How Do I Become An Aircraft Dispatcher?

by Dawn Papandrea

When you think of jobs in the aviation field, you usually think of pilots, stewardesses, or even airline mechanics and aviation technicians. But there is one industry profession that doesn't involve flying the friendly skies, reminding passengers to buckle up, or actually working hands-on with aircrafts. Aircraft dispatchers do all of their work from the ground, but in many ways, they play just as important a role as the captain in the cockpit of an airplane.

How do I become an aircraft dispatcher?
Because the safety of airline passengers is essentially in the hands of aircraft dispatchers, dispatchers must be FAA certified in order to work for an airline. To earn this certification, aspiring aircraft dispatchers must be at least 23 years old, and be knowledgeable enough to pass both a written and a practical exam. You must also have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. In order to prepare for the certification exam, many turn to aircraft dispatcher training schools to get them ready.

The written part of the exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, and takes three hours to complete. For the practical portion, you'll have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in six different areas of flight operation: flight planning and dispatch release; preflight, takeoff, and departure procedures; what takes place in-flight; arrival, approach, and landing procedures; post-flight operations; and how to deal with emergency situations.

To become an aircraft dispatcher, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent and an FAA dispatcher certificate. To earn the certificate, you must be at least 23 years old and possess a combination of experience, knowledge, and skill in order to pass the aircraft dispatcher knowledge test and the practical test.

What will I learn in aircraft dispatcher school?
Aircraft dispatcher schools design their programs with one main goal in mind: To prepare you for the FAA-approved certification exam that you'll need to pass in order to begin your career. As such, the majority of aircraft dispatcher training programs are six weeks or so long, and provide about 200 hours of training and prep work. In some cases, such as if you already work for an airline in some other capacity, training courses are offered via airline companies to their employees. There is also the option to pursue online aircraft dispatcher training.

Whichever training "flight plan" you decide to embark on, be sure that the course is FAA-approved. Some of the concepts that you will become proficient in include learning FAA regulations, airline operations and procedures, and other topics that will affect your job, such as how to read a meteorology report. You'll also need to have strong communication skills, since you'll be in contact with flight crews and airport personnel to ensure safe arrivals and departures. Because of the nature of the job, a quality aircraft dispatcher training program will be very hands-on, allowing you to practice real dispatching duties.