Hello All,

I posted this on the major forum ut decided to post it here as well to gain more exposure.

I have a question about the airline dispatch "career field" and am looking for ground-floor input. I know what they are and how the job works. I've done research on the schools that offer the certificate.

Here's my situation: I'll be graduating in December (hopefully) with a BS degree in meteorology. I'm about to start an internship which may lead to a full or part time job, but who knows. Due to personal problems during my college tenure and the sheer difficulty in the material, my GPA isn't that stellar (although I did pull off deans list last semester). It's not bad, but probably not good enough to go forward in the field at the graduate level, at least not yet. As for what in the hell to do with my sorry ass life after college, I've been looking at dispatching. Here is what I researched along with my questions. Would appareciate any input you can give me.

-I noticed airline job postings say they run both internal and external recruitment. Is it impossible to become a dispatcher unless you already work for the airline?

-How much does having a BS degree in meteorology with internship forecasting experience and a pirivate pilot license with IFR help a candidate?

-I've read that most dispatchers do 4 10 hour shifts per week with 3 days off. This sounds good to me. Is it accurate?

-Is it a decent job or a lousy job? My research shows slaries of $30K to $75K at the regional level and $40K to $100K for the major level (higher end being supervisory). Is this accurate?

-How much does having friends who are pilots at legacies help as far as internel recs?

-I know dispatchers have to do in-the-cockpit observations each year as part of their qualifications. Does this entail having actual jumpseating privileges, or can u only be up there during observations?

And any other input you can give would be great. Honestly, my life after college is still a mystery, but I'm trying to decode it by asking questions like this. Would I be a dispatcher forever? Maybe, maybe not. I may just use it as a starting point and then go to grad school or other things. No idea yet. Just looking for insight. Thanks.

dispatchers get jumpseat privileges at most carriers...
The few dispatchers I know get worked to death...

If you have a background in meteorology and aviation have you thought of going into air traffic control?

It's a more stable employer (federal govt) and a better paycheck...Great benies plus you can go to work in shorts and sandals...Wish I would have gone that route..just a thought - good luck

I thought the FAA had limits on how many hours per day/week a dispatcher could work? I believe it's max 10 hours/day and like 45 or 50 hour/week.

airline pilots have restrictions on how much they can work, does that mean they dont get worked to death?
Dispatchers are limited to 10 hours of duty with 8 hour rest period - and 24 hours of consecutive rest in a 7 day period...usually those 10 hours are spent working non stop..especially when the weather hits the fan ...you'r typically eating your lunch at your desk and scrambling to get new or ammended releases out in time...that's at the regional level at least..

Thought ATC had to wear business casual.

Thanks guys. yes, I've read numerous job descriptions where dispatchers, including regional guys, talked about a typical day at work. It's definently intense, though no more so than being an ATC or even a weather forecaster. In fact it sounds somewhat similar to being a college student, between class, study, work, internship, etc. Hehe. When it come to some things I actually thrive on intensity.

Can anyone answer the questions that pertain to actually becoming a dispatcher? thanks.

I have been dispatching for two years, half for an Flag carrier and the other half for a regional carrier in the Rocky mountain region. You are correct to a degree....you will work your tail off when the weather SUCKS and the other half will be a cake walk providing all navaids and MX problems dont flare up. So far my only gripe has been the pay issue. Lets keep it real you will start at a regional for about $12.50 to 13.00 an hour and yes you will probably have three days in a row off. Personally I think the dispatcher is under paid for all the pressure you are under....just make one error on a release and your career can be over. I spent two years getting my ADX cert and also received a TECH cert in aviation technology to.

I think right now is a good time to keep it real unless you have something special to offer you are going to be at least five years till you get into the majors where YES!!!..the pay scale is not what it was pre 9/11.

I wish you luck and I'm here if you have more questions..

what schools do you guys and gals recommend getting one's dispatch license? How long did ya'll go to school to get the ticket. Its my understanding the course costs around 3 grand . . .

Most folks I know have gone here: Sheffield school aeronautics

When I started dispatching I only made 18,000 a year back in 96, currently Ime with UPS now and our starting salary is $60,000 so its not to bad.
Ive been here in Louisville for 10 Years now.
It helps alot to have friends where you want to go and get your resume in the door as long as they are the right friends.

As a UPS dispatcher I can jumpseat all over the world as often as I wish and you have to do a yeary FAM ride. Our average work week is 4 days a week and 36 hours.

Theres alot of folks out there with dispatcher cert. but only so many dispatcher jobs. At UPS we only have 68 total but the good news is that since no dispatchers want to be supervisors they hire our supervisors from outside the company. Also now the majority of dispatchers in the office have come from external hiring.

Another great school is Airline Ground Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. AGS-Airline Ground Schools FAA Approved Aircraft Dispatcher Training

In my opinion they are without a doubt the best aircraft dispatcher school in the world, I have been through their program and it is top notch. All the instructors are CURRENT Dispatch managers at Comair so they bring a unique real-world approach to the training. It definitely bridges the gap between the 'book work' and what you will be experiencing on a day to day basis.