What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me starts with breakfast because of course that is the most important meal of the day. I then get ready to make the fairly long commute into work from Kent. When I get into the office, I start checking the market for aircraft and find out who has availability for the week and weekend ahead. I also check if there has been any big news in the aviation world over night – things tend to change fast.
I check emails from the night before, send any requests out to our suppliers and update clients on any current requests I have open. A large part of my role involves keeping track of and in contact with airlines from across the world, and in turn keeping the whole team updated with this information – myself and my colleagues are informing each other of any changes and updates almost daily.
My role incorporates operational support, so for flights due to depart in the day I will ensure I flight watch them as needed and send the correct MVT (movement) messages to the designated person to keep them updated.
From time to time I’ll meet with airlines across Europe and in the UAE to build relationships or speak face-to-face about specific projects.
What do you love about working in aviation?
I’ve always had the bug for aviation which makes my role enjoyable. My favourite part would probably be when the last-minute requests come in and it is all hands on deck to help the client with their needs and to be able to effectively support their operations in a positive way. When it’s all done, I can sit back for a second and see what I’ve have done to help provide an aircraft and ultimately allow their customers to fly to their destinations.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
I think it can be extremely challenging and stressful when we have to deal with an AOG (aircraft on ground) issue, as there is a requirement to instantly find an alternative option for a client, as we do not want passengers to be stuck at the airport. Most of the time a solution can be found, however very rarely the flight could be cancelled and flown the next day or until the aircraft is ready to fly. At Smart we always push to provide the best possible service and outcome to our clients.
What do you do when you are not working?
I enjoy sports so I am either playing or watching football. I also enjoying going to the gym most evenings. I like spending time with my friends and doing activities with them as well as my family. I also like to try and educate myself on new things that could help me earn more money in the future but also just to increase my personal skills.
Where would you be working if you hadn’t chosen aviation?
I would probably be doing something to do with sport, weather that’s media based or some sort of training. I also enjoy cooking so something to do in that sector maybe!
Connect with Jamie Milsom, ACMI Broker
