Flight Scheduler Degree

An aviation scheduler, or dispatcher, is a person who creates and maintains flight schedules, who is responsible for providing pilots with the routes, information on weather conditions, and information on the aircraft weight limitations, proper loading of fuel and cargo.

A dispatcher is responsible for providing reservation agents, air traffic control and station agents with data regarding flight’s departure time, its status and estimated arrival time. The information is later provided to the travelers.

Flight schedulers bear joint responsibility with captains for the safety of flights. In case of a threat to safety of the passengers, cargo or aircraft dispatcher is obliged to cancel the flight. In case of weather changes during the flight aviation scheduler informs the pilot and recommends plan alternatives like changing of course or altitude, in case of a hazard – regulates emergency landing.

Working hours for the job are unusual and often suppose working at nights, on weekends and holidays. Furthermore, the job requires high mental stability because of the great responsibility for possible consequences of dispatchers’ decisions.

What Will be Taught during the Course of Studies?

Aviation scheduler degree requires strong knowledges in the next areas:

• Aviation laws and regulation
• Deep understanding of aerodynamics and aeronautics,
• Meteorology, as well as geography.

Together with these knowledge students enrolled for a course in aircraft dispatching obtain following skills:

• to create and maintain flight schedules;
• to prepare flight plans, which contain information on permissible takeoff and landing weight; weather reports and other info related
• to providing flight regulation;
• to apply government and company regulations while regulating and control of flights in order to ensure safety of flight;
• to work out the most rational route of flight;
• to analyze and evaluate meteorological data, to determine its possible effect on flight;
• to apply knowledge of different types of aircraft, flight distance and weather conditions to calculate the amount of fuel needed to guarantee flight safety;
• to work out dispatch releases – legal documents, which authorize a flight to depart;
• to monitor the data on flight, weather conditions, and to evaluate the flight progress.

A specialist in flight scheduling should always stay current with innovations in the field, and to participate in training courses covering modern tendencies in aircraft systems development, companies’ policies, meteorology development.

Some more valuable qualities which students are encouraged to develop are stress management, human relations, work readiness, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.

Where Can I Enroll for a Training Program in Aviation Scheduling?

In order to obtain a job of an aviation scheduler one must graduate from a training course, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and to pass an exam, also administered by FAA. Here are a few schools which offer dispatcher, or aviation scheduler degree:

1.    Green River Community College

The college offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Airline dispatch. The course includes credits in aviation fundamentals, aircraft systems, aviation weather, air traffic control, international flight planning and other related to the profession fields.

2.    Sacramento City College

At the college one can obtain an Associate in Science degree in Aircraft Dispatching. The 2-year program is designed to meet the requirements for passing written, oral, and practical test for the FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate.

3.    Texas State Technical College

A two-year Associate Degree program, approved by FAA, is offered at the college. Enrolled students receive five semesters of intensive training on a working airport campus with an operational control tower and dual runways. The college also offers a simulator suite to provide students with a virtual experience simulating real working conditions.

4.    Middle Tennessee State University

This university offers a BS in Aerospace with Flight Dispatch concentration. The program includes 43 hours of aerospace courses and 18 hours of related sciences courses. Before graduating students pass tests authorized by FAA and receive FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate.