Duties as an Airline Dispatcher
As part of their planning jobs, the air dispatchers have control of the movement of planes and are responsible for their safety and efficiency and for making sure they are operating on a profit-making basis. Their work, however, is not related to that of the air traffic controller who is an employee of the government.
With its planning career of the air dispatchers, they are responsible for determining operation probability, with their judgments based on data received from a number of different sources. They must take into consideration terminal and en route weather, official weather forecasts, wind information, and a number of other factors in their efforts to make certain that each flight will end successfully. They must answer such questions as whether the airplane crew should be asked to report to the field or whether the reservations desk should begin the time-consuming job of notifying passengers that their flight has been delayed or canceled. They may also have to determine whether an alternate route must be used by the pilot, either to include another stop for passengers or to avoid certain weather conditions. Upon reporting to the field, the captain of the plane will confer with the dispatcher and determine the best route to use, the amount of fuel to be placed aboard the aircraft, the altitude at which the flight will be flown, and the approximate flying time. Both must agree on the conditions of the flight and either has the prerogative of canceling should that person feel the conditions too hazardous to ensure a safe trip.
The dispatchers, who have been engaged with event planning jobs, may also be responsible for maintaining records and determining the weight and balance of the aircraft after loading. They must be certain that every piece of available cargo is hauled aboard each of the appropriate flights. They must be certain that every one of their decisions, including those about the cargo to be carried, is in keeping with all the safety regulations of the Federal Aviation Agency as well as with those of their own airline.
Once in the air, the pilots keep in contact with the dispatcher who will keep the crew informed as to the type of weather they will encounter. This is done through a company owned radio network, enabling each company to keep in constant contact with each of its planes. Dispatchers also keep records on the various en route positions reported by the plane, and they may have as many as ten or more flights under their control at any one time. Should an emergency occur dispatchers coordinate all action until such time as the emergency has passed. Following each flight, the pilot will check the dispatcher for a debriefing. During the debriefing, the pilot brings the dispatcher up to date as to the exact weather encountered and various other conditions involved so that the dispatcher will have this information available for use in scheduling subsequent flights. Moreover, judgment is the prime tool of airplane dispatchers, and they must be able to make instant, workable, and realistic decisions. Because of this, the strains and tensions are often great, especially when a number of flights are in the air or when an emergency is involved.
Different Positions Available
In the larger airlines, a certain degree of specialization is expected in the office of the dispatcher in its planning employment. An assistant dispatcher may work with the chief dispatcher and have the major responsibility for one particular phase, while a senior dispatcher may be designated to take care of another phase such as the economics of each flight. Other than the course of study mentioned previously, there is little opportunity for an individual to explore on this field. Part-time or summer jobs with an airline, however, may offer the interested student an opportunity to observe some of the operations involved in dispatching work. Military service also offers excellent experience, particularly if it has been associated with aircraft or other related areas of work. Other workers in the air transportation field include pilots, flight engineers, flight attendants, transportation ticket and reservation agents, and air traffic controllers. Related communications work includes radio and telegraph operators, transmitter technicians, and radio dispatchers. Generally, the occupation is not so easy to enter due to the fact of its relatively small size, the special skills required, and the dedication it demands.
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