Mesa dispatchers: why huge turnover?

[cointyro]

stillaboo remarked "I'd guess that you know some of Mesa's dispatchers. They should be unhappy people, as they continually make the pilots miserable. I don't know anyone who likes the dispatchers (including the dispatchers themselves. Turnover there is like 400%)." on a previous post.

Why the huge turnover? I know the pay is low, but what is it exactly? Any chance of snagging a dispatcher job with MAG if I get my license from a reputed dispatcher school, and also have my CPA and masters degree?

 

[ClassG]

You worked hard enough o get a CPA and Masters and now you want to go out and get training for a $25K dispatch position?

I assume this is so you can have an "in" or a solid resume background for a better airline job in the future?

I only ask because most dispatchers who plan to move over to the flight line usually get stuck in the dispatch position until they can no longer take it. Then they go somewhere else to try and get hired. What is your plan?

 

[cointyro]

What do you mean "until they could no longer stand it"? What would be not to stand? Is it really stressful?

I've worked for my CPA and masters and have saved a ton of cash for retirement. Now I'm looking for the "fun" job in life. I've always loved aviation and am thinking that a dispatch position might pair my interest in logistics and operations along with my interest in commercial aircraft. I know the pay is terrible, but that is OK as it only needs to be enough to support just me (I'm cheap) as I've saved all I need to for retirement at age 60 or so.

So... what job should a career changer take in the aviation world to sate my "I need an interesting job" thirst? Is aviation just all crappy with poor pay, long hours, and crummy management? Surely there's got to be something fun I could do...

 

[SpiderMan]

Being a porn star would be fun. Just as long as you dont have to do any gay porn.

 

[cointyro]

I meant something fun to do in aviation. Thanks for the brainstorming though, Spidey.

 

[WrightAvia]

How did you KNOW the gay porn wasnt FUN?

SpiderMan "Being a porn star would be fun. Just as long as you dont have to do any gay porn".

 

[skypine69]

Gay porn is fun! and it is similar to aviation in that you f@@ked in the a$$ all the time!

 

[ClassG]

See, that's by far the funniest thing I've heard all day!

 

[ClassG]

I didn't know you were already all set for retirement coinyo.

Are you a pilot? Can you move anywhere you want to go?

Are you interested in a desk job in aviation only?

There's plenty to do in this industry for fun. If you don't have to worry about money, you can go to Alask or Africa and bush fly for the remainder of your days. That's what I'd do if I had your options.

 

[cointyro]

Thanks for the first constructive comment : )

My posts are somewhat hypothetical; I think around 2006 I will have achieved the retirement security that I describe above. That is, while I will still be many many years away from retirement, I will no longer have the big need to save a large portion of my paycheck each month for the retirement fund.

I am not a pilot. I have long considered it, and will likely get my PPL soon.

Despite this interest in piloting I do not feel I have the wherewithal to fight my way up to a decent paid pilot position. More importantly, I have "quality of life" to consider. I will be married and likely will have kids (fate willing). Thus I will not want to be away from home on a regular basis. I additionally want some locational stability; that is, the chance of having to move should ideally be very low.

My ability to move anywhere is restricted primarily whether my wife will approve the move. We like Arizona the best so far.

This aspired job in aviation need not be a desk job. I'm interested in all positions. However, the hard labor of throwing bags certainly doesn't appeal to me.

Any ideas? Dispatching seems to be perhaps the most interesting of the non-flying positions, since you are an integral part to pilot ops.

Right now, I'm just exploring options. Money will not be a huge deal as my wife will work. Instead, I'm looking for that "dream job" that is actually enjoyable a decent percentage of the time.

No job is great all the time; but with my interest in aviation I imagine that obtaining a career in the "airplane" industry would boost my job satisfaction a bit; it would be an "adventure" or satisfying a life goal or aspiration to work with aircraft.

So, I solicit any and all opinions! Thank you for your time.

 

[skypine69]

In all seriousness, you would probably enjoy dispatching. It sounds like MESA is crappy place to work, but maybe you could work for America West (dont know if it is any better). I think that at first it would be kind of boring, I think it is fairly repetitive (computers do most of the work at our company). However, at least at my airline after you have been there awhile you can be a coordinator and oversee all the flights in a certain region and come up with plans when flight have WX, MX, or other delays and cancels.

Good luck!

 

[stillaboo]

Whoah! I had no idea people actually read what I write.

I have no idea what the actually turnover is at Mesa for Dispatchers. I'd guess 150%. I think alot of them go to HP for the increased pay and beni's.

I know they get allot of crap b/c the pilots think that everything they do seems to f$%k up their lives, but I'd bet most of their decisions are based on silly rules from managment.

Good luck with Mesa or whomever for dispatching. I personally wouldn't want to do it, but to each his own.

-Boo!