My cousin graduated from Mizzou with a degree in Meteorology about a year ago. She's not using her degree at her current job and is interested in becoming a dispatcher to do something associated with her degree.

I'm posting this here mostly because I'm a regional pilot and maybe regional airlines are where dispatchers start too. I know nothing about dispatcher training, career progression or the job market. I'm hoping someone here does.

What would be an efficient way for someone in Springfield, IL to get a certificate? How is the job market? I know so little about this, I don't even know what to ask.

 

That's sad, because meteorology is not an easy degree. I looked into it and it was multiple semesters of differential equations. Dispatchers, esp. at the regional level make crap pay. Regionals are hiring people with GED's, that's how bad. And to get in the major's, they typically want people who worked in the regionals a while.

If she is interested in aviation, why not try ATC?

 

You're better off putting your time in with the regionals and getting to a major than chasing that pipe dream. Getting hired for ATC is about as much of a crap shoot as being a astronaut.

DH

 

LOL, ^^what this guy said.

You think we ***** and moan about getting hired in our industry, try heading over to stuckmic to see some real depressing stuff.

 

Tell her to look at SIU I would assume they have a dispatcher program.

 

The requirements for the dispatcher certificate are in 65.57. Two years experience as a military or 121 pilot or oddly enough in this case, a meteorologist or ATC or FSS. Without that background you have to complete an approved training program. There are 49 approved schools - http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...dia/part65.pdf

The only program I know is 6 weeks if you have no aviation background and 2 weeks if you hold a commercial IFR. The written is about the same as the old ATP with a couple questions on dispatcher duty time (10 hours). Back when writtens were free many people took the dispatcher written to practice for the ATP. Bored one day I called the FSDO to set up a dispatcher practical. Showed up a few days later and they handed me a 727 AFM, some charts, a weather package and a list of questions. Told me to work up a flight plan DFW to LAS and left me alone for 2 hours. The questions were like "What will the fuel burn be between ABQ and GUP?" When the Fed came back we went over the questions on the flight plan and they had more questions about regs and weather. Never have used it but figure it could be a fall back if I lose the medical.

 

I believe the Endeavor dispatchers start around $60k.

 

Which program is two weeks? A pilot friend of mine lost his medical and is interested in this but the six week programs are longer than ideal.

 

I highly doubt that. At the regionals you can expect less than half that starting out, at the major's, yes. I'd advise her to call some dispatcher schools and ask questions. Also,she can go on the open forums of some the airline pilot websites and simply ask. Dispatchers read those forums.

 

Zond,

ATP assimilated Higher Power's dispatcher school. Now they don't say it's two weeks so I'm not sure. Their web page to call them and go over your qualifications. They want you to have passed the written so it is just practical test prep.