Aircraft Dispatcher Degree and Certification

Aircraft dispatchers perform various responsibilities. They ensure airline compliance, establish flight plans, confirm safety measures and track weather conditions for commercial and passenger flights. Aircraft dispatchers must be familiar with navigation facilities over airline routes and at airports. Practical experience is also required.

Dispatchers must ride in the cockpit jump seat on “familiarization flights” for a minimum of 5 hours each calendar year to observe flight routes, conditions, and airports. This also ensures familiarity with the takeoff, cruising, and landing characteristics of all aircraft operated by the airline.

FAA Certification

Aircraft dispatchers must be FAA certified in order to work for an airline. There are several requirements for an individual, who plans to earn FAA certification. Aspiring aircraft dispatchers must be at least 23 years old, and be knowledgeable enough to pass a written and a practical exam. They must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

The written part of the exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. It takes 3 hours to complete this part. For the practical portion, you’ll have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in 6 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;
• Dealing with emergency situations.

Aircraft Dispatcher Education

Nowadays aircraft dispatcher schools offer six-week, 200-hour training programs that incorporate FAA certification testing into the course schedule. Accelerated courses may be offered to current airline employees. Online courses are also available. Aircraft dispatcher training course must be FAA-approved.

There are some schools that offer aircraft dispatcher certification programs as part of an aeronautical science or aviation management degree program. Though aircraft dispatcher schools prepare students for the required standardized tests, they focus on providing maximum exposure to real-world dispatch instruction, application, and preparation.

During their education, aircraft dispatchers will learn FAA regulations on airline operations inside and out. They will also become proficient in the science of meteorology as well as the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Aircraft dispatcher schools provide their students with practical experience.

In a formal aircraft dispatcher program, they will gain practical experience monitoring, analyzing, and calculating a variety of flight factors, including weather reports and NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), runway performance, weight and balance issues, ATC (air traffic controller) preferred routes, and fuel needs in order to create and update flight plans.