Holding out for a better dispatching job?

[onewithwings]

There is a heck of line however waiting to get a regional job... schools are pumping them out with rose colored glasses as they always have... I would bet this poster was promised a six figure career on no time....

That's what they did in my class. Consequently I am the ONLY graduate from my class that is working as a dispatcher. I'm STILL doing my time at a regional after 14 years. (And just so you know, income will never reach 6 figures at a regional.)

~OWW~

 

[onewithwings]

You learn more at Supplementals about actual dispatching but at regionals you learn airline operations better.

I understand this is one man's opinion but I wouldn't bet the ranch on that statement. Maybe for a CAT I fleet but that doesn't apply to a CAT III fleet....just sayin'

~OWW~

 

[uhdt]

I understand this is one man's opinion but I wouldn't bet the ranch on that statement. Maybe for a CAT I fleet but that doesn't apply to a CAT III fleet....just sayin'

~OWW~

I don't think there is a right or wrong comment on this.... Squirrel29 is correct about a supplemental...there's a lot of diversity in the flying. You may be going to Orlando one day and then sending the flight to the deepest parts of Africa or some other off the wall place. At a scheduled carrier (regional or whatever), you're going to learn how the ATC system works, know what to expect (as much as possible anyway), experience CAT II and III operations, and live in a more controlled setting with the flights. I'd consider scheduled operations as controlled chaos, and supplemental as uncontrolled chaos. My prior carrier did supplemental, scheduled and flag (also ETOPS) and my current is supplemental, so I think I can weigh in on the subject
Regardless, Dispatching is a great job if you have the mindset for it...

 

[pinoyatc]

After working in the flag and supplemental world for 6 years, I'm now at a major. Domestic dispatch at a major is boring as hell. I know I'm a worse dispatcher now.

 

[OneBadLT123]

I don't think there is a right or wrong comment on this.... Squirrel29 is correct about a supplemental...there's a lot of diversity in the flying. You may be going to Orlando one day and then sending the flight to the deepest parts of Africa or some other off the wall place. At a scheduled carrier (regional or whatever), you're going to learn how the ATC system works, know what to expect (as much as possible anyway), experience CAT II and III operations, and live in a more controlled setting with the flights. I'd consider scheduled operations as controlled chaos, and supplemental as uncontrolled chaos. My prior carrier did supplemental, scheduled and flag (also ETOPS) and my current is supplemental, so I think I can weigh in on the subject
Regardless, Dispatching is a great job if you have the mindset for it...

After working in the flag and supplemental world for 6 years, I'm now at a major. Domestic dispatch at a major is boring as hell. I know I'm a worse dispatcher now.

Working for a major, regional, and supplemental airline I can pretty much agree with these statements.

Supplemental flying can be a whole different ballgame in terms of the randomness that happens. My favorite time dispatching was supplemental. The only thing that bothered me about it though was sometimes it seemed like you had to reinvent the wheel all the time. It was by far the most challenging and in my opinion REAL "dispatching"

 

[SKC]

The only thing that bothered me about it though was sometimes it seemed like you had to reinvent the wheel all the time. It was by far the most challenging

Ancient cargo 727, night time, middle of the Amazon, no ACARS, no ASD, just a hand held GPS for nav (excuse me, a back-up to pilotage in that area) and a suitcase of cash to pay off crooked ground handlers. A bit more interesting than LBB-ELP.

I love my job and and take solace in knowing that there's certain things in the domestic world that are rock solid and won't change.

I don't think I necessarily learned how to dispatch better at a Supp, just that I learned about all the nooks and crannies of dispatching that I wouldn't have at a domestic.

 

[OneBadLT123]

Ancient cargo 727, night time, middle of the Amazon, no ACARS, no ASD, just a hand held GPS for nav (excuse me, a back-up to pilotage in that area) and a suitcase of cash to pay off crooked ground handlers. A bit more interesting than LBB-ELP.

I love my job and and take solace in knowing that there's certain things in the domestic world that are rock solid and won't change.

I don't think I necessarily learned how to dispatch better at a Supp, just that I learned about all the nooks and crannies of dispatching that I wouldn't have at a domestic.

Trust me man, I know that all too well hahahaha.

 

[uhdt]

Ancient cargo 727, night time, middle of the Amazon, no ACARS, no ASD, just a hand held GPS for nav (excuse me, a back-up to pilotage in that area) and a suitcase of cash to pay off crooked ground handlers. A bit more interesting than LBB-ELP.

I love my job and and take solace in knowing that there's certain things in the domestic world that are rock solid and won't change.

I don't think I necessarily learned how to dispatch better at a Supp, just that I learned about all the nooks and crannies of dispatching that I wouldn't have at a domestic.

Dang SKC....I was waiting for you to mention something about the Omegas failing everynight at sunset or how the Eurocontrol RAD compliant route from yesterday wasn't good today because it's the 3rd Friday of an odd numbered month and one airway became a CDR3!
You do more of on the fly dispatching at a supplemental than you do at a scheduled...like learning what to do when a station is basically VFR, except for that tempo of 300 Meters for the whole TAF valid time (EINN did that...never went below 8000 meters...)

 

[Squirrel29]

OWW I wasnt trying to offend I was actually trying to stress having regional experience is important to moving to a major.

For anyone that just received their license. I would encourage them to do 2 years at both regional first then Supplemental. After 4 years they should be well rounded enough that getting a interview at a major would be no problem

 

[uhdt]

OWW I wasnt trying to offend I was actually trying to stress having regional experience is important to moving to a major.

For anyone that just received their license. I would encourage them to do 2 years at both regional first then Supplemental. After 4 years they should be well rounded enough that getting a interview at a major would be no problem

Good point Squirrel....and I'm not out to offend anyone either.
I work with folks that have never done sked...and had no idea about the OIS board or GDP's and how to deal with them, and we've had people come in from regionals and got their eyes opened with the non-sked side. Each side is unique, and experience in both is great.

 

[propsarebest]

2 years at a 121 regional, 5 years at a non sched. Now at a big 135 outfit.

The experience at both places before was GREAT.

 

[pinoyatc]

In my class we had a mix experiences. There was a few from the regional, some LCC / Nationals, and some charters / supplemental. There also was one with no prior 121 just 135 and one with only having 6 months at a regional. I just had a friend get picked by another major with just a few years of supplemental experience. Don't feel like you have to go the regional route to make it to a major. What really matters is if you have a brain to make logical decisions and the right attitude. They will teach you everything else.

 

[polarjet205]

Just like the old saying goes when buy a house... location, location, loacation... the same thing holds true in aviation... who you know, who you know, who you know...

but ya better have the time in with some heavy equipment to even get past the HR screening.. with just 4 years. The school ya went to means nothing, but the company you have been with can mean alot... with such a small community, word between managers gets around, way outside the normal hiring process and thats " money" in this business..

As far as pay goes, most people stay where they are after 10 years, because experience means nothing to another airline if you move, short of going into management, you will take a hugh pay hit and get all the crappy schedules all over again.. IMO, its one of the biggest problems in aviation for the individual dispatcher, certainly this is one of the last industries that makes one start over each time they move to another carrier.. but thats another thread thats been beat to death..

I for one searched for a long time for a civilian contractor position supporting military flight ops... the pay & benefits are outstanding, the job is very similar to dispatching, they are here in the states or overseas if thats your thing, with little of the other negative issues associated with working for 121/135.. no more cummuting, fighting/ hoping for a seat home or to work, or trying to take the family on a free vacation with impossible full flights... it's easier now to just buy tickets and know your most likely getting where you want to go.

The romance of airline work sure is not what it used to be for anyone...

 

[dispatchguy]

The romance of airline work sure is not what it used to be for anyone...

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[BigFellor]

If it's so miserable, go do something else.