What Do Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors supervise and coordinate the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage. May determine the quantity and orientation of cargo and compute aircraft center of gravity. May accompany aircraft as member of flight crew and monitor and handle cargo in flight, and assist and brief passengers on safety and emergency procedures. Includes loadmasters. They also calculate load weights for different aircraft compartments, using charts and computers.

Other tasks include:

• Determine the quantity and orientation of cargo, and compute an aircraft’s center of gravity.
• Direct ground crews in the loading, unloading, securing, or staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.
• Train new employees in areas such as safety procedures or equipment operation.
• Distribute cargo to maximize use of space.
• Accompany aircraft as a member of the flight crew to monitor and handle cargo in flight.

We asked Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors distribute cargo to maximize use of space. They direct ground crews in the loading, unloading, securing, or staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.

A typical day for an Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor will also include:

• Calculate load weights for different aircraft compartments, using charts and computers.
• Accompany aircraft as a member of the flight crew to monitor and handle cargo in flight.
• Determine the quantity and orientation of cargo, and compute an aircraft’s center of gravity.
• Train new employees in areas such as safety procedures or equipment operation.

We asked some Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	85% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	81% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	98% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	55% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors also determine the quantity and orientation of cargo, and compute an aircraft’s center of gravity. They may also calculate load weights for different aircraft compartments, using charts and computers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors Direct ground crews in the loading, unloading, securing, or staging of aircraft cargo or baggage. They might also Distribute cargo to maximize use of space.

In addition, they Train new employees in areas such as safety procedures or equipment operation.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Accompany aircraft as a member of the flight crew to monitor and handle cargo in flight.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes531011.htm