Monster: What made you want to be a Flight Operations Assistant?
Matt: I went to an airshow when I was young and have been interested in how airfields work ever since. After leaving college I looked at careers working with aircraft and decided on the RAF as it gave me the opportunity to work in both military and civilian flight operations.

What skills and education are essential to your job? 
GCSEs at grade G or above in Maths and English is the basic requirement, however, the main skills you need include being able to work in a team, keep calm under pressure, know up-to-date IT systems, give accurate and clear information, be flexible and respond quickly to changing situations.

It sounds a lot, but during your specialist training you are introduced to airfield operations and how aircraft are moved around safety on the ground and in the air. The knowledge gained is progressive and simulators are used to help build and practice these skills. By the end of the course you have the skills and confidence to work in the field of aircraft movements. You can take the opportunity to complete a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Providing Aircraft Operations on the Ground, which is a really useful qualification for working in either military or civilian aircraft operations .

What advice can you offer someone wanting to become a Flight Operations Assistant? 
The best place to start would be visiting your nearest RAF Careers office to speak to the advisors there. You can apply to be a Flight Operations Assistant when you reach 15 years and 9 months of age and the quicker you begin, the quicker you can learn the skills you need to succeed.

What are the best and worst things about your role?
As a RAF Flight Operations Assistant you may be working at anytime night or day in any part of the world where we have aircraft. It can be hard, but everyone around you is in the same position so you just get on with things and support each other.

You can be working in a fast moving environment playing your part in making a real difference to people’s lives. You get a huge feeling of being part of a team and you generally don’t get that feeling of comradeship in a regular job. When I went abroad last year the job looked really hard but the skills I have gained meant I fitted in really quickly. It was really good to put my skills into practice and learn more about working with the Army and Navy in an operational environment.

Are there any perks to the job?
It’s likely you will need to be able to drive to carry out some of your duties so the RAF may pay for you take your driving lessons and test. The RAF encourages fitness and adventure training. Every station has free gym facilities and adventure training can take place all over the world - you could be skiing, hill walking, hang gliding, parachuting, canoeing, sailing or diving. I have been skiing in Germany and to the Accession Islands to learn to dive. I want to take a parachuting course next summer.

What is the end goal in your career? 
I would like to complete a full career in the RAF; I have gained the Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Providing Aircraft Operations on the Ground and plan to complete the advanced qualifications in Controlling Aircraft/Airport Operations. These qualifications and the experience I gain could help be get a job in a civilian Airport when I leave the RAF.

Finish this sentence. "This week I have been mostly..."
"...been on the late shift working in the Air Operations Room."


Fancy following in Matt's footsteps? Check out our latest Flight Operations Assistant jobs or see the latest jobs with the Royal Air Force.