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

Yes, really. And how often I communicate with dispatch (I will say it sounds like I do more often than you do) has no bearing on my surprise. I'm quite surprised than any CMO or person within the FAA bureaucracy or whoever it would need the blessing of would sign off on this. Going out on a limb and trying something new is just not what they do... typically. Hence my surprise.

Federal critical infrastructure rules pre-empted state rules on that, states can't just close down airline operation centers.

Let’s unpack your advice. While enroute the only way to talk to MX/medical professionals is via a phone patch with your dispatcher. Also a good CA used their dispatcher as an additional resource. Plus there’s that whole joint responsibility stuff spelled out in the FAR’s.

Yes if I am sitting at the gate I will use my cell phone to contact dispatch. Hate to break it to you but that phone expense is history after the tax reform act unless you play in the gray area.

More information:

https://www.flyingmag.com/faa-policy...rk-under-fire/

You sound like the kind of guy who self-diverts to closed airports.

You seem to be under the impression dispatch wouldn’t have this capability at their house. What decade are you writing from? [MENTION=15326]flynd94[/MENTION]

I actually believe YOU believe the FAA let dispatchers work from home without the ability to communicate. SMH

Are you this confrontational in real life, or is this just your internet persona?