Keeping a Pulse on Operations

The Operational Control Center (OCC) at Metro Aviation is the nerve-center of our mission-critical flight operations. From our headquarters in Shreveport we monitor, coordinate, and support all flights—24 hours a day, 365 days a year—ensuring that every crew, every aircraft, and every mission is conducted as safely as possible.

Our OCC oversees a fleet of over 170 aircraft across 45 programs in 27 states and the District of Columbia.

The Role of our Operational Control Specialists

Every aircraft departure, every in-flight contingency, every weather shift and crew change is logged, tracked, evaluated and managed by our OCC team. They:

  • monitor real-time aircraft status, crew readiness, weather and route data via large-format displays and advanced systems

  • ensure compliance with FAA regulations (Part 135) and our internal standards. For example, OCC staff have authority to terminate a flight when any operational, safety, or regulatory threshold is at risk

  • coordinate flight planning, dispatch, and mission-support tasks—acting as the hub between pilots, maintenance, scheduling, and external partners

WHY THE OCC MATTERS

The Operational Control Center is essential to Metro Aviation’s Safety Management System, tracking every flight in real time and enabling proactive, informed decision-making. By continuously monitoring weather, aircraft airworthiness, crew fatigue, and regulatory requirements, the OCC enhances operational readiness and reduces risk across our programs. In the fast-paced world of air medical transport, timely decisions are critical, and the OCC provides the oversight and coordination needed to keep those transports running smoothly. Our pilots and crews rely on OCC personnel as trusted, behind-the-scenes partners who anticipate challenges, ensure resources are in place, and maintain full situational awareness for every transport.

Behind The Scenes

At the heart of the OCC are highly trained Operational Control Specialists (OCS) who bring a unique blend of aviation knowledge, analytical skill, and calm under pressure. They maintain constant vigilance for every flight in our network. Our team of nearly 20 specialists manage an average of 331 flights each day.

Many are pilots themselves. Each one has undergone extensive company-specific training, including qualification in monitoring, dispatch, flight-planning, and risk assessment. They embody our mission to provide “the safest and highest-quality aircraft operations, so that our customers can safely and effectively accomplish their mission profile.”

Our Commitment

By investing in a state-of-the-art OCC facility and best-in-class staffing and technology, Metro Aviation ensures that our operations team is always ahead of the curve, ready for changes in weather, aircraft condition, staffing or transport scope. The result: greater confidence for our crews, our customers, and ultimately the patients we serve.