Originally Posted by
stinsonjr
Follow up question:
Can you build time as a regional FO and, provided you have a Dispatch License, work as a dispatcher on your days off? This would be an interesting way to "moonlight". Is this possible or has it been done?
You cannot work for the same Airline and work as a Dispatcher and also fly as an FO. Duty time would constantly interfere. You could however work as a Dispatcher full time and fly part 91 part time to build time and/or instruct.
I would say it would be incredible rare to work as a dispatcher for an airline and then get hired as an FO at the same airline.
Pay for dispatchers at the regional level are very low- probably about 18-23k year with few raises. Major usually start about 28k and slooooowly move up, but top out nicely around 70k a year for the most.
Most regional Dispatchers are desperate to leave the regionals for the majors that competition is pretty tough to get on ant any major.
Sitting behind a computer and building flight plans 8-10 hours a day wears you out. If I could do it all over again I would have just concentrated on building time and getting on with a regional.
A fair website is
www.dispatcher.org/
A