johncun47
You may already know the difference; but for clarity- our European use of the term 'flight dispatcher' more often then not, refers to 'ramp dispacthers' or 'red cap's' as they were once know. The US 'Aircraft Dispacther' is a completely difference job with joint responsibility with the Captain for the pre-flight planning and flight following of a flight.
Good advice from OCNL EMBD as Sheffield does come recommended by all I have spoken to who have been there. You might also have a look at the IFALDA website which is an Aircraft Dispatchers organisation
IFALDA Home Page.
An afterthought johncun47; you might wish to claim relevant expereince on the back of your RAF career, think about ensuring you have plenty of RAF papers with descriptions of your expereince. The dispatcher expereince requires are pasted below.
FAR Sec. 65.55 Knowledge requirements.
(a) A person who applies for an Aircraft Dispatcher certificate must pass a knowledge test on the following:
(1) Federal Aviation Regulations that relate to Airline Transport Pilot privileges, limitations, flight operations (ops);
(2) Meteorology, including knowledge of fronts, clouds, icing, & upper air data;
(3) General system of weather & NOTAM collection, dissemination, interpretation, & use;
(4) Interpretation & use of weather charts, maps, forecasts, sequence reports, abbreviations, & symbols;
(5) National Weather Service functions as they pertain to ops in the National Airspace System;
(6) Wind shear & microburst awareness, identification, & avoidance;
(7) Principles of air navigation under instrument meteorology conditions in the National Airspace System;
(8) Air Traffic Control procedures & pilot responsibilities as they relate to enroute ops, terminal area & radar ops, & instrument departure & approach procedures;
(9) Aircraft loading; weight & balance; use of charts, graphs, tables, formulas, & computations on aircraft performance;
(10) Aerodynamics relating to an aircraft's flight characteristics & performance in normal & abnormal flight regimes.
(11) Human Factors;
(12) Aeronautical Decision-making & judgment;
(13) Crew Resource Management, including crew communication & coordination;
(b) The applicant must present documentary evidence satisfactory to the Examiner of having passed an Aircraft Dispatcher knowledge test within the preceding 24 calendar month
Sec. 65.57 Experience requirements.
An applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher certificate must present documentary evidence satisfactory to the Examiner that he has the experience prescribed in par (a) of this section or accomplished the training prescribed in par (b) of this section as follows:
(a) A total of at least 2 years experience in
the 3 years before the date of application, in any 1 of, or combination of:
(1) In military aircraft ops as a--
(i) Pilot;
(ii) Flight navigator;
(iii) Meteorologist.
(2) In aircraft ops conducted under Part 121 as--
(i) An assistant in dispatching air carrier aircraft, under the direct supervision of a certificated Dispatcher;
(ii) A pilot;
(iii) A flight engineer;
(iv) A meteorologist.
(3) In aircraft ops as--
(i) An Air Traffic Controller; or
(ii) A Flight Service Station Specialist.
(4) In aircraft ops, performing other duties that the Examiner finds provides equivalent experience. You might get credit here
(b) A statement of graduation issued or revalidated under 65.70 showing that he has successfully
completed an approved Aircraft Dispatcher course.
Sec. 65.59 Skill requirements.
An applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher certificate must pass a practical test given by an Examiner, with respect to any 1 type of large aircraft used in air carrier ops. The practical test must be based on the Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test Standards on items in App A of this part.