Corporate dispatcher to pilot?

[Groundpounder]

I had an interview last week with a major police unit to be an aircraft/crew scheduler, flight follower, and whatever else comes under the 'dispatcher' banner. One of their major missions is VIP transport, so I guess they are going to be similar to a corporate flight department. They even said they were going to send me to flight safety. Anyway, I don't think I'd have a chance to fly for them, since most of their aircraft are helicopters, and their pilots are all cops.
But lets say I move on to a traditional corporate flight department, have dispatchers ever moved on to flight positions? I am taking my multi commercial ride in a week or so, but I don't have a ton of hours. Obviously I'd have my foot in the door if I was a dispatcher, but would it be enough to slide into a pilot job with low TT?

 

[Flywrite]

In my limited experience a corporate flight department is wary of hiring a dispatcher who is looking to move over to a pilot seat in the near future. Notice I said NEAR future though. I think someone in your shoes with low time and a few years to go before being "qualified" for a corporate seat might be a more attractive candidate. They know you arent going to bail for the first flying job that comes along, but it does put you in a great position to fly for them a few years down the road.

I may be way off on my analysis, but it seems like it may be a good move for someine in your situation.

 

[FlightTraker]

Groundpounder,

I don't know about corporate, but I went from 121 dispatch to be a pilot at an airline. From what I understand.....most corporate pilot jobs come about from "who you know." I would think as a corporate dispatcher, you would most likely be right where you need to be for that. However, I do believe (someone help me here) the minimum flight hours to get a corporate job are driven quite high by insurance rates, making it difficult for low timers to get a job. Good Luck!


FlightTraker

 

[PMVULB AvMgr]

You wrote:

They even said they were going to send me to flight safety.

Did they say thery were going to send you to FS in order for you to be pilot? Or are you assuming that's what they meant?

Flight Safety has a very good Flight Dispatcher program, which culminates in your being ready for the FAA test to obtain a dispatchers license. Perhaps this was the intent in sending you to FS?

 

[Sandi3229]

Out of curiosity - where is this position located at? I am a dispatcher and have worked with the military only so far. I am trying to break into a corporate position as a flight follower or dispatcher. I complete my certification in August and will be licensed (finally). I have looked at the NC Highway patrol, but they are a hard code to break. Any advice you can give??? By the way, good luck with moving over to the pilot arena!!

 

[FlightTraker]

Sandi,

Try Flight Options or NetJets. Probably easier to get a job there than at a smaller corporate outfit.


FlightTraker

 

[Sandi3229]

Thanks - I am trying to stay in the NC area .... kinda limits me on options!!


Thanks though!!!

 

[Groundpounder]

You wrote:

They even said they were going to send me to flight safety.

Did they say thery were going to send you to FS in order for you to be pilot? Or are you assuming that's what they meant?

Flight Safety has a very good Flight Dispatcher program, which culminates in your being ready for the FAA test to obtain a dispatchers license. Perhaps this was the intent in sending you to FS?

From what I understand, there is a annual conference run by FSI for corporate dispatch people, they said I would most likely be going to that. That is if I get the job.....

 

[mike1mc]

From what I understand, there is a annual conference run by FSI for corporate dispatch people, they said I would most likely be going to that. That is if I get the job.....

Sounds like the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference held in Savannha, GA every year.

 

[Groundpounder]

Sounds about right, but they also mentioned St. Louis in there somewhere. Oh well, I'll find out soon enough.

 

[PMVULB AvMgr]

The next NBAA Annual Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference will be held Feb 14 - 16 in Reno, Nevada. It was in Savannah earlier this year, and usually moves to a different city every year.