Airport Jobs
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK
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Stu,
Like SAM 2M I too worked in dispatch for a couple of years, and for two handling agents. I am still glad that I did it, as I learned alot before I started flying, knowledge which helps in varying amounts when things go wrong on the line.
The insight you will gain into an operational background of an airline and the airport environment is both interesting and useful -but if you are going to do the job, do it well and be enthusiastic. Work with your crews and do a good job, make sure the team stays together to ensure on time or early departures as painlessly as possible, and above all enjoy it.
If you are going to do it, don't rely on it to make you alot of money because quite simply, it won't. During the summer you may find yourself working extended shifts dealing with delayed flights, and quite often disgruntled passengers too.
I would do it again if I was back in your situation without hesitation - I left to be cabin crew which was also very good experience.... and financed my instructor rating.
Whatever you do, enjoy it and don't stop planning your next step to the flightdeck. Speak to people, get out there and make contacts and listen to their advice. Most of them will want to help you, if you do a good job for them.
Cheers and good luck,
starship
Like SAM 2M I too worked in dispatch for a couple of years, and for two handling agents. I am still glad that I did it, as I learned alot before I started flying, knowledge which helps in varying amounts when things go wrong on the line.
The insight you will gain into an operational background of an airline and the airport environment is both interesting and useful -but if you are going to do the job, do it well and be enthusiastic. Work with your crews and do a good job, make sure the team stays together to ensure on time or early departures as painlessly as possible, and above all enjoy it.
If you are going to do it, don't rely on it to make you alot of money because quite simply, it won't. During the summer you may find yourself working extended shifts dealing with delayed flights, and quite often disgruntled passengers too.
I would do it again if I was back in your situation without hesitation - I left to be cabin crew which was also very good experience.... and financed my instructor rating.
Whatever you do, enjoy it and don't stop planning your next step to the flightdeck. Speak to people, get out there and make contacts and listen to their advice. Most of them will want to help you, if you do a good job for them.
Cheers and good luck,
starship
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Deathcruzer,
I disagree, I know a lot of people earning a very good salary from working around planes. The hours are often unsociable, and long, but the returns can be excellent,
Phil
I disagree, I know a lot of people earning a very good salary from working around planes. The hours are often unsociable, and long, but the returns can be excellent,
Phil
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P51Mustang
If ur willing to put in the hours you can make a lot of money dispatching. I spent 4 months as a dispatcher at Manchester in the summer between completing A-levels and starting Uni. In that time I made enough money to fund my PPL form start to finish.
In addition you can make a lot of useful contacts with air crew and you never know when they may come in handy.
This is what the job involves:
Arrive at stand before aircraft arrives, check the ramp for FOD and ensure loaders, cleaners, caterers, fuellers etc. are on their way. After aircraft parks on stand drive airbridge to the door. From here on in u are the team leader, u must ensure that all the teams are doing their jobs and to schedule so the aircraft dosent miss its slot. In addition you must liaise with the flight deck and the cabin manager and keep them informed of what is happening at all times. As well as the ramp teams you must also stay on top of the passenger situation i.e. talking to the passenger agents to make sure the passengers are going to be ready to board at the right time. Once the aircarft is ready and the passengers have boarded you sign off with the flight deck, remove the airbridge and watch the tug boys push her off.
The job is loads of fun but at times you can find urself under immense pressure. For example, you may fnd urself dispatching at 4 in the morning feeling tired and stressed trying to explain to the angry captain that he is going to be late because the loaders have put 200 hundred bags in the wrong hold. It's not always easy but it's a real challenge. You have to be well organised and be able to communicate well at all levels from the toffy nose captain to the cleaners and loaders.
I would honestly recommend working in dispatch to any potential pilots out there. Sure, it's not the best paid job out there but its valuable experience which helps develop the very characteristics that the modern pilot needs. For me just getting those few minuted in the flight deck having a laugh and a joke with the flight deck crew helped an awful lot to stay focussed on my goal.
I know Servisair are recruiting up at Manchester right now and im fairly sure they are doing the same around the country to cope with the summer charter traffic. I was seriously thinking about going back after graduation this summer but I think I wanna spread my wings a little more and try Ops.
I hope this helps 'P51' and if u want any more info. then PM me.
Ebee
p.s. 'Sullyd' u are simply wrong!
If ur willing to put in the hours you can make a lot of money dispatching. I spent 4 months as a dispatcher at Manchester in the summer between completing A-levels and starting Uni. In that time I made enough money to fund my PPL form start to finish.
In addition you can make a lot of useful contacts with air crew and you never know when they may come in handy.
This is what the job involves:
Arrive at stand before aircraft arrives, check the ramp for FOD and ensure loaders, cleaners, caterers, fuellers etc. are on their way. After aircraft parks on stand drive airbridge to the door. From here on in u are the team leader, u must ensure that all the teams are doing their jobs and to schedule so the aircraft dosent miss its slot. In addition you must liaise with the flight deck and the cabin manager and keep them informed of what is happening at all times. As well as the ramp teams you must also stay on top of the passenger situation i.e. talking to the passenger agents to make sure the passengers are going to be ready to board at the right time. Once the aircarft is ready and the passengers have boarded you sign off with the flight deck, remove the airbridge and watch the tug boys push her off.
The job is loads of fun but at times you can find urself under immense pressure. For example, you may fnd urself dispatching at 4 in the morning feeling tired and stressed trying to explain to the angry captain that he is going to be late because the loaders have put 200 hundred bags in the wrong hold. It's not always easy but it's a real challenge. You have to be well organised and be able to communicate well at all levels from the toffy nose captain to the cleaners and loaders.
I would honestly recommend working in dispatch to any potential pilots out there. Sure, it's not the best paid job out there but its valuable experience which helps develop the very characteristics that the modern pilot needs. For me just getting those few minuted in the flight deck having a laugh and a joke with the flight deck crew helped an awful lot to stay focussed on my goal.
I know Servisair are recruiting up at Manchester right now and im fairly sure they are doing the same around the country to cope with the summer charter traffic. I was seriously thinking about going back after graduation this summer but I think I wanna spread my wings a little more and try Ops.
I hope this helps 'P51' and if u want any more info. then PM me.
Ebee
p.s. 'Sullyd' u are simply wrong!
Its a good job esspecially if your in it for the experience.
Join Date: Mar 2004
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airport jobs
Ive just graduated and like many others am set on a job in aviation (hopefully as a pilot but equally keen on ATC).
However whilst applying to various opportunities I need, no actually must (!), clear some of the debts I have produced with 4 years of uni.
I saw from a previous post aircraft dispatchers being mentioned as good job for the CV and as well as being interesting and allowing close contact with a/c, however I could only find vacancies in Manchester (I'm in Guildford) on aviation job search.
Does anyone know the best way to find out about vacancies for around London and perhaps any other jobs that would be interesting or available??
Cheers in advance
However whilst applying to various opportunities I need, no actually must (!), clear some of the debts I have produced with 4 years of uni.
I saw from a previous post aircraft dispatchers being mentioned as good job for the CV and as well as being interesting and allowing close contact with a/c, however I could only find vacancies in Manchester (I'm in Guildford) on aviation job search.
Does anyone know the best way to find out about vacancies for around London and perhaps any other jobs that would be interesting or available??
Cheers in advance
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Due to the rotten pay that most ground handling agencies pay their dispatchers, it's not the sort of job that justifies paying an agency to advertise it.
Best way to find the jobs is to contact your local airports, and find out which ground handling agents they use (some might be airlines which self-handle) and contact them direct at the airport. Alternatively, look up the corporate websites for the likes of Aviance, Servisair, Swissport etc and ask them for the contacts at your local airport.
The money and shifts can be pretty bad (but some places actually pay pretty well) to downright awful, but it is an interesting and varied job, and the contact with crews is great. You'll get so much good advice and encouragement from them. Not the best job in the world by a long shot, but it beats the hell out of working in an office/bank/call centre/shop etc.
Best way to find the jobs is to contact your local airports, and find out which ground handling agents they use (some might be airlines which self-handle) and contact them direct at the airport. Alternatively, look up the corporate websites for the likes of Aviance, Servisair, Swissport etc and ask them for the contacts at your local airport.
The money and shifts can be pretty bad (but some places actually pay pretty well) to downright awful, but it is an interesting and varied job, and the contact with crews is great. You'll get so much good advice and encouragement from them. Not the best job in the world by a long shot, but it beats the hell out of working in an office/bank/call centre/shop etc.
Join Date: Apr 2005
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I'm an engineer at NATS, I know for a fact we are recruiting permanently for ATCOs ( Controllers ) go to www.nats.co.uk and apply on line!
Join Date: Apr 2003
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I'd second what MaudeCharlee said; contact the handling agents directly. The Station Ops Managers are more often than not responsible for dispatcher recruitment at their base.
Cheers
Cheers
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Suggestions:
1) If you get a job as a dispatcher, remember that you will quickly get to be known by your regulars. Make sure that you don't piss on your chips so to speak by doing dodgy turnrounds or molesting the cabin crew (like one chap I know - after ten years or so, he's still the 4rsehole he ever was).
2) Have some calling cards made up so that you can tell people who you are.
3) get a reputation for being useful to the crews you handle and they will speak up for you in interviews.
4) It does work - I know of quite a few former dispatchers who have "moved on".
5) Be prepared to make baked beans on toast your favourite meal because left over pax and crew meals will be your staple diet (cos you won't be able to afford "out else").
1) If you get a job as a dispatcher, remember that you will quickly get to be known by your regulars. Make sure that you don't piss on your chips so to speak by doing dodgy turnrounds or molesting the cabin crew (like one chap I know - after ten years or so, he's still the 4rsehole he ever was).
2) Have some calling cards made up so that you can tell people who you are.
3) get a reputation for being useful to the crews you handle and they will speak up for you in interviews.
4) It does work - I know of quite a few former dispatchers who have "moved on".
5) Be prepared to make baked beans on toast your favourite meal because left over pax and crew meals will be your staple diet (cos you won't be able to afford "out else").
), I can afford a curry every now and then 
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Cheers for the advice guys I will be on to it straight away!
And 'What's a Girdler' I am in the process of applying to NATS to be a trainee, however I was told the process takes a while so just need something to fill in in the mean time...
And 'What's a Girdler' I am in the process of applying to NATS to be a trainee, however I was told the process takes a while so just need something to fill in in the mean time...
