Occupation
Airport ramp agent
Ramp agents load and unload aircraft, marshal them on and off stand, and operate the ground equipment that keeps a turnaround on time. The work is outdoors in all weather, physically demanding, and governed by strict airside safety and security rules. Turnarounds are tightly timed, so accuracy and speed have to coexist.
Also known as: Ramp attendant · Baggage handler · Ground handling agent · Aircraft groundcrew
Occupation content
Part of Supply chain, transport and logistics
What the work involves
- Marshal aircraft onto stand and position chocks, cones, and ground power.
- Load and unload baggage, cargo, and mail in the correct holds and positions.
- Operate belt loaders, tugs, container loaders, and pushback equipment.
- Check load sheets and report weight and distribution back to load control.
- Carry out airside safety checks, foreign object walks, and equipment inspections.
- Report damage, security concerns, and delays to the turnaround coordinator.
How people commonly enter
- Direct entry with employer training on airside safety, equipment, and security, subject to a background check and airside pass.
- An aviation ground operations certificate or apprenticeship where one is offered.
- Transferring from warehouse, driving, or other airport roles into ground handling.
Typical training: Short course or on-the-job training
Licensing: Certification common, not usually required
Typical work context
Outdoors · Shift work · Physically active · Team based · Fast paced
Related interests
Realistic (hands-on) · Conventional (organizing)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
- Safety judgment
- Attention and concentration
- Spatial reasoning
- Perceptual speed
- Data checking and clerical accuracy
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Supply chain, transport and logistics.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- O*NET OnLine — occupation quick search: aircraft service attendants · International
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- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · United States
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- Canada Job Bank — Career planning and occupation search · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Supply chain, transport and logistics in Canada, not a figure for Airport ramp agent. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Supply chain, transport and logistics family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Supply chain, transport and logistics: education pathways
Some roles in Supply chain, transport and logistics may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Supply chain, transport and logistics: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)