The System Service Supervisor

Name: Zubin Mavalwala

Occupation: System Service Supervisor

Number of Years in Profession: 11 years

Nationality: Indian

SS: What made you choose this career path?
ZM: I love aircrafts and really enjoy customer service as well. The best way to enjoy both was to work on the ground for an airline, since I’m not too fond of flying.

SS: What qualifications do you require for this job?
ZM: Apart from having graduated from college, you also need to have knowledge of computers and IT, problem-solving skills, and customer service experience.

SS: Describe your typical day at work.
ZM: As a System Service Supervisor, it's my job to control flights on the computer system used by the Emirates check-in staff. I help our staff at Dubai International Airport handle passengers checking in and deal with any special requirements like seat releases, giving seats to staff passengers and passengers on standby. Forty minutes before departure, we close the flight and hand over to another department.

I also work with the Emirates Help Desk, which supports Emirates stations at airports all over the world with system support.

SS: What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
ZM: What makes me feel special is the fact that I have special codes and passwords that give me access to restricted information required for my job. The most enjoyable part however is the satisfaction I receive from knowing that I have played a role in the timely departure of flights.

SS: What is the single most challenging aspect of your job?
ZM: My job requires controlling multiple flights at a time, which requires a lot of concentration as well as the ability to work under pressure. If I lose concentration or slack off even slightly, it could result in flight delays and unhappy passengers.

SS: What advice would you give to Skysurfers who wish to follow a similar career path?
ZM: I’d like to tell Skysurfers that if they enjoy multi-tasking and like each day to be a different experience, this is a good career path to follow.