Dispatcher job?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Dispatcher job?
Hi guys, my name's Francesco, I'm a JAA pilot with 250 hours of flight, CPL/ME-IR and MCC.
Since I've finished my MCC in September I started firing out CVs but no luck yet, not even for a single interview. As you know there are not many jobs out there.
So I was thinking about working as a dispatcher in UK while waiting for the first officer interview and saving some money for a FI course. Do you think it's a good idea? Do you have any experience as a dispatcher?
How much does a dispatcher get in a month?
What kind of job related to aviation can a Fresh pilot do?
Thanks your time.
Since I've finished my MCC in September I started firing out CVs but no luck yet, not even for a single interview. As you know there are not many jobs out there.
So I was thinking about working as a dispatcher in UK while waiting for the first officer interview and saving some money for a FI course. Do you think it's a good idea? Do you have any experience as a dispatcher?
How much does a dispatcher get in a month?
What kind of job related to aviation can a Fresh pilot do?
Thanks your time.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Hi Minnie,
thanks for your reply! Do you know how I can start to be a dispatcher? I've read that a License is not required in UK and Europe however it might help.
What's a tipical dispatcher's CV? Can I hope to get a job as a dispatcher with my previous experience as a pilot?
Which are the most important companies in Ireland and UK in dispatching?
thanks for your reply! Do you know how I can start to be a dispatcher? I've read that a License is not required in UK and Europe however it might help.
What's a tipical dispatcher's CV? Can I hope to get a job as a dispatcher with my previous experience as a pilot?
Which are the most important companies in Ireland and UK in dispatching?
Last edited by Rodrek; 11th February 2013 at 08:34.
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 123
Likes: 2
From: Co
Rostock,
To be a dispatcher in the UK u don't need a dispatcher license. Your best bet is through a handling agent. You shouldn't expect anymore than about £16k for it though, and that's only if you get a full time job. The only airlines I know hiring dispatchers directly is Jet 2, the rest is through ground handlers. Your not officially a dispatcher either, it's a load controller or a Turnaround Co-ordinater. Depending upon who you handle will depend upon Weither you will be required to do manual loadsheets or not. Give it a go and see, it's definitely a stepping stone in the industry and something to use as experience when applying for a f/o job and in today's climate any other experience in the industry is a bonus.
You have Servisair, Swissport and Menzies who are the big ground handlers. Swissport were hiring full time positions to operate the virgin domestic operation at LHR.
Hope this helps
To be a dispatcher in the UK u don't need a dispatcher license. Your best bet is through a handling agent. You shouldn't expect anymore than about £16k for it though, and that's only if you get a full time job. The only airlines I know hiring dispatchers directly is Jet 2, the rest is through ground handlers. Your not officially a dispatcher either, it's a load controller or a Turnaround Co-ordinater. Depending upon who you handle will depend upon Weither you will be required to do manual loadsheets or not. Give it a go and see, it's definitely a stepping stone in the industry and something to use as experience when applying for a f/o job and in today's climate any other experience in the industry is a bonus.
You have Servisair, Swissport and Menzies who are the big ground handlers. Swissport were hiring full time positions to operate the virgin domestic operation at LHR.
Hope this helps
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 1
Just to add in.
There is always english language issues with talking about Dispatchers in europe and definately in the UK.
Dispatchers in the UK could be better called turn around co-ordinators. All they do is ensure that all the bits of paperwork are together and all the required services requested have been provided. They have zero input into the planning or technical aspects of the flight although some may be trained to provide a load sheet.
Operations do the planning flight watch etc.
So if you want to be involved with flight planning and that sort of thing look out for ops assistant/officer jobs. If you want to work on the ramp controlling baggage, toilet drops, getting the pax to aircraft go for a dispatchers job.
Most companys will not touch you with a barge pole if you hold a pilots license in ops. It takes a suprisingly long time (months and months) before you are actually useful in ops apart from menial clerical work. And they will know that you will leave as soon as a flying job comes up.
In reality a good ops officer is on the par with being a Captain in my book. It takes a certain way of thinking to be a good one and that is genetic and can't be trained. When everything is going well you won't see whats special about them. But once the poo hits the fan thats when they come into there own saving the company money hand over fist. The bad ones from the flight line you can just see money being pissed up the wall.
Its really not the job for a wannabie pilot, a good ops officer is a proffessional in thier own right and most pilots just can't do it however much they think they can.
There is always english language issues with talking about Dispatchers in europe and definately in the UK.
Dispatchers in the UK could be better called turn around co-ordinators. All they do is ensure that all the bits of paperwork are together and all the required services requested have been provided. They have zero input into the planning or technical aspects of the flight although some may be trained to provide a load sheet.
Operations do the planning flight watch etc.
So if you want to be involved with flight planning and that sort of thing look out for ops assistant/officer jobs. If you want to work on the ramp controlling baggage, toilet drops, getting the pax to aircraft go for a dispatchers job.
Most companys will not touch you with a barge pole if you hold a pilots license in ops. It takes a suprisingly long time (months and months) before you are actually useful in ops apart from menial clerical work. And they will know that you will leave as soon as a flying job comes up.
In reality a good ops officer is on the par with being a Captain in my book. It takes a certain way of thinking to be a good one and that is genetic and can't be trained. When everything is going well you won't see whats special about them. But once the poo hits the fan thats when they come into there own saving the company money hand over fist. The bad ones from the flight line you can just see money being pissed up the wall.
Its really not the job for a wannabie pilot, a good ops officer is a proffessional in thier own right and most pilots just can't do it however much they think they can.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Thank you so much guys for your feedback I really appreciate it!
My problem is that I'm a low hour pilot and I don't want to sit on my easy chair waiting for the ryanair interview. I'd like to start working while waiting for a call! Getting an office job in an Airline, which is not exactly what I've studied for, is fine for me and it's a good opportunity to improve my knowledge in aviation.
I'd like to know which kind of jobs can a fresh pilot do.
What do you think Mad jock?
I understood the difference between dispatcher and Ops officer in UK but which kind of jobs would fit my CV? Dispatcher, Ramp agent...maybe fueller?
What do you think about the ramp agent position? I've heard that it's a hard job and risky as well. You can breathe exhaust gasses dangerous for your health. Correct me if I'm wrong!
My problem is that I'm a low hour pilot and I don't want to sit on my easy chair waiting for the ryanair interview. I'd like to start working while waiting for a call! Getting an office job in an Airline, which is not exactly what I've studied for, is fine for me and it's a good opportunity to improve my knowledge in aviation.
I'd like to know which kind of jobs can a fresh pilot do.
What do you think Mad jock?
I understood the difference between dispatcher and Ops officer in UK but which kind of jobs would fit my CV? Dispatcher, Ramp agent...maybe fueller?
What do you think about the ramp agent position? I've heard that it's a hard job and risky as well. You can breathe exhaust gasses dangerous for your health. Correct me if I'm wrong!
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 1
Refuelers get payed more than fo`s but again you need lots of ticks in boxes before you start.
If your worried about a bit of fuel on you your in the wrong game.
Personally i would see if i could get something in a fbo not one of the main handlers.
If your worried about a bit of fuel on you your in the wrong game.
Personally i would see if i could get something in a fbo not one of the main handlers.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Europe
no MJ, the only thing I'm worried about it's breathing exhaust gasses from jet engines and getting cancer at 50 yo :/ I've heard that ramp agents have these kind of diseases at the end of their career.
Fixed base operator...
ok thanks! I'll try to find some contacts and send CVs...MJ do you know and recommend anyone in particular in UK?
Fixed base operator...
ok thanks! I'll try to find some contacts and send CVs...MJ do you know and recommend anyone in particular in UK?
