Continental Hiring

[whatfuelpolicy]

http://jobs-continental.icims.com/c...didate/job.jsp?jobid=7459&mode=view&sn=Indeed

Dispatcher - HQS Job ID: 106696# Positions: 1Location: US-TX-HoustonPosted Date: 05/04/2007Category: Flight Operations Division/Flight Operations DispatchersPosition Type: Full Time
OverviewFREE AIR TRAVEL
JUST ONE OF THE PERKS

When you work at Continental, your talent can take you places – even when you’re not at work. Because in addition to a culture that encourages new ideas, we offer a benefits package that provides free air travel. So where do you want your career to take you?

Dispatcher
Houston, Texas

Equal Opportunity Employer by Choice.

Travel subject to service charges/restrictions. Bonuses awarded only under terms of Continental's policies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct all flight operations assigned in accordance with company and FAA regulations and procedures. This will normally cover individual flight planning, releases, flight monitoring, weather and operational advisory service.
• Upon reporting for duty and continuously during his tour of duty, the dispatcher shall make a careful check, monitor, and analyze weather conditions over regular and alternate routes, changes in the route navigational facilities, field conditions, inoperative navigational facilities, and two-way radio communications (ground stations).
• The dispatcher shall provide the Pilot-in-Command with all available current reports or information on airport conditions and irregularities of navigation facilities that may affect the safety of the flight.
• Before beginning a flight, the dispatcher shall provide the Pilot-in-Command with all available weather reports and forecasts of weather phenomena that may affect the safety of flight, including adverse weather phenomena, such as clear air turbulence, thunderstorms, and low level windshear, for each route to be flown and each airport to be used.
• During a flight, the dispatcher shall provide the Pilot-in-Command any additional available information of meteorological conditions including adverse weather phenomena, such as clear air turbulence, thunderstorms, and low level windshear, and irregularities of facilities and services, that may affect the safety of the flight.
• Read and initial all Dispatch Bulletins and circulars issued since last tour of duty.
• Dispatch Bulletins will remain current for a period of 120 days from the date of issuance. At the end of the valid period the bulletin will have been incorporated into the Operations Manual, reissued under a new bulletin number or considered outdated.

Qualifications

• Dispatch certificate required and dispatch experience desired.
• Must be able to work shifts (including nights, holidays and weekends).
• Must be legally authorized to work permanently in the U.S. without sponsorship.

 

[whatfuelpolicy]

Anyone know what starting pay is? QOL?

 

[propsarebest]

pay is like $17/hr for the first 2 years, and QOL is crap.

 

[whatfuelpolicy]

Whats wrong with the QOL? IS it just the area or is it the company that creates the problem?

 

[bgaviator]

I dunno, I'd consider working at Continental a dream job. I think Houston would be great, and it's a very reputable airline. I would apply but I just started a new job! Gotta love the timing of things.

 

[Ohh Porterhouse]

I think Continental would be a fine company to work for. I am just not interested myself to leave my current location and go live in IAH. Thats just me. I think anyone would be wise to jump on this opporotunity if its your cup of tea?

 

[rod guhzhinya]

sweet

 

[hoover]

A year ago I interviewed and was offered a job at Continental. Starting pay is about 35K. No benefits for the first 6 months. Top pay at 15 years of service was about 70K. After a year you will most likely be bumped to international desk for about 2K more per year. It's a junior assignment. As I recall schedule is 5 on/2 off with an occasional 3 day break. Expect to spend several years working graveyard shifts.

I turned the job down. I guess it wasn't a bad job as things go, but I would hardly consider it a "dream job" That was more like United pre-9/11. 50K to start, 100K after 10 years, 5/2 5/2/ 5/6 schedule, rotating.

 

[bgaviator]

A year ago I interviewed and was offered a job at Continental. Starting pay is about 35K. No benefits for the first 6 months. Top pay at 15 years of service was about 70K. After a year you will most likely be bumped to international desk for about 2K more per year. It's a junior assignment. As I recall schedule is 5 on/2 off with an occasional 3 day break. Expect to spend several years working graveyard shifts.

I turned the job down. I guess it wasn't a bad job as things go, but I would hardly consider it a "dream job" That was more like United pre-9/11. 50K to start, 100K after 10 years, 5/2 5/2/ 5/6 schedule, rotating.

Well I guess it's a dream job in the sense that it's a major airline to where you are certainly making more money than the regionals, and you could get flight benefits to pretty much anywhere in the world. Also, your job would be a lot more stable than most of the regionals or some of the other majors. Also, that it's in Houston....a city in which people more likely want to live than where some of the other airlines are based.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Well I guess it's a dream job in the sense that it's a major airline to where you are certainly making more money than the regionals, and you could get flight benefits to pretty much anywhere in the world. Also, your job would be a lot more stable than most of the regionals or some of the other majors. Also, that it's in Houston....a city in which people more likely want to live than where some of the other airlines are based.

Is there a term for the Dispatcher version of Shiny Jet Syndrome?

 

[gooseman13]

Well I guess it's a dream job in the sense that it's a major airline to where you are certainly making more money than the regionals, and you could get flight benefits to pretty much anywhere in the world.

Come work at Colgan. I get flight benefits on Continental, as well as United and USAirways. You can non-rev pretty easily to every continent, except Antartica. Of course, we start flying there come December when the Q400s come online.

 

[hoover]

That's the thing though, the money wasn't really there. Initially I would have taken about a 10% pay cut. Eventually the money would have been better, but not so better that it was worth giving up my senior position in my current job and the lower cost of living that I was enjoying. In the end I think it pretty much would have been a wash. The major airline gig just isn't what it used to be.

 

[bgaviator]

Come work at Colgan. I get flight benefits on Continental, as well as United and USAirways. You can non-rev pretty easily to every continent, except Antartica. Of course, we start flying there come December when the Q400s come online.

Isn't Colgan now owned by Pinnacle? And isn't the base near D.C? I can only imagine the cost of living is insane there compared to the income.....can you give some more information? Thanks.

 

[RJAA]

Continental dispatch will be the second lowest paid in the industry after America West merges into U.S. Airways pay scale, it will be down there next to AirTran. However, the job itself can be pretty awesome if you are really into the job. As little as one year, they will let you dispatch the entire Continental system, polar stuff, DEL, NRT, Europe, GUM, and South America and you will be qualified to do them all. No assistant BS. There is going to be a good learning curve and quality of life will suck, but that's all expected working for a major international airline. Money is one thing but job security is just as important. Continental always run a lean operation, and there is no doubt that every airlines has problems and there is always going to be some upset people but so far the airline has shown to make smart decisions. Always two steps ahead of the game and that's real important for your career until you get your seniority up.

 

[bgaviator]

Continental dispatch will be the second lowest paid in the industry after America West merges into U.S. Airways pay scale, it will be down there next to AirTran. However, the job itself can be pretty awesome if you are really into the job. As little as one year, they will let you dispatch the entire Continental system, polar stuff, DEL, NRT, Europe, GUM, and South America and you will be qualified to do them all. No assistant BS. There is going to be a good learning curve and quality of life will suck, but that's all expected working for a major international airline. Money is one thing but job security is just as important. Continental always run a lean operation, and there is no doubt that every airlines has problems and there is always going to be some upset people but so far the airline has shown to make smart decisions. Always two steps ahead of the game and that's real important for your career until you get your seniority up.

Thanks for that information! Does anyone have any current updated pay scales for all the airlines? And when you mention QOL sucking...is that more from just what hours you work, how management is, or does it purely have to do with living in Houston?

 

[bcp7]

I must preface my remarks by stating that I have not worked for CO, but did work for Continental Micronesia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines, and was able to see the CO contract as well as American Airlines and UAL through the TWU. I have seen the post 9-11 contract for CO, but not for the other airlines.

One issue is the work schedule, they are contractually obligated to work 245 days per year, which is practically a 5-2 schedule. The Hawaiian Airlines contract calls for 218-220 days per year. Continental Micronesia dispatchers work the same type of schedule. Most dispatchers (Part 121 Domestic or Flag) or Flight Followers (Part 121 Supplemental Carriers) will work fewer days than this and some will have the Holy Grail of schedules 4 on -4 off, or slightly less desirable 4 on 3 off 3 on 4 off.

The Continental Airlines SOCC is in the Headquarters building in downtown Houston. The desirable parts of Houston now are north of IAH or out west, so this involves what could be a long commute.