Lack of 121 Captain Experience or Lack of Authority.

It has been my observation, that no dispatcher has come across with sole authority over any flight I've ever flown.

Basically, in any 121 flight, it is a handshake agreement to have a flight released. Part 121 ops are not military ops whereas the aircraft commander dictates what goes on and Base ops says yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir.

A dispatcher is bound by the FARs to give input into all flights he/she releases. If a Capt elects not to work with the dispatcher pro-actively, but chooses to pick up the phone and yell at the dispatcher after the release is made then IMHO it's shows a lack of experience in how the process works.

Also, IMHO, one of the adverse affects of deregulation has been the erosion of Captain's authority. Economic forces have been given more weight and safety factors, although still important; have been trimmed to a bare minimun in order to make the operation as efficient as possible. In turn, this has stripped the Capt's absolute authority down to something that can be best described as a CYA process, or an attempt to avoid being the scapegoat. Case in point, at the last 4 passenger airlines I've worked at the gate agent owns the airplane while parked at the gate, because the gate agent can make economic deccisions such as detriminations on letting passengers get on, re-booking them, moving them up to first class etc. My argument is, if the gate agent owns the airplane while at the gate, when the HAZMAT in the front belly catches fire, I'm going to get myself off the airplane and the gate agent can direct the evacuation.

However, with experience of how the FARs are written, company policy, and diplomacy I've witnessed Capts. finesse the system to operate the flight the way they want it. Re-phrased, Capt's absolute authority allows a Capt to operate a flight the way they want to. Finessing the system by knowing (experience) how the system works allows for the same outcome.

Boiled down to one sentence...having experience of who all the players are, what their roles are, and what the rules are allows a Capt just as much opportunity for authority as the proverbial yeller or screamer.

FF