Flight Operations Manager
Job Purpose
The Flight Operations Manager is responsible for implementing and maintaining necessary operating procedures and manuals that ensure the safety and smooth operation of the Air Arabia Maroc fleet. This role monitors the performance of flights, pilots, and systems in accordance with the provisions of the Operations Manuals and in compliance with Air Arabia Maroc policies and DGAC/CAA regulations. The Flight Operations Manager establishes and maintains professionalism among pilots, while also ensuring efficiency in manpower and operating costs.
Key Result Responsibilities
- Lead the Flight Operations team, providing continuous support, coaching, and guidance to help team members achieve individual and team efficiency in performance at all times.
- Support manpower planning and utilization in line with business operational needs, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Oversee manpower allocation in a cost-effective manner to achieve the Company’s objectives for cost reduction. Responsible for base allocation and assignment of pilots across all hubs.
- Partner with stakeholders in Operations and Human Resources to ensure objective performance evaluation of all pilots.
- Utilize available data and reports to make informed decisions regarding promotions, dismissals, mandatory and competency-based trainings, career development, grievances, and overall team performance.
- Liaise with the Cabin Services Manager to design, develop, and implement policies and Standard Operating Procedures that ensure consistency and compatibility in standards between Flight and Cabin Crew operations.
- Monitor and timely review revisions on the Operations Manual Parts A, B, C, and MEL, notify Flight Crew of temporary amendments, changes, instructions, or notices related to flight operations, and communicate safety-critical operational information.
- Partner with Safety, Security, and Quality Assurance to review, update, and monitor the implementation of related manuals necessary to establish and maintain Flight Crew safety and security procedures within the Company. Monitor safety issue trends to identify and implement corrective measures.
- Review, analyze, and evaluate reports from various sources, such as discretion, occurrence, voyage, and Flight Crew reports, recommend and take appropriate actions and solutions, and communicate necessary information accordingly. Ensure timely collection and submission of Capt Discretion Reports.
- Liaise with external parties, such as DGAC/CAA, regulatory bodies, aircraft manufacturer, and OEMs, to ensure that the AFM (Aircraft Fleet Management) system is up-to-date and provides the most advantageous performance data for fleet standardization and safety. Provide recommendations when appropriate.
- Support the Head of Flight Operations by providing valid recommendations on the planning of routes, schedules, and new destinations.
- Establish operational requirements for all aerodromes and routes served, highlighting any limitations to aircraft performance.
- Analyze and evaluate current practices to identify options for reducing operational costs, primarily in fuel consumption and manpower utilization.
- Ensure Quality Assurance and internal/external audit requirements are effectively managed; represent Flight Operations on various statutory audits, such as CAA, IOSA, etc.
- Conduct field trip visits to evaluate the performance of destinations and support hubs.
- Operate a number of flights to achieve a yearly average of 40 block hours per month.
Qualifications
- Essential: Appropriate ATPL License
- Advantageous: Bachelor's degree in Aeronautics/Aviation/Management or equivalent
- Essential: Training in safety and emergency response, formal qualification is an advantage
- Essential: Basic Airport, security procedures, and regulations related training
- Highly Desirable: Training in IATA principles & standards relating to security
- Added Value: Cost Control, Compliance, Budgeting, and Quality Assurance certificates and trainings
- Proficiency: Aircraft systems, Microsoft Office, Internet, and Web Search
- Excellent: Written and verbal communication skills, technical reports writing, presentations, etc.
- Advantageous: Fluency in English, Arabic, and French languages
Work Experience
- Essential: 10+ years of extensive experience in Airlines Operations, including a minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or managerial level in a similar position, handling operational control over international commercial operations with similar aircraft.
- Alternative: Minimum of 3 years within the last 6 years as a pilot in command of (Airbus 320, Airbus 321); experience with a low-cost airline is considered an advantage.
- Essential: Possesses good industry knowledge in aircraft systems and operating procedures.
- Essential: Familiarity with the rules and regulations of Civil Aviation Authorities and regulatory bodies, preferably DGAC and IOSA, pertaining to Flight Operations manuals and working procedures, as well as Pilots licensing.
- Essential: Working exposure to Quality Assurance/Safety/Security/Audit procedures and practices affecting Flight Operations.
- Essential: Experience in implementing and monitoring policies, procedures, and manuals as per business requirements, approved quality standards, and in line with authority-adopted regulations.
- Essential: Hands-on operations in a high-pressure, frequently changing environment with heavy workload schedules and ad-hoc scenarios.
- Essential: High accuracy and attention to both results and details.
- Essential: Developed skills in cost-estimation analysis and managing budget expenditure.
- Essential: Experience in measuring the team’s performance against regulations, manuals, and set standards.