Flight Operations Manager in Fairford

Overview

Direct Employer

Flight Operations Manager

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises/ Royal International Air Tattoo

Fairford, Gloucestershire, England

Flight Operations

Flight Operations Manager

Onsite • Full time • From £45,000

10 hours ago – Be the first to apply

The Royal International Air Tattoo has been running for over 50 years and is staged in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust’s vision is to ignite the passion for aviation and space, and inspire young minds upwards. Empowering them with the knowledge, skills, inclusive opportunities and experiences to aspire and pursue a rewarding and innovative career in the field of aerospace.

We are seeking a highly capable and driven Flight Operations Manager to play a pivotal role at the heart of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the world’s largest military airshow. Based at Douglas Bader House, Fairford, this is a rare opportunity to take ownership of one of the most complex and prestigious aviation operations in the global events calendar.

This is a role for someone who thrives in high-stakes, highly regulated environments, and who finds genuine satisfaction in delivering safe, seamless operations under pressure. You will sit at the centre of aircraft participation, airfield operations, regulatory compliance and aviation safety, working closely with UK and international military partners, civil aviation authorities, volunteers and internal teams.

An exciting and demanding position, you’ll be trusted to lead with confidence, precision and calm — balancing operational rigour with collaboration, leadership and sound judgement. No two days are the same, and the impact of your work will be visible on a global stage.

This is a permanent, full-time role. Working hours will increase significantly in the lead-up to and delivery of RIAT, including some weekend and extended-hours working, reflecting the operational nature of the event.

The Main Duties Of The Role Will Include

• Overall responsibility for airfield operations for RIAT and other relevant events, ensuring the safe, compliant and effective delivery of all flight operations.
• Acting as the primary aviation operations contact with regulatory bodies, including the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
• Ensuring full compliance with all applicable military and civil aviation regulations and assurance requirements.
• Ownership, review and ongoing development of the Air Safety Management Plan and associated Air Safety Management System (ASMS) documentation.
• Chairing Air Safety Working Group meetings and fostering a strong, open aviation safety culture across the organisation.
• Planning and securing all RIAT airspace requirements, including liaison with RAF Brize Norton, the CAA, NATS/Swanwick and other agencies.
• Leading aviation incident and occurrence investigations, including DASOR reporting, interviews and formal investigation outputs.
• Managing all flying display administration, including regulatory approvals, paperwork scrutiny and participant liaison.
• Planning aircraft arrival and departure schedules, rehearsal flying programmes and aircraft movement plans.
• Managing military and civilian aircraft participation, including applications, contracts, cost estimation, purchase orders and administration.
• Ensuring appropriate aviation insurance arrangements are in place for all participating aircraft.
• Overseeing aviation fuel usage analysis to support RIAT’s carbon data reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Managing key aviation support partners including UK Border Force, the Met Office and wildlife control contractors.
• Recruiting, leading and supporting volunteer teams across Air Traffic Control, Airside Operations and Flying Operations.
• Contributing to the production of all Air Operations documentation, including Air Operation Orders and aerodrome publications.
• Supporting budget forecasting and monitoring for Air Operations activities in collaboration with the Head of Air Operations.
• Acting as an Air Operations representative on the Safety Management Committee.

Education

• Educated to ‘A’ Level standard or equivalent (Essential)
• Qualified Aviation Occurrence Investigator (Desirable)
• MAA / CAA Accredited Flying Display Director (Desirable)

Experience & Knowledge

• Significant experience within an operational aviation environment (Essential)
• Strong understanding of military aviation regulations and operating frameworks (Essential)
• Sound knowledge of airfield operations, airspace management and aircraft operations (Essential)
• IT literate with strong Microsoft Office capability (Essential)
• Experience using aviation safety or incident management systems (Desirable)

Skills

• Exceptional planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Calm, methodical and decisive under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including formal briefing capability
• Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills with external stakeholders
• Budget awareness and the ability to manage resources effectively
• Solutions-focused mindset within complex and dynamic environments

Qualities

• A genuine passion for aviation and operational excellence
• A confident, collaborative leader and team player
• High levels of integrity, discretion and professional judgement
• A proactive self-starter with pride in delivering world-class outcomes
• Commitment to safety, continuous improvement and organisational values

What We Will Offer

A competitive salary alongside a strong benefits package including pension, private healthcare and 4x life assurance. We also host staff wellbeing and social events throughout the year. As part of the team, you will receive two complimentary tickets to the Royal International Air Tattoo, plus a 50% staff discount on up to six additional tickets.

How To Apply

To apply, please submit a comprehensive CV together with a covering letter outlining your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with the requirements.

Closing date: 4th February 2026