggage Handling: Ramp handlers load and unload passenger baggage, ensuring that it is properly sorted, organized, and transferred between the terminal and the aircraft. They use various equipment such as baggage carts, conveyor belts, and baggage loaders.

Cargo Operations: Ramp handlers handle the loading and unloading of cargo onto and from aircraft. They follow specific procedures to secure and balance the cargo, and they may operate forklifts or other specialized equipment for heavy or oversized cargo.

Ground Equipment Operation: Ramp handlers operate a range of ground support equipment (GSE) used on the ramp, including tugs, pushback tractors, aircraft loaders, and other vehicles required to move baggage, cargo, and equipment around the airport.

Safety Procedures: Ramp handlers are required to follow strict safety protocols and guidelines to ensure the safety of personnel, passengers, and aircraft on the ramp. They adhere to safety regulations, wear appropriate protective equipment.

Communication: Ramp handlers maintain effective communication with the flight crew, ground control, and other personnel involved in the aircraft turnaround process. They coordinate with other ground staff to ensure timely and accurate handling of baggage, cargo, and equipment.

Ramp Maintenance: Ramp handlers may assist with basic maintenance tasks on the ramp, such as removing debris, clearing snow or ice, and inspecting the condition of ground equipment to ensure it is in proper working order.

Emergency Response: In an emergency, ramp handlers may be trained to assist with emergency evacuation procedures.

Ramp handlers play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and safe operation of aircraft on the ground. Working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, often in various weather conditions with other ground handling personnel to ensure efficient turnaround times for flights.

Learn more about our NZQA accredited Ground Handling (Level 3) Ramp Operations Strand and Secondary School Gateway in aviation ground operations - Take off! Courses.

Airport Customer Service Representative

Airport Customer Service Representatives, also referred to as Customer Service Agents, provide essential front-of-house Airport support for customers. A Customer Service Agents main responsibility is to ensure an enjoyable experience for travelers from the moment they arrive at the airport and ensuring passengers transition to their flights to avoid delay.

Cleaner

Maintaining a high level of cleanliness and hygiene at the airport and aircraft ensures high customer satisfaction and safety. Cleaners often work to cleaning schedules as part of a team. Increasingly cleaning staff are the frontline of actioning environmental responsibility using appropriate products and ensuring waste is disposed of appropriately.

Airline Assistant

Airline Assistants work front of house greeting customers at check-in. Airline Assistants guide passengers through check-in and baggage drop-off. Airline Assistants help ensure passengers follow the appropriate rules and regulations on check-in and carry on items.

Team Leader and Team Manager

Many job functions within aviation require coordination and leadership. Team Leaders supervises and coordinate small teams of staff to ensure smooth day to day operations at the airport. Team Leaders handle day to day operational issues, rosters and planning. Team Leaders often work with Trainers to develop training plans across their team.

Wildlife control Officer

Wildlife, especially birds pose a risk to aircraft safety. Wildlife control officers must proactively reduce saftety risks to aircraft. They monitor the environment within and around the airport using a variaty of methods to dicourage and remove wildlife risk.

Te Ahu Rererangi

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