OneBadLT123
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2004
- Posts
- 329
I have noticed over the years that I have been asked this question multiple times. And as I sit and reflect I keep thinking it's been an interesting road here. I somewhat ended up being a dispatcher at the last minute in terms of my long term goals for the industry growing up.
I figured we all have some interesting stories. Never have a I met anyone who always thought "when I grow up, I want to be an airline dispatcher!"... Most people do not even know the position exists; even ones within the industry.
Growing up I always wanted to be a pilot since I was probably 4 years old. I fell in love with the airlines early and have always wanted to work in the industry. I ended up going to college and while getting my bachelors I did a lot of flight training on the side thinking once I graduate I will become a pilot. Well partly due to financial reasons, and the job outlook at the time I was starting to think maybe I should go a different direction. I really didn’t know how to approach it but all I wanted to do was get into the industry. For one of my elective classes we took a tour of the old (and I mean ooooold haha) NWA SOC. During the tour we met some NWA Dx'ers and got introduced to the SOC side of the airline. I immediately fell in love with it. The entire operation was just awesome. The atmosphere was just alive and full of activities. This was the real deal. Picture a college kid dreaming about airlines and hearing all kinds of stories but finally seeing it all piece together. My eyes were wide open.
The next semester I graduated and I asked my professor if he could contact the guys over at NWA to see if I could sit in with them and just sit back and watch how things are done. He gave me the contact info and told me to contact them. I promptly contacted them, did an interview and sat in with a couple guys for 2 days. I got to interact with MXC, and the NWA Met department and obviously with some domestic and international dispatchers. At that point I knew this is what I wanted to do and shortly thereafter I immediately went and got my ticket. The rest is history.
As I look back there are some things I learned about the industry; both good and bad. In the end though, I still think I have one of the coolest and unique jobs out there. We are probably one of the smallest groups percentage wise in the industry yet we have some of the most responsibilities and control. At the end of the day I can honestly sit back and say "my job is awesome". While growing up, I never knew it existed until right before graduation.
So, probably more than I really needed to type but lets hear some of your stories! How did you get into dispatching??
-OB
I figured we all have some interesting stories. Never have a I met anyone who always thought "when I grow up, I want to be an airline dispatcher!"... Most people do not even know the position exists; even ones within the industry.
Growing up I always wanted to be a pilot since I was probably 4 years old. I fell in love with the airlines early and have always wanted to work in the industry. I ended up going to college and while getting my bachelors I did a lot of flight training on the side thinking once I graduate I will become a pilot. Well partly due to financial reasons, and the job outlook at the time I was starting to think maybe I should go a different direction. I really didn’t know how to approach it but all I wanted to do was get into the industry. For one of my elective classes we took a tour of the old (and I mean ooooold haha) NWA SOC. During the tour we met some NWA Dx'ers and got introduced to the SOC side of the airline. I immediately fell in love with it. The entire operation was just awesome. The atmosphere was just alive and full of activities. This was the real deal. Picture a college kid dreaming about airlines and hearing all kinds of stories but finally seeing it all piece together. My eyes were wide open.
The next semester I graduated and I asked my professor if he could contact the guys over at NWA to see if I could sit in with them and just sit back and watch how things are done. He gave me the contact info and told me to contact them. I promptly contacted them, did an interview and sat in with a couple guys for 2 days. I got to interact with MXC, and the NWA Met department and obviously with some domestic and international dispatchers. At that point I knew this is what I wanted to do and shortly thereafter I immediately went and got my ticket. The rest is history.
As I look back there are some things I learned about the industry; both good and bad. In the end though, I still think I have one of the coolest and unique jobs out there. We are probably one of the smallest groups percentage wise in the industry yet we have some of the most responsibilities and control. At the end of the day I can honestly sit back and say "my job is awesome". While growing up, I never knew it existed until right before graduation.
So, probably more than I really needed to type but lets hear some of your stories! How did you get into dispatching??
-OB
