Expert: David A. NewMyer - 3/1/2010

Question
I would like to know more about the Aircraft Dispatcher career path, classes to take and more importantly what the demand is for the future. I have a Multi-engine Comm rating but have all but given up on flying as a career so figure this might be a good alternative. Thanks for taking my question and sharing your expertise.

Answer
Hi, Scott:

Nice to hear from you.

As far as the aircraft dispatcher path, a fairly quick way to get that kind of training is to go through one of the training organizations that offers dispatcher training.  Normally, this is a 240 or so hour training program--so, four to six weeks of school, full time.  A key provider of this kind of training in the USA is Flight Safety International at www.flightsafety.com   They pretty much have a basic FAA dispatcher course starting every month or so.

Remember, flight dispatchers are utilized at airlines, at larger, multi-aircraft corporate flight departments, large charter operations and at fractional operations (like Netjets).  But, the market for dispatchers is not huge---but, it is a market that relates to the flight career path in that it uses a lot of same skills and knowledge in its application.  For example, aviation-related weather knowledge, aircraft weight and balance and related information is needed by dispatchers in their daily duties.  

As far as the flight-related career path (whether you are talking about dispatchers or about pilots), it might be improving in a couple of years, once Congress decides what to do with H. R. 3371 or S 1744 (in terms of whether or not the ATP will be required to fly for any FAR 121 airline).  My guess is that, after another year or two of relatively "lull" in hiring, then hiring will be on the increase (so, by 2012 at the latest).  One reason I say this is that the Age 65 retirement rule just went into effect a couple of years ago (the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots was moved from 60 to 65) and its effect will disappear by 2012.  Therefore, retirements from the airlines will be larger than now, thus, driving hiring of new pilots (and related positions) at airlines to even higher levels.

I hope that this helps you in your planning.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer