Dispatcher, what's required, what's involved?

[davidv]

I was just wondering for being a dispatcher what does the job all include? Are there any career type positions as a dispatcher with the airlines etc.? What licenses, education and experience is required? What kind of pay can you earn as a dispatcher a few years in?

[just curious]

Large aircraft operators can't rely on individual pilots to decide what route and load they are going to carry. Otherwise we'd all fly Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 AM to 1530, with lunch off, on New York to Paris Route. As a result, airlines have dispatchers to try and plan the most useful (to the company) disposition of aircraft. They will prepare operational flight plans, and weather, along with airport, and facility defect notices (NOTAMs), as well as defect equipment notices for the aircraft. They will offer this package to the crews to accept or modify as required, and track the progress of flights, and crews.

I think the ball-park starting salaries for carriers such as Air Canada or WestJet are in the low seventies, but, since I'm not a dispatcher, or a WJ or AC employee, this could just be wishful thinking.

I haven't idea one about the training of dispatchers, except that they have to have the wisdom of Solomon, and an over-all sunny disposition balanced occaisionally with the pit-bull demeanor of Carla from Cheers.

[Slappy the Squirrel]

The training a dispatcher requires depends on the complexity of the air service they work for. Larger operations require dispatchers to be licensed with transport canada. In order to be licensed there are two exams that dispatchers must write: Meterology and Flight Operations. There are no ground school requirements prior to writing these exams, although most people new to aviation will need to take a course to understand the subjects. I found these exams to be very similar to the ATPL exams. After those exams are written there is a mandatory 60 day on the job training requirement, as well as company specific ground school (aircraft systems, emergency plan, dangerous goods). The final step in getting licensed is a flight dispatch check with a transport canada check dispatcher, which is structured very similar to a flight test.

Wages depend big time on the company, but apparently once you're licensed with a bit of experience it's pretty easy to get on with AC, WJ, Jazz, where wages are very good.

[davidv]

Any idea where a good place for a starting job would be?

[YOWTXR]

I agree, all the suggestions and comments above are quite valid. In terms of education, well there is no formal requirements other than high school, but like anything else, a post secondary education would be advantageous. A dispatch license comes after the complaetion of the 2 generic dispatch exams have been completed (both requiring a minimum of 70%). After the exams are complete you can start training as a dispatcher with an airline. Depending on the type of operation you decide to apply for the training length may differ. Type A, complex operations require a minimum amount of time of classroom and on the job training.
My suggestion would be to look into some dispatch prep schools, unless you have extensive knowledge of airline / flight operations. Otherwise, you may be put in a predicament where you will not pass the examinations and have to wait until you are eligible to re-write the exams. Keep in mind, few airlines will accept you unless you have completed these exams.

In terms of salary, Canada does fairly well in this department for starting dispatchers. Usually you can expect between 35-45k to start with a smaller airline. After getting some experience you can start applying with larger carriers who on average range from 50k-100k depending on the carrier and aircraft types operated. If you plan on looking outside of Canada you can expect carriers in the mid east to offer significantly larger salaries, but again, that comes with experience.
In any event, dispatching is a great move to make within the airline industry. It offers you the ability for advancement in many facets of the airline world. If you have anymore questions let me know and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[davidv]

Thanks! Just a few more questions then...

Though it would obviously be an asset do you require flying experience to get a dispatch job? Do you have any recommendations for good dispatch prep programs / schools? If I were to want to get into flying commercially at a later point would there be any advantage to dispatch experience?

[22R]

Is there an age limit or medical required?

[amraam]

davidv,

Asset to have flying experience - yes, not necessary though
Dispatch experience advantage for commercial job after - yes, good way to network with potential employeers, get job experience with airlines

22R,

No age limit or medical required that I'm aware of

amraam

[YOWTXR]

No medical required, but the age to write the examinations is a minimum or 21 yrs old.

And if you're looking for dispatch jobs within Canada, keep your eyes peeled, they are starting to pop up here and there.

[davidv]

What would be a good example of an average starting position?

[enduser]

Do you guys know a good school in montreal to study for dispatcher?

and do i get the licence after the two exams or i have to have 60 hours of dispatch and where can i get them?


thank you

[Panama Jack]

To my understanding, the two written exams are one of the prerequisits. The airline (your employer) will then train you on their dispatch operations to the certification level.

I myself am curious about the certification-- does an Aircraft Dispatcher receive a Transport Canada issued licence like pilots do? In the United States, the FAA issues a certificate on basically the same plastic stock that they issue to pilots, mechanics and parachute riggers.

[benoit.baril]

Enduser, if you speak french & are ready to move a little bit, I suggest CFTC in Quebec city. They have an awesome flight dipatch program that is 9 months long. After this course, you'll get a job quite easily. You'll also have pretty much everything in your hands in order to write the 2 TC exams.

After the exams, you have to do some ground school in an airline, on the job training & you have to be examinated by TC on a desk check.

If all goes well, you'll be certified soon; you'll receive a paper certificate from TC.
Panama Jack, It doesn't look like a pilot license.

After all this, you'll have a desk check every year or two.

The exams are only valid 2 years; if you do not have a certified dispatch job for more than 2 years, you'll have to write the exams again.

If you change jobs, you have to do ground school, on the job & desk check within that same company.

Any other questions go ahead.

[A Regulator]

First off, you do not get a "Dispatcher Licence" you will get a Dispatcher Certificate. Contact your local TC - Commercial and Business Aviation office and ask to speak with the Inspector who looks after Air Operator Dispatchers. Each TC region has someone who does this and they should/will be able to provide you all information and provide you with a list of training facilities who offer training. If you are able to do self study you can go to the TC web page and here is the link (http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/comme ... s/menu.htm) once there scroll down till you get to the study and reference guide for flight dispatchers and download it. This will tell you everything you need to know for study.

If you can not get the information from TC - CBA, pm me and I will get it for u. Also basically what others have mentioned it is 2 exams one for ops and one weather. The weather exam is the hardest as it is equal to the same type a pilot would attempt for an instrument rating. Once these TC exams are written and passed you will get a letter saying that you passed and then you will have better luck trying to find a job in dispatching as I have been told dont apply unless you have written the TC exams. Once hired you have to do the company specific training and do more exams with them then the final after training you are required to pass what is called a dispatcher check which is either completed by the company approved dispatcher or a TC Inspector. Also I would not attempt to write both TC exams on the same day as usually it does not go well.

[mathias_now]

Does anyone know what CFTC stands for when it comes down to flight dispatcher schools?

thanks,

MN

[A Regulator]

PM me if you would like to know the places that offer training or contact your local TC office and ask for the Inspector who looks after the "dispatch" requirements and they should be able to provide a list.

[benoit.baril]

CFTC = Centre de Formation en Transport de Charlesbourg
It's a School is Quebec City that offers a great 9 month flight dispatcher course.

http://www.cftc.qc.ca/

Been there, done that!

[mathias_now]

Thanks Ben, I'm sure its a great program. Theres only one problem, I dont speak french.

[RG3]

I have been studying for the FD TC exams and from the various people I have talked w/ in the AV industry, I am told the fail rate of writing these exams is any where from 50-80% depending. When you write your exams, you either know your stuff or you don't. You can expect to know how to read all kinds of charts, graphs and do various sorts of calculations using a flight computer. I was also told that, once hired by an airline, your ground school can take up to a year, depending on the airline and duties of their dispatchers. Also, depending on the airline, you can plan on working any where from 12-24 hour shifts (again, this is from what I have been told). Additionally, I was told that, though the pass mark on TC exams is a min. of 70%, some employers will ask you what your pass mark was and if it isn't at least 80% or higher (depending on the airline), they won't hire you because they want the most top notch and considering how many lives are in the FD hands, that makes sense. Just from the studying I have done to date... definitely having your radio operators license and experience w/ understanding weather/aviation maps and navigation is an asset for both getting hired and writing the TC exams.

Here is the Study Reference Guide from TC for Flight Dispatchers:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/comme ... 3/menu.htm

FD Written Exams:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/Quebec/eng/pilots/ex_dispatcher.htm

FD Position Job Description:
http://www.avjobs.com/careers/detail.asp?RecID=72

Here is an FD-Ops book you can order, done in a Q&A format:
http://www.aviationworld.net/product.as ... 4&c=264421
There is another book from this same company which has information on the weather aspects you need to know, but for some reason I am no longer able to find it online.

This school offers training for flight dispatchers:
http://www.canadianflyers.com/website/C ... aining.htm

Here is an acronym guide from TC which will help w/ 'some' of the acronyms you'll come across in your FD-ops:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/secre ... sary/a.htm

Here is a Nav (navigation) simulation link... I haven't figured it out yet, but it looks cool (move the 'plane', red space and blue space and then watch the readings change to the right):
http://www.visi.com/~mim/nav/

You need to know about VOR, here is a link w/ some information:
http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/vor-nav.htm

Here is another AV acronym glossary:
http://www.canairradio.com/glossary.html

When you are 'studying' and writing exams, your test books, text books etc... are kind of like the bible so you can pass those exams, but in the real world, much of that information you learned becomes more of a 'guideline' you try to follow as closely as possible. Here is an example: in my FD-Ops book, it says when a FD is signing off to land two large aircraft, they must be 4 miles apart. However, I know when I'm sitting on the runway in a Cessy waiting for 'traffic' clear, because our big city airport is so busy... watching those big 747's come down.... no way are they 4 miles apart... maybe 1/2 that. This is where your knowledge of the difference types of turbulence comes in.

You'll need to know about VHF:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF_omnidirectional_range
&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-directional_beacon

Keep yourself updated on TC Amendments:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/regse ... s/menu.htm

Here is an FD group on FB:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40218786143
The description reads as follows:
"A flight dispatcher is a person responsible for planning and monitoring the progress of a flight. In airline operations, both the pilot in command and the dispatcher are legally responsible for the safety of a flight. A dispatcher has the authority to delay, divert or cancel a flight at any time, and a flight cannot be released without the signature of both the pilot in command and the dispatcher. This improves the safety of the system by providing a form of check and balance. A dispatcher typically must be licensed by the aviation authority of a country. In order to obtain the license, the candidate must demonstrate extensive knowledge in meteorology and aviation, to a level that is comparable to that of an airline transport pilot license."

Air SAR offers a lot of the same knowledge through their free training (Nav, radio Operations etc...)... check out your local CASARA Zone. http://www.casara.ca/

These Two Books are a must have when doing your prep-studying for your FD exams:
. FLIGHT DISPATCHER GTC CFDGTC - http://www.cyberpilotshop.com/item652.htm
. FLIGHT DISPATCHER WRITTEN TEST BOOK CFDWTB http://www.cyberpilotshop.com/item653.htm
You can find a full description of both books on the . website: http://www.acceleratedaviation.com/
Good luck finding these books used; I have yet to ever find any and when I look online for some, all I find is other people wanting to find used copies of the books as well, so chances are, you'll have to buy new should you choose to buy these books.

Another must have book is called, "From the Ground Up". You can buy this book from your local pilot shop for roughly $45 Cnd.

Here is a super basic sample exam (far shorter than what you'll be writing, but just gives you an idea):
http://www.freewebs.com/instruction/sam ... nation.htm

Also, one of the reasons people fail their TC exams is not only do they not know their stuff, but, from what I understanding, the TC exams can be, for some people, very wordy (lots of big proper words) and some times this throws people off. + the answers tend to be very close together, such as: a) FL-200, b)FL-250, c) FL-300 d) none of the above or even closer you might have answers to choose from something like: a) 454, b) 455 c) 456, d) 553... so to get it right, you either know it or you don't and often times the answers are very close when it comes to answering questions which require calculations, charts etc... . S

I can't emphasize enough just how much you need to really know your stuff and considering people's lives are in your hands (flight safety, charting, signing off on planes that go up and come down, weight balance etc...) you really don't want to get it wrong. The AV world tends to frown on in-air fender-benders and so do the passengers and their loves ones .

Test yourself, daily or have someone you know test you daily on everything you have studied and learned... if you don't use it, you loose it and you'd be surprise how fast you forget information when it isn't regularly being recalled.

So far, this is all I have been able to find out. HTH's.

Again, this is all information I have learned from talking to this or that person in the industry, asking questions etc... and some times the information I get doesn't always line up w/ other information I had received to date or information down the road, so it is not 'first hand' information as I am not, as of yet, a FD.

I had heard (again, 2nd hand knowledge) that FD in Australia make a bundle: around $100K a year... WOW (not sure if that is AUD or Cnd., but if AUD then it would work out to roughly twice that in Cnd.), so if you are willing to move there you possibly could do very well for yourself.

I have also heard that, 'some', employers do require a basic medical, but I have not, to date, been able to find out any information about it. This would be something to maybe ask airlines or your local TC inspector and any information you find out, please share, as I haven't yet been able to confirm this information or get any other additional details.

Books are written by humans and no human is infallible: I have have some errors of information in the books I have already and I made the necessary corrections in my books after confirmation the information w/ TC or else where, so know your stuff and be up to date. One of the typo errors I found was an they had the acronym and then in brackets they had what the acronym meant... while the information the brackets wasn't completely correct, a word was missing, so now I'm having to re-train my train to 'new' information so when it comes up on the TC exam I get it the question write and don't confuse the answers.

I'm always open to any new information and anyone can feel free to correct anything I have said. Still so much to learn and I can't wait:

Hope all or some of this information helps.

[ubique]

Check out: http://www.maei.ca/

Morningstar Air Express hiring dispatchers. OJT.

[5400AirportRdSouth]

I wrote both of the exams last year, didnt find them all that bad really.

A little more involved than the CPAER, but only in a couple areas. Frankly, even if I bombed every question on trans-sonic boundary layer theory and some of the advanced chart / graph questions, I would still have passed. As it was, I had nothing but time and spent a good four months with my nose in the books and learned a lot of stuff that I will probably not need for a very long time....

I would be very, very surprised if these exams had a fail rate of 50% or greater. IMHO, your average CPL who has just studied for, and taken the CPAER, could probably squeak off a Pass without any additional study.

( Honestly, if you're just trying to flesh out your resume, I would suggest doing just this. Write the CPAER, if your feeling comfortable with the material, write the FDOPS and FDMET exams immediately. They're free and a pass is a pass if your simply trying to add a line or two to a resume. )

Was hoping to find some indoor employment last winter, but couldn't find a lot of opportunity for a dispatcher.

I know the US seems to havea lot more rigorous training, testing and you can actually earn a " Dispatchers Certificate " without being employed as dispatcher first.

If I was serious about this a career choice, I'd think about taking a course in the states, as there seems to be quite a few courses offered, and they seem quite a bit more job-oriented, as opposed to the study and reference books here, which I found to be simply exam-oriented.

[RG3]

CPAER

What does this acronym mean?

I would be very, very surprised if these exams had a fail rate of 50% or greater.

Just know that, that was what I told from various people (course organizer here at a college said 50% fail rate, someone else from the other side of the country said 80% fail rate etc... etc... etc...), first hand I have no idea. I'm thinking that, for the fail rates to be that high, it must be because people are taking the courses where they are done in 3-6 weeks and they teach you only exactly what you need to know to write the tests; prob. w/ that is, most could never learn and retain that much information in so short a time, unless they already had a lot of industry experience (such as being a pilot), so I think that is where the high fail rate comes in... basically just people going into a course, doing no ahead of study studying, thinking they can pass the TC exams w/ 0 to little knowledge and only a few weeks of teaching, which of course wouldn't work out very well for most. As it was mentioned earlier- there are some courses, in the states and Quebec and else where which do offer more thorough training as a FD... I think I posted a link for one in my original post as well.

and spent a good four months with my nose in the books

Yes, this is what I'm doing as well... studying...studying... and more studying. Can't pass if I don't know the answers.

[davidv]

Thanks to everyone for their replies, especially RG3 for that extensive list. I had this set to email me whenever someone posted but it stopped doing so for the April posts so I didn't see them until now.

I finally got the rejection notice from NavCanada so I am going the commercial pilot / dispatcher route. My plan is to get my commercial / multi / ifr over the next 2-3 years and when I get close to the end (I guess when I write my commercial exam) I will write the TC dispatch exams as well.

I've been studying aviation stuff for years, I was in the Conestoga program as well (finished the classes but not the flying back then) so I've had courses in aerodynamics, weather and so on, plus I do a lot of reading so I don't see myself having much trouble with them as long as I hit the books and prepare for them.

Thanks again!

[RG3]

No prob.- glad us fellow AVers could be of assistance. Good Luck!

[BDA]

RG3 wrote...

Here is a super basic sample exam (far shorter than what you'll be writing, but just gives you an idea):
http://www.freewebs.com/instruction/sam ... nation.htm

Thank you for mentioning our free sample exam.

As stated on our website (BDA Flight Training), this free sample exam is by no mean only for Flight Dispatcher and does not claim to cover all FD written exam topics. It is, simply, a sample exam for our various aviation students taking our various groundschool to add to their self-study time.

Next time please make mention of it when you posted our information and a link to our website.

Our website also include free download and other useful ressources. We provided a full-time and part-time Flight Dispatcher groundschool. Our students receive feedback and introduction to flight dispatch by representative of the industry.

Have a great day

BDA