Kyle Elliott, C.M., ACE, Airport Lead Operations Manager, Indianapolis Airport Authority
As the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) Airport lead operations manager, Kyle Elliott is responsible for the airport’s FAA Part 139 compliance by leading a team who work 24/7 to ensure the airfield’s pavement is in good condition, markings and lights are visible, wildlife is minimized, and winter operations run smoothly.
For more than a decade, he has served the operations team in various roles in airfield maintenance, the airport technical shop, and airport operations. In 2019, he was promoted to his current role.
“Every day it’s something different. There’s always a challenge. ...One of the big ones is diversions here at the airport. Those are always a challenge, we have to work with our business partners and then plus US Customs and Border Protection,” said Elliott. “And then another example is when we’re doing snow removal here at the airport. No one snow is like another one.”
Elliott attended Indiana State University where he earned a B.S. in aerospace administration and an A.S. in general aviation flight technology. He holds a commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating.
“It’s not an easy industry to get into because you have to start at the bottom,” he said. “You gotta build your resume as you go. I think a lot of people when they get out of college, they think that they can just drop right into an airport operations job. But usually it takes a few years, you know, doing something at a smaller airport whether it be management, maintenance. That’s kind of the route that I went was with maintenance just to get my foot in the door.”
