Informative Guide About Aviation Management
The aviation industry is a huge business sector and many duties and responsibilities have to be managed in the airlines and at the airport. Management of daily operations of airlines and airports and the different businesses in the aviation industry is aviation management.
A Quick Look At The Different Aspects Of Aviation Management:
Aviation management is a broad aspect that involves different facets like financial management, marketing, route planning, etc. Here are some of the important pointers about aviation management.
1. Airline Management:
This involves managing the equipment, the routes, and the personnel who are providing services to the airline. Aspects like ticket booking, care of passengers and luggage, the safety of passengers, and other such duties come under airline management.
- It is the responsibility of the airline to handle the passengers right from the time they enter the airport for departure to the time they reach the destination airport. The Passenger Management System and Passenger Service System make management of passengers easy.
- Special care has to be taken of unaccompanied children (these are in the age group of 5 to 12 years) who have to be supervised by the airline staff throughout the journey till the child is handed over to the relative or guardian. Passengers with special needs can also opt for special assistance 48 hours before the departure of the flight.
- The handling of luggage of passengers is also a huge responsibility. The cabin luggage is checked under the scanner and only after it gets clearance it will be taken inside the cabin. The check-in baggage is also checked and only then allowed inside the aircraft. The checked cabin baggage is then transferred systematically till the bag reaches the baggage claim area of the destination airport.
- There are many activities involved in aircraft management when it is on the ground. This includes catering duties like replenishing consumables etc. and ramp duties like fuel and water refilling, towing of aircraft, etc.
- In the case of Medical Air Ambulance Services, medical staff will take the responsibility of providing medical care to the patient.
2. Airline Financial Management:
This involves the management of the cost and revenue of the airlines and is a highly challenging task.
- The airline will have to look into aspects like capital investment, operating cost which includes fuel cost, employee and labor cost, and depreciation cost.
- Airline cash forecasting has to be done to determine the cash requirement for operations, investments, etc.
- Fuel Hedging is used by airlines to manage the fluctuations in fuel prices. Fuel Hedging services are provided by fuel management companies, oil companies, etc. Whether it is a passenger flight or Ambulance Helicopter Services fuel cost will have a major impact on the cost and revenue of the airlines.
- For revenue generation, the airline has to come up with strategies like reducing the ticket rates, onboard sales, etc.
3. Air Route Planning:
Here there will be tasks like planning the route, calculating the fuel that will be required for the route.
- One of the most important management aspects here is to plan a route that will be reasonable.
- Besides the cost factor, the aim is to choose a safe route through which the flight can reach fast to the destination airport. This will be very crucial in the case of Medical Air Ambulance Services .
- Care also has to be taken to ensure that Air Traffic Control requirements are fulfilled. Air Traffic Control is involved in tasks like ensuring that the operations are carried out properly and they also have to manage the safety aspect.
4. Airline Marketing:
The airline industry has fierce competition and to be at the top airlines must have one of the best marketing strategies. Whether it is passenger aircraft services or Ambulance Helicopter Services there is competition everywhere. From the marketing point of view here is what is done:
- To understand the market trends, market growth, operations, etc. PEST analysis has to be done that is considering the Political, Economic, Social, and Technology factors.
- Understanding the customer segments and their expectation is also an important part of deciding the marketing strategy and some experts work on these aspects.
- The airlines will adopt different marketing strategies like social media management, alliance formation, airline loyalty marketing strategies, etc. All these marketing aspects have to be managed in the best possible way to get the best outcome.
5. Airport Management:
Management of airports is a tedious task and involves many areas like operation management, maintenance, etc.
- In the maintenance management, there will be maintaining the airport, the various equipment, maintenance of the infrastructure, etc.
- Security operations will involve the work that is done by the security staff and the airport police.
- Licensing, leasing, commercial handling, airport public relations, rescue operations, fire fighting operations are all part of airport management.
6. Airport Planning And Development Management:
Here there is planning and construction of runways, terminals, etc. and involves the investment of a large amount of capital. But it is very important to ensure that all the air carriers and Medical Air Ambulance Services have proper runways and passengers get the best of facilities.
- In the designing and planning of airports different technical, financial, and environmental approvals are required.
- Airport development involves building infrastructure for additional facilities, building runways, etc.
7. Financial Management of Airport:
Just like financial management of airlines and Ambulance Helicopter Services financial management of the airport is also a very crucial aspect. Many different factors have to be managed in the case of airport financial management and they are:
- Funding for the airport
- Finding different sources of income like passenger service fees, airline rent, etc.
- Deciding the charges of the different airport facilities and services.
8. Aviation Safety Management:
This is one of the most important factors and failure in this aspect can lead to serious repercussions.
- This involves analyzing the different risks, threats, and vulnerability aspects in aviation
- Taking appropriate and timely safety and security measures to avoid mishaps.
- Contingency planning to ensure that in the future there is no untoward incident at the airport.
9. Disaster Management in Aviation:
Here care is taken to avoid any accidents and proper planning is done for the handling of disasters. In case there is an accident then proper investigation of the accident is done and efforts are put in to avoid such incidents in the future.
10. IT Management In Aviation:
Information technology plays a very important role in the success of the aviation industry which works round the clock. There are much different software that is being used in the aviation industry like the flight simulation software which trainee pilots use, maintenance of aircraft software, network management and route management software, FIDS or Flight Information Display System, etc.
Conclusion:
There are many facets to the management of airports and airlines. It involves planning and designing of the aircraft and airports, maintenance of the aircraft and airports, management of the different operations of the airlines and airports, safety and disaster management, IT management, etc.
Aviation management is a highly specialized field of management where one requires qualities like strategic thinking, critical thinking, communication, etc. One also needs to be passionate about the aviation industry.
Aspirants who want to get into this arena of aviation management need to ascertain which role they are keen to take up and prepare for the same accordingly.