Airports are staffed by pilots, flight attendants, clerks, and baggage handlers — but that’s only part of the workforce. Airports run on a smoothly coordinated routine featuring a cast of workers you’ve probably never heard of. There’s a person whose job is to chase birds away from runways, experts who calculate the exact balance of an aircraft, and crews who inspect every inch of pavement for tiny hazards. The next time you’re waiting at the gate, take a look out the window, and you’ll spot one of these surprising airport professionals quietly keeping everything on track.