ICAO CPL holder & JAA ATPL subjects
 

Hi,

I hold an ICAO CPL with 1800hrs single engine (African hours and no UK flight conversion) and JAA ATPL subjects. Now with the economic climate and the chance of flight crew work in the UK non-existent, I am looking to find employment in the UK/Europe/middle East in a flight operations/dispatch area. Flight dispatch been my focused area.

Trying at present to find employment in this field with my background and qualifications, the operators, that have got back, a very few!! have said, I need flight op's experience. Now, I take it they mean a flight dispatchers licence? Through research, the place to go is Sheffield, Florida as I have not found anything else to this standard recognised in the UK or Europe, is this correct? Not willing at this stage to spend more money! until I know its the right direction.

Would getting a position like a ramp agent/turnaround supervisor/crew rostering/ scheduler etc... be a favourable start? with operators like Jet2/Flybe/Air Southwest/Eastern etc... . Yes, I would like to get back onto the flightdeck one day but this could well be a backdoor in. A flight dispatcher career does also interest me.

Any ideas or direction from anyone, really appreciated.

Pro1966

Write to all the carriers you mentioned with brief CV, but do not mention your intention to go flying:= Have you checked .aviationjobsearch.com ? Check also GAMA & TAG @ FAB/EGLF, LEA London Executive Aviation: Home, Twinjet @ LTN/EGGW etc., all are operators who continually need Flt Ops staff. Good luck:ok:

As merlinxx says, don't mention that your intention is to go out flying! Even if you think that a pilot would be most suitable for a job as a flightplanner, most employers think the opposite, since they know that you won't be satisfied to work in the ground ops forever. On the other hand, a job as a flight planner etc is a great way to gain experience and it also great fun (at least I think so :)).

Continue to apply to all companies that are operating commercially, they should all have some sort of ground operations. I got my first job without any more experience than my fATPL, and after a year I even got a typerating so anything can happen! Good luck!

Merlin, Civil,

Thank you for your replies.

Gama, TAG & Twinjet, good heads ups. Missed out on a position at LEA (through a recruiter though). Been trawling through aviationjobsearch.com and others.

As you said Civil, trying to write a letter to a company explaining, I would not be interested in the flightdeck again and more centred towards flight dispatch, could well fall on deaf ears!

The more I research the subject on flight dispatch, the more interest I become. Particularly with the FAA licence, which I see is kind of recognised and excepted on this side of the pond. Considering my career in aviation started a bit late at 38 and the only twin hours I have is my initial twin. Another avenue as a backup would not go amiss. Never know where it leads....

These bigger operators, the likes of BA, BMI, Ryanair, Easyjet, Monarch, MyTravel, do they have the big control rooms? that I see the american operators seem to the have? If so, trying to find the right contact details is tough, seems all very hush hush!

So any other thoughts, will always be welcome. Kind regards.

You might want to try approaching ground handling agents such as Servisair/Menzies. I expect there are positions opening up this month to start training Dispatchers for the summer schedule. I've just landed myself a Dispatch position starting in March.

I sent my CV to numerous ground handling agents in November 2009 stating my interest in gaining experience in commercial operations, particularly Dispatch and TCO positions as a fATPL holder. A few agents kept me on file on the basis of my airside experience from fATPL training. I was contacted by two ground handling agents last month with invitations to attend interviews. I was told at interview these positions are normally filled through internal promotion as previous airside experience is desirable. As in my case, your CPL and ATPL theory exams might just secure you a job.

Check your PMs

Pro1966

Honestly, the FAA dispatcher license is going to gain you nothing in the UK, if you can already show that you have passed your ATPL gorund studies and hold a CPL. These studies cover the knowledge requirements for EUOPS and exceed the ICAO Doc. 7192 D3 ops/Flt Dispacther training syllabus. Also, in the UK we don't have flight dispatchers as they are known in the States. We have airside 'ramp'dispatch' and Operation Officers, although a few foreign carriers do have 'flight dispatch' offices in the UK.

If you have completed performance studies with your fATPL, why not apply for a job in airline navigation services, write to SITA in Hounslow who have a large flight planning and performance section. You have obviously made an investment in your flying and studies, try to get a job where you can use that to your advantage. Also, not all airlines frown upon aspiring commercial pilot working ops, be honest about your aspirations to fly and keep keep trying.

Agree with 'no sig' ref Companies like SITA, also think of Jeppesen UK @ Alteon House in Crawley (just south of LGW) where not only do Jepp UK offer the whole service roster but tis also the Boeing/Alteon sim centre.

...Jeppesen UK @ Boeing House. Recently been renamed. :E

As it happens now might well be an opportune time to send in your CV, word on the street has it that they a few vacancies going! :ok:

Hi,

Thankyou ever so much for the response, certainly lifts the chin up, as things seem very slow!

no sig: yes, it sounds about right ref. UK FAA flight dispatch licence. The licence seems to be a requirement though for the middle East. At least I can keep the SEARCH underlined as ramp/operations. Airline navigation is really more my game. Have been out of the country for 6 years so a bit behind the drag curve, with the who's who of British aviation and contacts. SITA is a new name to me, great heads up.

merlinxx, Lauderdale: Jeppesen, also fantastic, good thinking.

JBA, have replied to your PM.

Once again, thankyou, keeps my search hot. I see these positions are out there, not too sure myself if the recruiters/agents are of much use?? Trying to find the contact in the company is the real gold and that elusive human resources email. Some, just shutting the door! saying, use their web-porthole, which seems to be a merry-go-round, needs must though! Starting to realise after 3 weeks, they dont get back ASAP....!!

Email today from Alex at Bristol, “we will be doing a Flight Dispatcher course in conjunction with SITA. The plan is to use a cut-down and modified version of the ATPL CBT as a distance learning element followed by two weeks of more role specific training with Lucy Pesaro at SITA. I can’t tell you when it will be ready, though, certainly not before late summer” Very good for the UK industry. You know it will be a FIRST class course :D

Pro1966

Pro1966

Yes, if you're thinking of working outside of the UK/EUR then the FAA ticket is generally required, Saudi for example is modelled after the FAA system,

SITA stuff
 

You've already got that sorted, **** these folks are looking at ramp rats:ugh: