Hi Guys,
I am just wondering what the Dispatch training looks like at WestJet. I understand that it's 6 weeks of ground school followed by a couple of months OJT on the desk, but does anyone know how the ground school is broken down (Exam once at the end, exam each week, timeline for the topics covered etc)? I'm also curious to know if the Dispatchers get their own ground school or do they do a common ground school with pilot trainees?
Any information would be useful.
Cheers!
WestJet Dispatcher Training
Moderators: lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, I WAS Birddog
Re: WestJet Dispatcher Training
There are 3 parts to the training at WJ and what you do depends if you have your TC exams or not.
Without the exams is aprox 10 weeks classroom and aprox 3-4 months of OJT.
1st week is studying met in the classroom followed by 1 week of self study where you need to go and write your met exam that week.
3rd week is studying the air regs part followed by 1 week of self study where again you write the 2nd exam somewhere in that week.
Once the first four weeks are done you do aprox 6 weeks of classroom training that is all more or less WJ SOP's. Learn all company docs, procedures, computer systems and applications. At the end of the 6 weeks you do a written and practical exam with the instructior at which point you are signed off to commence OJT.
If you already have your exams written and they are still valid you simply join the class after the first 4 weeks.
OJT is pretty straight fwd - you are assigned to work with dispatchers on live flights under thier supervision. As mentioned above, OJT is usually about 3-4 months on a steady learning curve. There is absolutley no timeline (within reason) be be ready to check out so it depends on the trainees skill set. Once you are getting to that point you will work towards preparing for your comp check which is 8-12 hours with an TC approved company check dispatcher. Once you pass, you sign some papers shake some hands, have some weight lifted off your shoulders and get back to the desk to finish your shift on your own!
It is a great program that is geared to people with different past roles in the industry. The company makes a big investment in you so the progam is built for success. That said, it is a solid 6 month (give or take) commitment and you need to be prepared to accept that as it is easy to fall behind and tough to climb back if you do fall behind.
Hope this helps!
** Sorry - once in the WJ Classroom part there are weekly exams covering that weeks lessons and it is only dispatchers in the classroom - The interaction with the pilot group is during your anual CRM class which has to be done prior to checking out.
Without the exams is aprox 10 weeks classroom and aprox 3-4 months of OJT.
1st week is studying met in the classroom followed by 1 week of self study where you need to go and write your met exam that week.
3rd week is studying the air regs part followed by 1 week of self study where again you write the 2nd exam somewhere in that week.
Once the first four weeks are done you do aprox 6 weeks of classroom training that is all more or less WJ SOP's. Learn all company docs, procedures, computer systems and applications. At the end of the 6 weeks you do a written and practical exam with the instructior at which point you are signed off to commence OJT.
If you already have your exams written and they are still valid you simply join the class after the first 4 weeks.
OJT is pretty straight fwd - you are assigned to work with dispatchers on live flights under thier supervision. As mentioned above, OJT is usually about 3-4 months on a steady learning curve. There is absolutley no timeline (within reason) be be ready to check out so it depends on the trainees skill set. Once you are getting to that point you will work towards preparing for your comp check which is 8-12 hours with an TC approved company check dispatcher. Once you pass, you sign some papers shake some hands, have some weight lifted off your shoulders and get back to the desk to finish your shift on your own!
It is a great program that is geared to people with different past roles in the industry. The company makes a big investment in you so the progam is built for success. That said, it is a solid 6 month (give or take) commitment and you need to be prepared to accept that as it is easy to fall behind and tough to climb back if you do fall behind.
Hope this helps!
** Sorry - once in the WJ Classroom part there are weekly exams covering that weeks lessons and it is only dispatchers in the classroom - The interaction with the pilot group is during your anual CRM class which has to be done prior to checking out.
