Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Is dispatching a good job?!

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Joined
Apr 3, 2005
Posts
5
I no a dispatcher must know all the same information as a pilot and is the pilots second hand man but I have not heard much about a dispatchers job and people's opinion about becoming one.
 
Dispatching

It has it's moments just like every other job does. For the most part, it's pretty cool. I work with a bunch of people that are easy to work with at my company and that makes it a lot easier to put up with some of the more stressful weather/maintenance days we have. The post 9/11 airline industry isn't exactly the best place to work now though. If you go the dispatch route and get on with a decent regional, expect about 24K-26K a year to start with very limited annual pay raises.

Check into ATC too. That's my advice. I was military ATC and got out too late to go with the Feds. I could kick myself in the a** for not getting out before I did.
 
While the job market may be a bit tough now, I love the job and think the QOL is terrific. Most regionals will have you work four 10 hour days a week, giving you three days off. A lot of majors work rotating schedules..5/2; 5/5, 5/2,etc...
You plan the routes, mostly canned routes unless there is weather, alternates, altitudes, fuel, etc. Spend a lot of time reading METARS, TAF's, NOTAMS, AIRMETS, SIGMETS, Winds Aloft, Radar, Satellite. On a clear day, it's an easy job, and on a thunderstorm day, it's a fun/hectic/frustrating day. Some days you will be at your desk for 10 hours straight building re-routes, and trying to stay ahead of the curve, other days you will pump out releases and wander around talking to others in the office.
The best part is...when you leave the office, there's no thinking about projects that are due, or meetings you have to attend later in the week. When you're gone, you're gone!
My .02...the more you get involved, and plan the flight as if you will be the one flying it, the more fun it is.
 
Dispatch Market

I agree with all the above posters 100%,,,,as far as the job market goes, well that is another subject...there are tons of folks out of work looking for dispatch jobs, and as many working now that are willing to go somewhere else i.e. COEX likes this method of hiring.

I have been looking for sometime now and have on occasion seen the same folks at the interview's with me over and over...To save you some heart ache, I would sugest your first job apps with smaller companies or companies that LIKE to hire right out of school...Gulf Stream in FLL, Pinnical in MEM, etc. I have found out that my 2 years experience is not enough and that I am getting beat out by folks with 4 or more years experience many of which are currently working....

The best advise is to stay as current as possibly and be patient, apply for jobs that dont have experience requirements in the ads, also check out this web site for general info on dispatch wages..
http://64.255.97.93/

this is the (WDFF) Will dispatch for food site, courtesy of Mr Doug S.
...he does a good job with keep the info accurate..for all of us.

I dont want to shun you from your dreams, but if you are a cross roads of your career, and young enough, I would look into other aviation fields, like getting your A&P license, or go to ATC route, they are scheduled to hire over 12,000 atc folks over the next 8 years of mandatory retirements, which for ATC is 54 years old.....

As always good luck
 
Last edited:
rvsm410 said:
I agree with all the above posters 100%,,,,as far as the job market goes, well that is another subject...there are tons of folks out of work looking for dispatch jobs, and as many working now that are willing to go somewhere else i.e. COEX likes this method of hiring.

I have been looking for sometime now and have on occasion seen the same folks at the interview's with me over and over...To save you some heart ache, I would sugest your first job apps with smaller companies or companies that LIKE to hire right out of school...Gulf Stream in FLL, Pinnical in MEM, etc. I have found out that my 2 years experience is not enough and that I am getting beat out by folks with 4 or more years experience many of which are currently working....

RVSM410

not sure where you have been looking. Seems to be many opening out there. In fact, I have 3 offers on the table right now. I only have 2 years experience.

Good luck in the job hunt.
 
Update

Why anyone would want to get into aircraft dispatch at this point confuses me. You’ll get a job at a regional airline no doubt. Where you go from there is anyone’s guess. Occasionally a major is hiring but as volatile as the airline industry is right now, I wouldn’t plan on a career at a major Part 121 passenger airline. FedEx and UPS are the only places I would even think about going now and the competition for those jobs is fierce. Those two companies can pick and choose the crème de la crème of dispatchers and I know FedEx only hires from within. I don’t know about UPS. Occasionally there’s an opening there.

My advice to anyone is stay away from this job like it’s live Ebola virus. It’s thankless, no one gives a d*mn about your workload, you get paid a poor wage for the responsibility you have every day on the regional level and you're a potential scapegoat.

Every regional airline management group has apparently forgotten what happened on 9/11/2001 and assumes that their company is still a “stepping stone” to that major airline job. I’m sure they all get a laugh in the boardroom about what a good deal they’re getting on their underpaid employees. Pilots may have a better chance with a major but that’s not the case anymore with dispatchers.

Just my $.02
 
Last edited:
Wow!

SInce you have so many opportunities "on the Table" when you make your choice..please throw me the scaps, left overs or what ever you have.....

405 is correct, the only problem is like other aviators in the crazy business its hard to walk away from it as he states....

I agree that the regional ranks is the future for most of us, and manybe someday the wages will move upward to reflect our responsibilities and loyality to a career with one company again....Blue sky indeed, but possible..

Ok Homer fire away.....you cant resist I know......



homerjdispatch said:
RVSM410

not sure where you have been looking. Seems to be many opening out there. In fact, I have 3 offers on the table right now. I only have 2 years experience.

Good luck in the job hunt.
 
What about corp. and charter dispatch jobs? Are those any better than the airline positions you guys have been talking about?
 
I started dispatching at a cargo airline and make awesome money. 40 grand starting. You know what though I have had enough and have to go fly. It is a pretty stressful job and a lot of work but the people can make it fun.
 
My 02c on career path

Bottom line of you do a job for money you will hate going to work.If you do job becase you like the job it will not seem like work....
If you want to make a $300,000 dollars a year go be a heart Surgeon @ hospital.
 
Anyway...thanks to the guy and gals who do a thankless job. I've done the pilot thing with and without a dispatcher and I definitely prefer the former.
 
Done them both. I'd rather be at home each night with the family than being onthe road so much. My experience (4 yrs dispatch) is you are taken for granted and not given the respect deserved. Just my opinion.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top