FLIGHT DISPATCHER. Lincence/ job opportunities
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FLIGHT DISPATCHER. Lincence/ job opportunities
Hello guys!
I would really appreciate some advice from someone that works/knows about the dispatch field...
I am thinking of getting a flight dispatcher licence, I read that it helps to have an aviation background (I have a degree relevant to aviation, a PPL and have been working for over a year with a regional airline).
I am 23years old and I hold dual nationality (Italian and English)
I see that most flight dispatch schools are based in the US. Do you know if there are any issues converting an FAA flight dispatcher licence in EUROPE/ rest of world??
Finally I see that the course costs approximately 4000usd, is it worth it?? I mean is there enough request out there for flight dispatchers??
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
I would really appreciate some advice from someone that works/knows about the dispatch field...
I am thinking of getting a flight dispatcher licence, I read that it helps to have an aviation background (I have a degree relevant to aviation, a PPL and have been working for over a year with a regional airline).
I am 23years old and I hold dual nationality (Italian and English)
I see that most flight dispatch schools are based in the US. Do you know if there are any issues converting an FAA flight dispatcher licence in EUROPE/ rest of world??
Finally I see that the course costs approximately 4000usd, is it worth it?? I mean is there enough request out there for flight dispatchers??
Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
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ALSO!!
What is the typical profile of those enrolling in a flight dispatcher course??
Are they more often retired pilots or people that have some aviation background and are at the early stages of their careers (like myself)??
plus (although I guarantee i am not doing this for the money, the economical aspect must inevitably taken into account) how much can a flight dispatchers expect to earn??
I have seen very different figures. On the website of US flight dispatcher course entry level salary was indacated as 25000 usd per year going up to over 100k with experience, on a similar thread on pprune someone indicated that flight dispatchers at qatar airways have a salary that varies between 1.500 and 2.800 usd per month....there is quite a big difference, could someone clarify please!!!
thanks
What is the typical profile of those enrolling in a flight dispatcher course??
Are they more often retired pilots or people that have some aviation background and are at the early stages of their careers (like myself)??
plus (although I guarantee i am not doing this for the money, the economical aspect must inevitably taken into account) how much can a flight dispatchers expect to earn??
I have seen very different figures. On the website of US flight dispatcher course entry level salary was indacated as 25000 usd per year going up to over 100k with experience, on a similar thread on pprune someone indicated that flight dispatchers at qatar airways have a salary that varies between 1.500 and 2.800 usd per month....there is quite a big difference, could someone clarify please!!!
thanks
Last edited by pm07a2m; 23rd Aug 2011 at 21:00.
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Dispatcher courses and salaries
I would suggest one of the distance learning (online) programs with one of the reputable Dispatcher schools. They are significantly cheaper in terms of tuition and the actual time you need to be physically in the classroom in the USA. Only courses conducted in the USA will lead to an FAA license. You should only book your classroom session after you have fully understood and completed the online sessions and are fully prepared to write the FAA ADX exam. This ADX needs to be done in the USA as I do not believe there is is a way of writing it via Lasergrade outside of the country.
The FAA license is the only one that does not lapse and seems to be internationally recognised. Usually all that is needed is to write an air law exam and the national aviation authority will issue you a local license.
Entry level positions have had declining starting salaries with the relative abundance of dispatchers. Also in places like Qatar, you are competing against people from nations where 1500/month is a lot of money.
If you are not concerned about travel benefits, look at working for a cargo operator or a business jet operator where the salaries tend to be better. The flight planning especially with business jets usually will be more interesting. than a fixed schedule airline.
The FAA license is the only one that does not lapse and seems to be internationally recognised. Usually all that is needed is to write an air law exam and the national aviation authority will issue you a local license.
Entry level positions have had declining starting salaries with the relative abundance of dispatchers. Also in places like Qatar, you are competing against people from nations where 1500/month is a lot of money.
If you are not concerned about travel benefits, look at working for a cargo operator or a business jet operator where the salaries tend to be better. The flight planning especially with business jets usually will be more interesting. than a fixed schedule airline.
Last edited by Nanook63; 28th Aug 2011 at 21:07. Reason: text errors
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Nanook is correct regarding entry level salaries however that is mostly a problem in the middle east where there is an over supply of dispatchers, many of whom have come from that disapatcher factory in DXB and don't know up from down. Have interviewed so many over the years and based on the poor interviews I wouldn't rate the place one bit.
They'll work for 1,000 usd/month and usually end up being taken for a ride in one of the many dodgey 'below the radar' companies that are mainly located in DXB / AUH and SHJ. By the time they've grown and pair and decided to leave they've learned slightly more than they did in the factory which is not alot.
The advice regarding the FAA licence is good and although the schools will vary when it comes to standards. Sheffield is widely known as the best.
The FAA licence is probably the best when it comes to conversions however many countries who do not licence dispatchers will recognise the effort you went to in getting it. You would certainly be in the minority in England if you did get one although I heard that Easyjet looks favourably on anyone who has one.
I agree with the previous poster on the flight planning being more interesting with the bizjet and cargo outfits but they actually fare no better when it comes to salaries in my experience and can sometimes be worse unless you get in with a larger and more well known operator. You had also better know what you're doing when going into one of those place as they often don't have time to teach you the things you may not have learned in dispatcher school.
The best places for new hires are often the ones that are the hardest for them to get into and those are the large airlines with structured training courses where you are given an opportunity to learn about and understand the aircraft, the route network and associated challenges that you will face without being dropped in at the deep end right away. The 121 carriers in the US are required by law to have you undergo intial/indoc training incl aircraft tech type theory so you at least have some idea of what is going on before being cut loose.
The profile of dispatchers tends to vary and rarely do you find retired pilots although you do tend to find a few aspiring ones. All will have some sort of an interest in aviation regardless of background. There'll be some young people starting out, maybe some late starters who got into it after 10-15yrs prior experience in the workforce doing something else, you find a few ex military types, some will have come from other airline depts like ground ops or cabin crew etc mixed bag overall.
An entry level salary of 25k is reasonable enough starting off however this fairy tale of 100k is never going to happen unless you are in a mangement role or have served a couple of decades with a major. Don't believe the stuff that comes in the school literature about 6 figure salaries, very few attain that quickly.
If you have more questions then feel free to shoot...
D.O.G
They'll work for 1,000 usd/month and usually end up being taken for a ride in one of the many dodgey 'below the radar' companies that are mainly located in DXB / AUH and SHJ. By the time they've grown and pair and decided to leave they've learned slightly more than they did in the factory which is not alot.
The advice regarding the FAA licence is good and although the schools will vary when it comes to standards. Sheffield is widely known as the best.
The FAA licence is probably the best when it comes to conversions however many countries who do not licence dispatchers will recognise the effort you went to in getting it. You would certainly be in the minority in England if you did get one although I heard that Easyjet looks favourably on anyone who has one.
I agree with the previous poster on the flight planning being more interesting with the bizjet and cargo outfits but they actually fare no better when it comes to salaries in my experience and can sometimes be worse unless you get in with a larger and more well known operator. You had also better know what you're doing when going into one of those place as they often don't have time to teach you the things you may not have learned in dispatcher school.
The best places for new hires are often the ones that are the hardest for them to get into and those are the large airlines with structured training courses where you are given an opportunity to learn about and understand the aircraft, the route network and associated challenges that you will face without being dropped in at the deep end right away. The 121 carriers in the US are required by law to have you undergo intial/indoc training incl aircraft tech type theory so you at least have some idea of what is going on before being cut loose.
The profile of dispatchers tends to vary and rarely do you find retired pilots although you do tend to find a few aspiring ones. All will have some sort of an interest in aviation regardless of background. There'll be some young people starting out, maybe some late starters who got into it after 10-15yrs prior experience in the workforce doing something else, you find a few ex military types, some will have come from other airline depts like ground ops or cabin crew etc mixed bag overall.
An entry level salary of 25k is reasonable enough starting off however this fairy tale of 100k is never going to happen unless you are in a mangement role or have served a couple of decades with a major. Don't believe the stuff that comes in the school literature about 6 figure salaries, very few attain that quickly.
If you have more questions then feel free to shoot...
D.O.G
