Air Transportation Specialist Apprentice

About the role

This apprenticeship provides on-the-job training to develop the skills and knowledge needed to perform Air Transportation Specialist functions, supporting cargo and passenger movements to and from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The apprentice works under supervision while learning the duties of the position.

Key responsibilities

• Carry out and document daily maintenance checks on material handling equipment such as pallet jacks, forklifts, Delta III transport vehicles, passenger vans and pickup trucks.
• Use material handling equipment, including wheeled forklifts with 4,000-15,000 lb capacities and cargo sleds, for cargo loading and unloading.
• Follow safety and security precautions for hazardous materials, special cargo, mail and passenger baggage.
• Palletize cargo for shipment by cargo aircraft, securing it in line with USAF regulations, and ensure proper handling of hazardous cargo.
• Transport cargo between airfields and storage areas, and load and unload aircraft according to established procedures.
• Check arriving cargo against the manifest and document overages, shortages or damage; receive, identify and distribute cargo efficiently.
• Perform quality assurance checks during cargo movement and pallet building, reporting damage immediately to a supervisor.
• Maintain and inventory tie-down equipment (463L pallets, cargo straps, chains and tensioners), and prepare damaged pallets and equipment for shipment to CONUS or Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Keep the workplace safe, attend safety meetings, and perform other duties as required.

Required profile

• High school diploma or GED.
• 0-6 months of warehouse or cargo/freight experience, including use of forklifts, hand trucks or other lifting devices.
• Willingness and ability to deploy to Antarctica for extended periods, with successful medical, dental, drug screening, background check and federal background check results.
• Valid US driver's license; US citizenship is required for facility credentials at this location.
• Able to lift and move items up to the safety regulation maximum, climb in and out of equipment, crawl, and work outdoors in extreme cold.
• Willing to participate in community programs such as housekeeping, recycling and safety objectives.

Required skills

• Teamwork.
• Preferred: knowledge of passenger and cargo movement, aircraft loading and unloading, material handling equipment, record keeping for airlift cargo, and cargo securing techniques.