FAA Lets Disptchers Work From Home, Gets Heat
 

FAA faces heat for letting Republic and SkyWest dispatchers work remote:


https://www.flightglobal.com/strateg...151157.article

I think they probably could do that safely, but it would have to be a limited % of experienced dispatchers only and they'd at the very least need an open land line backed up by cell and VOIP to ensure voice comms at all times. And sufficient battery backup for their hardware.

I'm guessing they'd don't have much of that and are just winging it.

Don't know about Republic, but at OO every "remote" setup requires CMO approval. Even relocating the setup in your own home requires a re-approval.

Does the CMO require backup comms and power at the "remote site"?

Yes, there must be backup voice comms. Don't know about the power, but I'd be surprised if they weren't issuing some kind of basic battery backup as part of the setup

Quite surprised this was ever allowed.

Really? Reeeeeally?
When was the last time you radiod dispatch? When was the last time we informed dispatch you were blocking out late. Whoooo cares

let’s see here in the last 4 trips I have contacted my dispatchers multiple times from the gate or in the air via ARINC when I had MX issues, medical emergency, etc.

As long as they don’t give me a hard time when I request more Release fuel or cause any delay with the Release so we can block out on time, I could care less where they answer the phone from.

I don’t know what the Utah Covid state laws were at the time (HQ is in St. George), but in Colorado (Denver training center) they had the majority of ground training conducted outside the classroom due to restrictions with the amount of individuals in a single room.

Next time try your phone while at the gate it’s not only faster but you can write off part of your phone bill as an expense. The other two items I highly suggest speaking to properly certified mechanics for mechanical irregularities and medical professionals for medical emergencies. Disregard if your specific flight dispatcher is properly certified for these things at UNITED