Your path to becoming a dispatcher

I don't exactly have a path TO Dispatch yet, but I am ON the path! I studied Meteorology in college and accepted a job in ATC with the FAA after graduation in 2008 (Remember all those PUBNAT's). During the last week of training in OKC, I was called and offered a job that I didn't seek out, but that was I was referred to by the University of Utah. This was a position in Meteorology, haha. I then faced a tough decision--continue on the path to talking to airplanes all day, or use my education in Meteorology that I had worked so hard for (Meteorology is no walk in the park college degree! It's 5 years of Calculus, Physics, Chem, Thermo, etc etc....). So, I took the Meteorologist position. Definitely one of the biggest decisions I've been faced with. As the years went by, and as I occasionally worked on aviation related projects, I realized that my main interest lies in aviation AND meteorology--imagine that! HAHA. Luckily I had earned my Dispatch license prior to graduation, and so that step is also complete. I have looked at a few dispatch opportunities, but nothing has presented itself that would work for my current situation (you know, having a pretty decent paying job, house, wife, kids etc etc....) BUT.....as time goes on, I'm becoming more and more convinced that I would be happiest working in Dispatch. So, I am beginning my search again in hopes of finding a company to hire me with all my weather knowledge but lack of actual dispatching experience. I'm still young enough (early 30's) and I am feeling optimistic and excited for my future! Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans! ;)
 
Vortmax said:
I don't exactly have a path TO Dispatch yet, but I am ON the path! I studied Meteorology in college and accepted a job in ATC with the FAA after graduation in 2008 (Remember all those PUBNAT's). During the last week of training in OKC, I was called and offered a job that I didn't seek out, but that was I was referred to by the University of Utah. This was a position in Meteorology, haha. I then faced a tough decision--continue on the path to talking to airplanes all day, or use my education in Meteorology that I had worked so hard for (Meteorology is no walk in the park college degree! It's 5 years of Calculus, Physics, Chem, Thermo, etc etc....). So, I took the Meteorologist position. Definitely one of the biggest decisions I've been faced with. As the years went by, and as I occasionally worked on aviation related projects, I realized that my main interest lies in aviation AND meteorology--imagine that! HAHA. Luckily I had earned my Dispatch license prior to graduation, and so that step is also complete. I have looked at a few dispatch opportunities, but nothing has presented itself that would work for my current situation (you know, having a pretty decent paying job, house, wife, kids etc etc....) BUT.....as time goes on, I'm becoming more and more convinced that I would be happiest working in Dispatch. So, I am beginning my search again in hopes of finding a company to hire me with all my weather knowledge but lack of actual dispatching experience. I'm still young enough (early 30's) and I am feeling optimistic and excited for my future! Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans! ;)
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You know thats the thing I really cannot understand. Meterology is a tough subject and a tough degree to get but pays less then a 5 week education to get a DX license. Not to take away from DXers but I have always been amazed at how DX pays so well with so little investment and has better bennies i.e. CASS and jumpseat than other disciplines like A@P's for example which also takes far longer to get that ticket as well. Well hats off to the ones who figured it out early I figured it out late but trying to catch up..
 
Couldn't hack it as a pilot, so I figured second place is pretty good too.

OH COME ON THAT WAS FUNNY!

BTW, totally kidding. I loathe people who say such things in earnest. It's been really interesting reading your stories, thanks for posting. Also, we need more fuel. No, more than that. ;)
 
Boris Badenov said:
Also, we need more fuel. No, more than that. ;)
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Funny story; my wife works at a museum and a few months ago she met one of our captains who was there with his family. She mentioned to him that I was a dispatcher at his company and his only response to her - in a very serious voice - was, "tell him I want more fuel."

She didn't get it, but I cracked up when she told me.
 
FXMXC said:
You know thats the thing I really cannot understand. Meterology is a tough subject and a tough degree to get but pays less then a 5 week education to get a DX license. Not to take away from DXers but I have always been amazed at how DX pays so well with so little investment and has better bennies i.e. CASS and jumpseat than other disciplines like A@P's for example which also takes far longer to get that ticket as well. Well hats off to the ones who figured it out early I figured it out late but trying to catch up..
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Talk to a teacher. They will tell you all about pay/education disparity.
 
My path started when I barely graduated high school. I joined the navy 'cause my father and brother were in the in the navy. I thought I better join before I got drafted. So when my tour was up as an air traffic controller, and there was a federal hiring freeze on said profession for vets, and I didn't have the money to buy my way in through an exempted CTA program, I started looking for a new career path. I saw an add in the employment classifieds in the back of Navy Times for aircraft dispatchers. After one of our reserve officers who flew for UAL put me in touch with their dispatch training guy I signed up. I went to school, got a job at a very small domestic prop airline, then a larger international supplemental cargo airline, and then a major flag/domestic cargo airline where I still am until I'm dead or fired or retire. All I ever wanted to do was work at a big shiny pax carrier, but instead I'm dispatching cargo planes full of rubber dog**** out of Honk Kong.
 
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