UK

United Kingdom · Operations · Entry Level (0-2 years)

Operations Controller / Flight Follower

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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  • Experience bandEntry Level (0-2 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toSenior Operations Controller or Shift Supervisor
  • UK framework levelUsually someone starting out, or keeping a process running

Also advertised as Junior Flight Operations Officer · Dispatch Assistant · Operations Support Analyst

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

EAL Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance (Development Competence) Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Aviation Operations (QCF) Pearson Education Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Aviation Operations (QCF) Pearson Education Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Aviation Operations (QCF) Pearson Education Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Operations (QCF) Pearson Education Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Support flight operations NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Aviation Operations on the Ground (Knowledge)
Maintaining flight control systems on aircraft (Aviation Maintenance) EAL Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance (Development Competence)
Aircraft Dispatch Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Aviation Operations (QCF)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
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Your Plan Illustration

Built for Operations Controller / Flight Follower

3 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Support flight operations NCFE · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 2
  2. Maintaining flight control systems on aircraft (Aviation Maintenance) Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  3. Aircraft Dispatch Pearson Education Ltd · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as an Operations Controller / Flight Follower?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skill this role is being asked for

  • AI-Assisted Decision Support Interpretation
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Operations Controller / Flight Follower plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

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3What this role really is

An Operations Controller tracks flights and keeps daily aircraft operations running to plan. You monitor flights, update systems, and make sure crews have what they need to get planes where they need to go, safely and on time. It involves learning procedures and following them closely, supporting more senior staff as you go. You act as an early check against things going wrong, working strictly to procedure.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

LIDO/Flight 4D or Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro (Flight Planning) Intermediate

Generating, filing, and amending standard flight plans under supervision; monitoring flight progress and actual vs planned routes.

AIMS or Sabre CrewTrac (Crew Management System) Intermediate

Checking crew legality (FTL), assigning crew to flights, and processing basic schedule changes like reporting a sick crew member.

AMOS or TRAX (Maintenance & Engineering System) Basic

Looking up aircraft status, checking for open MEL/CDL items, and confirming airworthiness releases with Maintenance Control.

SITA/ARINC ACARS (Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System) Intermediate

Sending routine messages to aircraft (e.g., weather updates, gate changes) and receiving real-time operational data from flights.

Microsoft Power BI or Tableau (Operations Dashboards) Basic

Reading and interpreting pre-built dashboards to understand On-Time Performance (OTP) and identify station delays.

Slack or MS Teams (Internal Communication) Intermediate

Coordinating with colleagues in the OCC, Maintenance Control, and other internal teams for real-time information sharing.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Flight Plan Amendment Prepares draft amendments for supervisor review and approval. Executes approved changes. Proposes and executes minor flight plan amendments within defined parameters. Escalates complex changes. Approves and executes all flight plan amendments, including complex re-routes during IROPS.
Crew Legality (FTL) Issues Identifies potential FTL breaches and escalates immediately to supervisor. Proposes solutions for minor FTL issues (e.g., short delay, crew swap) for supervisor approval. Makes real-time decisions on FTL breaches, including crew swaps or flight cancellations, within regulatory guidelines.
Aircraft on Ground (AOG) Response Logs AOG status, monitors maintenance updates, and reports to supervisor. Coordinates with Maintenance Control and proposes recovery options (e.g., tail swap) to supervisor. Authorises and coordinates AOG recovery, including aircraft allocation and network impact mitigation.
Diversion Decision Monitors weather/airport conditions and reports potential diversion triggers to supervisor. Evaluates diversion options and recommends a course of action to supervisor. Makes the final decision to divert an aircraft, considering all operational and commercial factors.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Flight Plan Filing Accuracy
How often you file flight plans without errors or omissions.
Target · Greater than 99.9% accuracy

If you file 100 flight plans in a week, we'd expect no more than one minor error, like a wrong callsign or incorrect fuel figure, and zero critical errors.

Average Delay Code Entry Time
The time it takes to accurately log a delay code into our system once you're notified.
Target · Under 10 minutes from notification

A ground handler calls about a 20-minute baggage delay at 10:00. You should have the correct IATA delay code (e.g., 'DL' for Loading) entered into the system by 10:10.

Zero Personal Errors Resulting in FTL Breach
Making sure none of your actions or oversights lead to a crew member exceeding their legal Flight Time Limitations.
Target · Zero breaches

You correctly identify a crew member is 'going illegal' (crew timed out) on a flight and escalate it immediately, preventing a potential regulatory fine and safety issue.

Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
How consistently you follow our written procedures for routine tasks like flight monitoring, NOTAM checks, and system updates.
Target · 100% compliance in routine tasks

When a flight is approaching its destination, you always check the destination NOTAMs and weather, even if it seems clear. Missing a critical NOTAM could mean a diversion.

Proactive Communication & Escalation
How quickly and clearly you flag potential issues or deviations to your supervisor.
  • You're not afraid to ask questions or raise a red flag, even if you're not 100% sure. You'll clearly explain what you've observed and what you think might be the problem. Your supervisor won't be surprised by issues you're tracking.
Learning Agility & Feedback Incorporation
How well you take on board feedback and apply new knowledge to your daily tasks.
  • You'll show measurable improvement in areas where you've received coaching. You'll ask clarifying questions to truly understand feedback, rather than just nodding along. You'll actively seek out opportunities to learn more about the operation.
Team Support & Collaboration
Your willingness to help out other team members and contribute to a positive working environment.
  • You'll offer to help a colleague during a busy period, even if it's just grabbing them a coffee. You'll share information you've found that might be useful to others. You're a good team player, not just in theory, but in practice.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Being part of a critical operation

You'll feel a buzz from knowing your work directly contributes to getting people and cargo safely across the country or world. Every flight you monitor, every piece of information you relay, is part of a bigger picture.

You'll track a flight through challenging weather, providing updates, and feel a sense of accomplishment when it lands safely, knowing you played a small but important part.

Continuous Learning & Development

You'll be constantly absorbing new information about aircraft, regulations, weather, and airport operations. There's always something new to learn, and you'll be keen to master it.

You'll spend your downtime asking senior controllers about specific IROPS scenarios or digging into a new NOTAM to understand its implications, rather than just waiting for the next task.

Structure and Clear Procedures

You'll appreciate having clear checklists and Standard Operating Procedures to follow, knowing that these are there for safety and efficiency. You like knowing what's expected.

You'll find comfort in the routine of pre-departure checks and flight following, knowing that by following the process, you're doing your job correctly and safely.

What frustrates people
  • The constant need to follow strict procedures, even when you think there might be a 'quicker' way (there usually isn't in aviation).
  • Dealing with minor technical glitches in systems that slow down your routine tasks.
  • Feeling like you're just a small cog when a major disruption happens, and your input is limited to following instructions.
  • The occasional 3 AM phone call about an issue that, in hindsight, could have waited until morning.
What this role does not give you
  • Significant independent decision-making authority on complex operational issues.
  • The ability to 'innovate' or deviate from established procedures without explicit approval.
  • A quiet, predictable 9-to-5 schedule; aviation operates 24/7, and shifts can be long and intense.
  • Immediate recognition for individual 'heroics' – success is often about the team's collective effort and adherence to process.

8Who you work with

Your individual contribution ensures the smooth, safe, and efficient execution of daily flights. You're helping to maintain our operational integrity and customer satisfaction by catching small issues before they escalate. Think of it as making sure all the little cogs in a massive machine are turning correctly.

Inside the business
  • Senior Operations Controllers (your mentors and immediate team)
  • Flight Crews (pilots and cabin crew)
  • Maintenance Control (for aircraft status updates)
  • Ground Operations Teams (at various airports)
Outside the business
  • Air Traffic Control (indirectly, via senior team)
  • Airport Authorities (for slot times, gate changes)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • A genuine passion for aviation and a desire to work in a dynamic operational environment.
  • The ability to work effectively in a team, often under pressure, and take clear instructions.
  • Strong geographical awareness and basic understanding of time zones.
  • Proficiency with standard office software (Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel) for basic data entry and reporting.
  • Excellent written and verbal English communication skills (British English preferred).

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Flight Planning Optimisation

With increasing fuel costs and environmental pressures, optimising every flight for fuel, time, and cost index is becoming critical. You'll move beyond standard plans to understand the nuances of route and altitude selection.

Cost Index Application · ETOPS/EDTO Planning · Weather Impact Modelling · Dynamic Airspace Management

  • This week: Ask your Senior Operations Controller to walk you through a complex flight plan, explaining the 'why' behind specific routing choices.
  • This month: Read up on Cost Index principles and how they're applied in flight planning software.
  • Month 2: Take an online course or read a textbook on advanced flight dispatch principles.
  • Month 3: Shadow a senior dispatcher during a particularly challenging flight planning scenario.

Quick win: When reviewing flight plans, actively question why a specific route or altitude was chosen. Try to predict how changes might impact fuel burn or flight time.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Enrolling in an accredited Flight Operations Officer / Aircraft Dispatcher training course.
  • Shadowing experienced Senior Operations Controllers and other OCC teams (e.g., Crewing, Maintenance Control) to broaden your understanding.
  • Attending industry webinars or conferences on aviation safety, IROPS management, or new operational technologies.
  • Regularly reviewing aviation publications and regulatory updates to stay current with industry changes.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Assisted Decision Support Interpretation

Our competitors are already using AI to process vast amounts of data and suggest optimal operational decisions in minutes. Operations Controllers who can effectively interpret and validate these AI outputs will be significantly more efficient and valuable.

  • Understanding AI Confidence Scores
  • Bias Detection in AI Outputs
  • Human-AI Teaming Protocols
  • Data Visualisation Interpretation

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Safety Management Systems (SMS) Principles
  • Flight Time Limitations (FTL) Regulations
  • On-Time Performance (OTP) Metrics
  • Basic Air Traffic Control (ATC) Concepts

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Aviation Internship / Graduate Programme

    6-12 months as an intern, then direct entry into this role.

    Skills to master

    • Basic operational knowledge, corporate communication, project support, data entry accuracy.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Completed a successful internship with positive feedback from supervisors.
    • Demonstrated a strong grasp of basic aviation concepts.
    • Proven ability to follow instructions and work effectively in a team.
  2. 2

    Ground Handling / Airport Operations Agent

    1-2 years in a front-line airport role.

    Skills to master

    • Understanding of aircraft turnarounds, airport procedures, real-time problem-solving, customer service basics.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Solid understanding of the aircraft turnaround process and associated challenges.
    • Experience with real-time operational pressures and quick decision-making.
    • Ability to communicate effectively with various airport stakeholders.
  3. 3

    Military Aviation Support Role

    2-4 years in a relevant military air operations or logistics role.

    Skills to master

    • Discipline, procedural adherence, critical thinking under pressure, understanding of complex operational environments.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Proven ability to operate in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment.
    • Experience with structured operational planning and execution.
    • Strong sense of responsibility and accountability.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to shift supervision, then duty management of a wider network, and on to running an operations control centre.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Operations Controller / Flight Follower is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Support flight operations, worked against Operations Controller / Flight Follower.

Support flight operations Level 2

Applied to your work in Operations Controller / Flight Follower

This unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of the importance of flight operations information and aviation emergency procedures. Learners will be able to identify information sources, understand the operational information required to support flight operations, and recognise key personnel who require this information. Furthermore, they will understand aviation emergency procedures and their implementation.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

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See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Operations Controller / Flight Follower
  • Safety Management Systems (SMS) Principles
  • Flight Time Limitations (FTL) Regulations
  • On-Time Performance (OTP) Metrics
  • Basic Air Traffic Control (ATC) Concepts
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Operations Controller / Flight Follower is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Operations Duty Officer (Level 2)

    2-3 years in the Operations Controller role.

    This is the natural next step, where you'll take on more responsibility for specific flights and start making initial decisions on minor disruptions, with less direct supervision.

    • Initial IROPS decision-making (e.g., minor re-routes, gate changes)
    • Deeper understanding of crew rostering complexities
    • Enhanced use of operational dashboards for real-time analysis
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Imagine having a super-smart assistant that helps you stay on top of every flight, every crew member, and every potential issue. That's what AI is starting to do in aviation operations. It's not about replacing you; it's about making your job easier, faster, and letting you focus on the really important stuff.

In our Operations Control Centre, we're always looking for ways to work smarter, not harder. AI isn't some far-off future tech; it's already here, helping us predict problems, automate routine tasks, and make better decisions. As an Operations Controller, you'll be using these tools daily, giving you a real edge.

Automated IROPS Recovery Insights

AI will instantly crunch numbers on crew availability, aircraft status, and airport slots to suggest the best 2-3 ways to recover from a disruption. You'll use these insights to quickly brief your supervisor and get things moving, rather than spending ages manually figuring it out.

Predictive Turnaround Alerts

Our AI system watches ground handling data and even airport camera feeds to tell us if a flight is likely to be delayed 30 minutes before it's due to depart. You'll get these early warnings on your Ops Board, letting you flag potential issues to ground teams before they become actual delays.

Smart Delay Report Drafting

When a flight is delayed, AI can pull together all the relevant data—flight logs, controller notes, maintenance info—and draft the first version of the delay report. You'll then review it, add any missing context, and send it off, saving you loads of time on admin.

Real-time Performance Snapshots

AI-powered dashboards give you an instant, easy-to-read overview of On-Time Performance (OTP) and delay trends. You'll use these to quickly understand how your flights are doing and identify any patterns that need attention, helping you learn faster.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become an Operations Controller / Flight Follower?

Common routes in include Aviation Internship / Graduate Programme (6-12 months as an intern, then direct entry into this role.), Ground Handling / Airport Operations Agent (1-2 years in a front-line airport role.) and Military Aviation Support Role (2-4 years in a relevant military air operations or logistics role.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can an Operations Controller / Flight Follower progress to?

This role can lead on to Operations Duty Officer (2-3 years in the Operations Controller role.), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for an Operations Controller / Flight Follower?

Increasingly, AI-Assisted Decision Support Interpretation. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

Read the Zavmo manifesto to understand how you will be taught Meet your tutors

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 2

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in operations

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

The skills involved apply across aviation. They can lead to roles in airline operations, airport management, air traffic control, or aviation consultancy, in the UK or abroad. Operational experience of this kind carries weight wherever flights need coordinating.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.