Pilot to Dispatcher

[PA44Jockey]

I am currently a pretty junior FO at a regional airline and am looking into transfering to a dispatch position for a better quality of life. Can anyone provide some insight to the transition? Schools, Cost, Pay?

 

[propsarebest]

Where do you work now???

 

[PA44Jockey]

Local regional in Northern Kentucky.

 

[flyjumpseat]

Careful on the "better quality of life". Everyone defines it differently, and dispatch is just like everything else in the airline world - SENIORITY. Some people are happy working weekends - some want/need weekends off. Early mornings, late nights.... Each has it's ups and downs. Dispatchin is good - just expect time to get there.

http://www.sheffield.com/
http://www.flightcontrolacademy.com/
http://www.fltdisp.com/
http://www.airlinedispatcher.com/

and several others.

You're a FO at a regional, take a moment to stop in at your dispatch office and ask your dispatcher for more specifics.

 

[bathing510]

I don't find it too easy to find a dispatcher job. I started with $15/hr for a handling company for international airlines in CA. My supervisor in this company I am working now is getting $4200/mo after working for 8 years. And this is in CA.
I don't know if I am just unlucky to get paid that little or what....I just have 1.5 years of experience anyway.

 

[PA44Jockey]

Thanks for the info. When I say quality of life mainly I'm talking about being home every night. Decent pay, being home every night, not having to walk through the rain and snow to find food at midnight, not flying reserve, and I'm sure you get the point.

Are you dispatching?

 

[Way2Broke]

There are flying jobs that you would be at home every night ya know. It seems to me that is would be a shame to throw away all that flight training. I was in the same boat not too long ago and found a job that allows me to be at home every night. At some point down the road I'd love to go back out on the road, but not right now.


On the same subject: I think it would be great to be a certified dispatched. It would be an excellent back up if you ever lost your medical.

 

[SKC]

bathing, there are plenty of dispatching jobs out there. You just have to be willing to go anywhere.

 

[bathing510]

bathing, there are plenty of dispatching jobs out there. You just have to be willing to go anywhere.

SKC, you are right, I was an international student. I almost got an offer from Jeppesen in CO when I graduated, but they said they need a "U.S. person" which I was not. Then I got this offer in CA with a mid size company. I also got a call from Netjets a year ago, but they also need a "U.S. person".

Now I have fixed my status, and settled in CA. CA has similiar life style from the place I come from, and I found myself pretty impossible to live in the midwest. That limits my choices.

 

[Bart Simpson]

SKC, you are right, I was an international student. I almost got an offer from Jeppesen in CO when I graduated, but they said they need a "U.S. person" which I was not. Then I got this offer in CA with a mid size company. I also got a call from Netjets a year ago, but they also need a "U.S. person".

Now I have fixed my status, and settled in CA. CA has similiar life style from the place I come from, and I found myself pretty impossible to live in the midwest. That limits my choices.

Why not just try it? And how can CA have a similar lifestyle to any other place? Did you come from Earthquake country thats ruled by a mediocre moviestar? LOL, just kidding.

 

[bathing510]

Why not just try it? And how can CA have a similar lifestyle to any other place? Did you come from Earthquake country thats ruled by a mediocre moviestar? LOL, just kidding.

Well, I came from Asia, which we have a lot of entertainments and shops are open overnight (not only convenience stores, supermarkets and bars). Shopping malls are open until midnight, and do not close at 6pm on Sundays.

I have been feeling extremely bored living in CA, so I guess I can't live those small towns.

 

[fracsdispatcher]

Skills can get you a job, but I hope that you have brains with that pretty. What I usually see in the office is that when women use prettiness for their qualifications, they got some serious issues under the surface. Hope to see you in the office.

 

[8AF]

Are you sure?

I have been there, done that (dispatched and now flying). Make sure you will not regret when you have to sit in the office for 10 hours a day. True, you will be home every night but (for me) dispatch is more work than flying. You will have to send 50 flights a day on average if you work for a regional; that is a heavy workload. I am usually exhausted after a day in SOC.
As for school I would recommend Sheffield. They are very demanding; you will be very detail oriented when you graduate.
The pay is probably better than a first year FO but it cannot match the pilot pay in the long run unless you go work for places like Netjet, Jeppesen or majors.
I will not trade my window seat for a desk job, that's just me.

I am currently a pretty junior FO at a regional airline and am looking into transfering to a dispatch position for a better quality of life. Can anyone provide some insight to the transition? Schools, Cost, Pay?

 

[8AF]

Boring in CA?

I hear you. I'm also from asia and the nightlife there is way better than what we have here. If not for the flying opportunities I would have gone back. Not that I don't like living here, I love this country but it is just too boring.
I lived in many places because of the aviation career. CA is the best, so don't complain :uzi:
Wish you luck regardless of whichever path you will choose. :beer:

Well, I came from Asia, which we have a lot of entertainments and shops are open overnight (not only convenience stores, supermarkets and bars). Shopping malls are open until midnight, and do not close at 6pm on Sundays.

I have been feeling extremely bored living in CA, so I guess I can't live those small towns.