121 Operation Recommendations…

avi80r

avi80r

New Member
As mentioned in a previous post, I am new to seeking dispatch opportunities since being laid off from RIA. To my knowledge there are no other 121 operations in the Chicagoland area, besides United, and I do not have enough experience to go there. I figure if I am going to move out of state for a job, it might as well be somewhere I have some desire to go to. I am leaning towards warmer weather, you know where it does not snow in April or drop 30 degrees over a two day period ;) Does anyone have input on 121 operations based out of Florida or California (preferably San Diego area) that are legitimate operations that someone would want to work for? I guess I am open to researching operations elsewhere, but I’d like to avoid airlines you hated working for. I only have roughly 6 months of dispatching experience- but mostly international experience. Ideally, I’d like to make more than $12 an hour, as I have plenty of student loans to pay…Hoping that is realistic! Of course I would hope the airline would allow dispatchers to be in CASS (there has been some mention of some airlines not allowing this) and potentially have reciprocal flight benefits with other airlines.
 
$12 / hr should be easily attainable by even the cheapest of the cheap regionals.

There are no opportunities in Southern California other than California Pacific, which seems to not be getting off the ground. FL will give you Spirit and Silver in the FLL area and National in the MCO area.

Expressjet is in ATL and Eagle in DFW.

Hope that helps.
 
Don't know of anyone in Southern California I am afraid. Las Vegas has Allegiant. There are several operations in Florida, those who work there could probably do a better job of naming them all. Spirit, near FLL, comes to mind. Also some cargo operators near MCO.
 
Not sure if the local FSDO would have a list of 121 operaters.

I know Sheffield at one time had a list of all operators that hired dispatchers.
 
Sheffield's list is a good place to start, but they do have some operators on there who are no longer in business (e.g. USA3000 and Primaris.) My best luck with getting calls back was when I contacted airlines who were actively hiring dispatchers though - which I usually found through Sheffield's job listings (back then, in the pre-internet days, they mailed us postcards with who was hiring.) Obviously this service is just for Sheffield grads but I think most schools have similar resources. Good luck on your job search!
 
Thanks for all of your input. I found a basic list online of airlines currently operating. My dispatch course was through a university degree program for Air Traffic Control and only about 4 out of 25 students actually took the written, oral and practical, since those tests were not required to pass the course and most people were there to be controllers anyway. Not too many good contacts there :/ Are flight op departments (part 121) for corporate companies (i.e. Home Depot, Verizon, etc) hard to get in to with minimal experience? I have just recently stubbled upon such options and know little about them. What about Virgin America? Is that place for the more experienced?
 
Corporate usually flies under 91, sometimes they fly under 135, but majority of them is 91 or 91k. I have considered dispatching in corporate aviation, but it appears to be a whole different world than commercial. But the pay can be just as good.
 
TaxiBack said:
One option is Virgin Express at SFO.
Click to expand...

You mean Virgin America? That would be an option although they don't seem to be doing too well financially right now and I would say that's more northern California than southern.
 
avi80r said:
Thanks for all of your input. I found a basic list online of airlines currently operating. My dispatch course was through a university degree program for Air Traffic Control and only about 4 out of 25 students actually took the written, oral and practical, since those tests were not required to pass the course and most people were there to be controllers anyway. Not too many good contacts there :/ Are flight op departments (part 121) for corporate companies (i.e. Home Depot, Verizon, etc) hard to get in to with minimal experience? I have just recently stubbled upon such options and know little about them. What about Virgin America? Is that place for the more experienced?
Click to expand...

Did you graduate from Lewis by any chance?

Flight ops departments for corporate companies are part 91 for the most part. And let me tell you right away part 91/135 is nothing like part 121 dispatching, again for the most part. I'm sure there might be exceptions.

Would be so kind and message me the online list of airlines currently operating? TIA.
 
avi80r said:
What about Virgin America? Is that place for the more experienced?
Click to expand...

I did interview there one time - they seem to like experience but a lot of it seemed to be if they felt you'd be a good "fit" with the corporate culture. It never hurts to apply though now that you've got some experience - even if it isn't a lot of experience. Heck, apply at United if they post something, you might get lucky and get a call.
 
manniax said:
You mean Virgin America? That would be an option although they don't seem to be doing too well financially right now and I would say that's more northern California than southern.
Click to expand...

They are definitely northern...
 
Yes, SFO, also known as San Francisco is not socal. I really don't think anyone was confused about that part.
But it aint ohio either. And If one is looking at San Diego or LA then for a few dollars less NorCal is right there.
 
TaxiBack said:
Yes, SFO, also known as San Francisco is not socal. I really don't think anyone was confused about that part.
But it aint ohio either. And If one is looking at San Diego or LA then for a few dollars less NorCal is right there.
Click to expand...

Depending upon where you go I think SFO is more expensive to live in than LAX or SAN. I think LAS is actually a bit closer to drive to from SoCal than SFO, plus cheaper to live in, so if I was trying to get on with an airline in the SoCal area, Allegiant is probably where I would aim for. Plus, no state income tax in NV.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top