Finance & Business

Planning and monitoring the level of progress of an aircraft’s journey is an important task in airline operations. The person in charge of this task is known as the flight dispatcher. The dispatcher is as much responsible as the pilot in command for ensuring flight safety. Circumstances may require a flight to be diverted or delayed. Often cancellation of the flight may also become unavoidable. The flight dispatcher takes decisions like these. A flight can only be released when the dispatcher as well as the pilot in command approves it. A dispatcher typically gets license for the work from the aviation authority of their respective country. A sound knowledge in aviation and meteorology is required for the job. The demonstration of this knowledge must reach a level where it is comparable to that of a pilot, in order to get a license.

Duties of a dispatcher

Often the roles of a flight dispatcher and a flight follower are compared due to their similarity. However, it is to be noted that a fundamental difference exists between the two. Unlike a flight dispatcher, a flight follower does not have the legal responsibility for flight operation. It is also not mandatory for the flight followers to obtain a flight dispatcher’s license.

The flight dispatchers on the other hand must possess sound aviation knowledge that is of the level of persons holding Airline Transport Pilot License. The identical nature of the ATPL and FAA dispatcher written exams also attest the fact that the requirements for the two duties are almost similar. Flight safety is the subject of the questions in both the exams.

Flight planning process

Flight planning plays a critical role in the progress of an aircraft on a journey. It involves creating a flight plan that defines a flight of the aircraft. Two very important aspects are involved in the creation of a flight plan. One of these is fuel calculation. This is necessary to determine whether the aircraft will be able to reach its destination safely. The other critical aspect is the compliance of the flight plan with the requirements of air traffic control. Potential dangers like mid-air collision can be minimized by such compliance.

Employment

You do not need to be highly educated to be qualified for the post of a flight dispatcher. Employers look for candidates with fair computer knowledge and good communication skills.Flight dispatcher, being the most technically qualified person shoulders the responsibility along with the Airline Captain of the safety of the passengers. They undergo extensive training to gain the position.

All the person who are interested to become a public safety dispatcher needs to pass the oral, written or performance tests and also need to gain some certificates along with training to be employed by state or local governments. It is estimated that there will be 9%-17% of increase in the employment of the dispatcher by 2014. This increase will also be due to the fact that the present dispatchers might leave the job or get switched over to another job which will further result in an increase of employment oppurtunities.