EAndres1486

As with everyone the financial constraints finally hit me. Had to put flying on hold(25TT Working towards PPL). So it was back to the drawing board. Ha d a frined mention that if I got my Dispatch Licenses it would help me become marketable for a better paying job and possibly help toward my Pilot Ratings (Knowledge base etc).

I have been trying to get some information and all i can find is college level programs (included in a degree) or 12 week $5K course. Are there any self paced self study courses available? Does any of teh Ground School Material coorelate to the dispatch stuff. Seems to be very limited information or mayeb im looking in teh wrong area

Any and all help and advice is appreciated. If any one wants more background on me to help shoot me a PM and i will get you the info

rickair7777

There has to be some significant overlap, but there is no provision to apply that to pilot training. Also a lot of dispatch knowledge is 121, which is not relevant to a student pilot (who operates under 91).

If you are doing it to get a dispatch job, great. But I wouldn't do it solely to enhance your flying career.

Thedude

The dispatchers test is basically the 121 ATP test.
The knowledge base will/would help you in the carer field but not at your stage of the game, unless you are planning on being a dispatcher/flight follower for a few years.
That $5k could pay for your PPL and that seems way to high to get a DXer ticket.

Twin Wasp

No. The Feds require 200 hours of classroom instruction if you are going that route. The required syllabus covers

Regulations
A. Subpart C of this part;
B. Parts 1, 25, 61, 71, 91, 121, 139, and 175, of this chapter;
C. 49 CFR part 830;
D. General Operating Manual.
II. Meteorology
A. Basic Weather Studies
(1) The earth's motion and its effects on weather.
(2) Analysis of the following regional weather types, characteristics, and structures, or combinations thereof:
(a) Maritime.
(b) Continental.
(c) Polar.
(d) Tropical.
(3) Analysis of the following local weather types, characteristics, and structures or combinations thereof:
(a) Coastal.
(b) Mountainous.
(c) Island.
(d) Plains.
(4) The following characteristics of the atmosphere:
(a) Layers.
(b) Composition.
(c) Global Wind Patterns.
(d) Ozone.
(5) Pressure:
(a) Units of Measure.
(b) Weather Systems Characteristics.
(c) Temperature Effects on Pressure.
(d) Altimeters.
(e) Pressure Gradient Force.
(f) Pressure Pattern Flying Weather.
(6) Wind:
(a) Major Wind Systems and Coriolis Force.
(b) Jetstreams and their Characteristics.
(c) Local Wind and Related Terms.
(7) States of Matter:
(a) Solids, Liquid, and Gases.
(b) Causes of change of state.
(8) Clouds:
(a) Composition, Formation, and Dissipation.
(b) Types and Associated Precipitation.
(c) Use of Cloud Knowledge in Forecasting.
(9) Fog:
(a) Causes, Formation, and Dissipation.
(b) Types.
(10) Ice:
(a) Causes, Formation, and Dissipation.
(b) Types.
(11) Stability/Instability:
(a) Temperature Lapse Rate, Convection.
(b) Adiabatic Processes.
(c) Lifting Processes.
(d) Divergence.
(e) Convergence.
(12) Turbulence:
(a) Jetstream Associated.
(b) Pressure Pattern Recognition.
(c) Low Level Windshear.
(d) Mountain Waves.
(e) Thunderstorms.
(f) Clear Air Turbulence.
(13) Airmasses:
(a) Classification and Characteristics.
(b) Source Regions.
(c) Use of Airmass Knowledge in Forecasting.
(14) Fronts:
(a) Structure and Characteristics, Both Vertical and Horizontal.
(b) Frontal Types.
(c) Frontal Weather Flying.
(15) Theory of Storm Systems:
(a) Thunderstorms.
(b) Tornadoes.
(c) Hurricanes and Typhoons.
(d) Microbursts.
(e) Causes, Formation, and Dissipation.
B. Weather, Analysis, and Forecasts
(1) Observations:
(a) Surface Observations.
(i) Observations made by certified weather observer.
(ii) Automated Weather Observations.
(b) Terminal Forecasts.
(c) Significant En route Reports and Forecasts.
(i) Pilot Reports.
(ii) Area Forecasts.
(iii) Sigmets, Airmets.
(iv) Center Weather Advisories.
(d) Weather Imagery.
(i) Surface Analysis.
(ii) Weather Depiction.
(iii) Significant Weather Prognosis.
(iv) Winds and Temperature Aloft.
(v) Tropopause Chart.
(vi) Composite Moisture Stability Chart.
(vii) Surface Weather Prognostic Chart.
(viii) Radar Meteorology.
(ix) Satellite Meteorology.
(x) Other charts as applicable.
(e) Meteorological Information Data Collection Systems.
(2) Data Collection, Analysis, and Forecast Facilities.
(3) Service Outlets Providing Aviation Weather Products.
C. Weather Related Aircraft Hazards
(1) Crosswinds and Gusts.
(2) Contaminated Runways.
(3) Restrictions to Surface Visibility.
(4) Turbulence and Windshear.
(5) Icing.
(6) Thunderstorms and Microburst.
(7) Volcanic Ash.
III. Navigation
A. Study of the Earth
(1) Time reference and location (0 Longitude, UTC).
(2) Definitions.
(3) Projections.
(4) Charts.
B. Chart Reading, Application, and Use.
C. National Airspace Plan.
D. Navigation Systems.
E. Airborne Navigation Instruments.
F. Instrument Approach Procedures.
(1) Transition Procedures.
(2) Precision Approach Procedures.
(3) Non-precision Approach Procedures.
(4) Minimums and the relationship to weather.
G. Special Navigation and Operations.
(1) North Atlantic.
(2) Pacific.
(3) Global Differences.
IV. AIRCRAFT
A. Aircraft Flight Manual.
B. Systems Overview.
(1) Flight controls.
(2) Hydraulics.
(3) Electrical.
(4) Air Conditioning and Pressurization.
(5) Ice and Rain protection.
(6) Avionics, Communication, and Navigation.
(7) Powerplants and Auxiliary Power Units.
(8) Emergency and Abnormal Procedures.
(9) Fuel Systems and Sources.
C. Minimum Equipment List/Configuration Deviation List (MEL/CDL) and Applications.
D. Performance.
(1) Aircraft in general.
(2) Principles of flight:
(a) Group one aircraft.
(b) Group two aircraft.
(3) Aircraft Limitations.
(4) Weight and Balance.
(5) Flight instrument errors.
(6) Aircraft performance:
(a) Take-off performance.
(b) En route performance.
(c) Landing performance.
V. Communications
A. Regulatory requirements.
B. Communication Protocol.
C. Voice and Data Communications.
D. Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS).
E. Aeronautical Publications.
F. Abnormal Procedures.
VI. Air Traffic Control
A. Responsibilities.
B. Facilities and Equipment.
C. Airspace classification and route structure.
D. Flight Plans.
(1) Domestic.
(2) International.
E. Separation Minimums.
F. Priority Handling.
G. Holding Procedures.
H. Traffic Management.
VII. Emergency and Abnormal Procedures
A. Security measures on the ground.
B. Security measures in the air.
C. FAA responsibility and services.
D. Collection and dissemination of information on overdue or missing aircraft.
E. Means of declaring an emergency.
F. Responsibility for declaring an emergency.
G. Required reporting of an emergency.
H. NTSB reporting requirements.
VIII. Practical Dispatch Applications
A. Human Factors.
(1) Decisionmaking:
(a) Situation Assessment.
(b) Generation and Evaluation of Alternatives.
(i) Tradeoffs and Prioritization.
(ii) Contingency Planning.
(c) Support Tools and Technologies.
(2) Human Error:
(a) Causes.
(i) Individual and Organizational Factors.
(ii) Technology-Induced Error.
(b) Prevention.
(c) Detection and Recovery.
(3) Teamwork:
(a) Communication and Information Exchange.
(b) Cooperative and Distributed Problem-Solving.
(c) Resource Management.
(i) Air Traffic Control (ATC) activities and workload.
(ii) Flightcrew activities and workload.
(iii) Maintenance activities and workload.
(iv) Operations Control Staff activities and workload.
B. Applied Dispatching.
(1) Briefing techniques, Dispatcher, Pilot.
(2) Preflight:
(a) Safety.
(b) Weather Analysis.
(i) Satellite imagery.
(ii) Upper and lower altitude charts.
(iii) Significant en route reports and forecasts.
(iv) Surface charts.
(v) Surface observations.
(vi) Terminal forecasts and orientation to Enhanced Weather Information System (EWINS).
(c) NOTAMS and airport conditions.
(d) Crew.
(i) Qualifications.
(ii) Limitations.
(e) Aircraft.
(i) Systems.
(ii) Navigation instruments and avionics systems.
(iii) Flight instruments.
(iv) Operations manuals and MEL/CDL.
(v) Performance and limitations.
(f) Flight Planning.
(i) Route of flight.
1. Standard Instrument Departures and Standard Terminal Arrival Routes.
2. En route charts.
3. Operational altitude.
4. Departure and arrival charts.
(ii) Minimum departure fuel.
1. Climb.
2. Cruise.
3. Descent.
(g) Weight and balance.
(h) Economics of flight overview (Performance, Fuel Tankering).
(i) Decision to operate the flight.
(j) ATC flight plan filing.
(k) Flight documentation.
(i) Flight plan.
(ii) Dispatch release.
(3) Authorize flight departure with concurrence of pilot in command.
(4) In-flight operational control:
(a) Current situational awareness.
(b) Information exchange.
(c) Amend original flight release as required.
(5) Post-Flight:
(a) Arrival verification.
(b) Weather debrief.
(c) Flight irregularity reports as required.

That's the MINIMUM. The 142 school that I teach at has 60 classroom hours just of meteorology. I explain it to students that they're doing a college MET class in 8 days.

Are you looking in Part 65?

trent890

I was able to get my ADX done in a 5 day (40 hour) course for around $3K. The only way to get an ADX cert without attending the minimum 200 hour (5 week) class that TwinWasp is referring to, would be to have some prior military, Part 121 airline, or ATC/FSS type of background within 2 of the previous 3 years. The requirements for this type of experience credit comes from FAR 65.57:

a) A total of at least 2 years experience in the 3 years before the date of application, in any one or in any combination of the following areas:
(1) In military aircraft operations as a—
(i) Pilot;
(ii) Flight navigator; or
(iii) Meteorologist.
(2) In aircraft operations conducted under part 121 of this chapter as—
(i) An assistant in dispatching air carrier aircraft, under the direct supervision of a dispatcher certificated under this subpart;
(ii) A pilot;
(iii) A flight engineer; or
(iv) A meteorologist.
(3) In aircraft operations as—
(i) An Air Traffic Controller; or
(ii) A Flight Service Specialist.
(4) In aircraft operations, performing other duties that the Administrator finds provide equivalent experience.

Given the financial constraints that you mentioned, I'd use the $3K-$5K to complete your PPL and not detour into the ADX at this point. Although some of the knowledge base is transferrable between the two, it also adds additional material that may cause interference and be unnecessary for someone who hasn't yet obtained a PPL and is not ready to advance into instrument flying and airline regulations.

EAndres1486

Well my current Job in the military has a portion that mirrors FSS Functions. I was looking at the Dispatch Gig as a career/job change to save up the money for the PPL and additional ratings. It sounds like i might be SOL. I had a lead on a potential job as a dispatcher and was intrigued by the possibility. Thanks for the info. Might not have been what I wanted to hear but helpful none the less

Twin Wasp

If the course outline doesn't scare you off, you might check if the MOS fits under "other duties."

EAndres1486

The course doesn't scare me. In fact im intrigued by it all. I have taken a Meterology Course for my Bachelors Degree all ready. The rest will be new knowledge i can add to my tool box. I'm ready for a new challenge and new chapter in my life. The problem I have is time availability. Thats why i was looking for a Self Study Program. I am going to continue to research and maybe find a program that i can make work for me.

NCR757dxr

You can also have passed the private pilot written to go through an accelerated program. Check into Airline Ground Schools. They are a pretty good outfit and I really like their philosophy. Basically they get you the "ticket" and let you learn off it compared to other programs. Some companies make them over complicated. Jeppesen actually dedicates like a week to ETOPS. A new dispatcher does not need to know about ETOPS unless he/she has previous experience and/or has already hired by an airline like Hawaiian where they will use ETOPS right away.

However a word of warning for the "fast classes." I did a fast class with another gentlemen who just had the PPL written (I was just making the DXR ticket official.) He was a super nice guy but really didn't "get it" because he just couldn't keep up. Right before the oral/practical he still didn't understand runway, climb, and structural limits along with other things.

His oral/practical took over 3 hours (compared to just over 30 minutes for me) and he "passed" with a lot of coaching. However, he will gain the knowledge to become even better as his career continues and that is the real idea. Get the ticket and keep learning.

Should he have been in the "long course?" Absolutely! Just be careful.

NCR757dxr

Just to add.....

I think Mesa is only hiring dispatchers who have a PPL right now.

Sounds like you are tying to use dispatch to fly in the future, like me. However, sometimes the tables are reversed and being a pilot is required to dispatch. I have not seen many like this so I think they are the exception but keep it in mind.