DX schools that are 8 weeks or longer?

There are several dozen aviation-degree programs (4yr and 2yr) at colleges all over the country which also offer a dispatcher's certificate course as part of the overall degree program. The upside to doing it that way (in addition to the 4yr Aviation Management degree that you get to put on your resume and have an INSTANT boost up over all the other applicants) is that each 2- or 3-day segment of a "boot camp" style dispatch school lasts, instead, for several months. Can someone REALLY understand how to look at weather reports/forecasts and be able to put together a complete understanding of the impacts when they get weather theory crammed into their brains over 72 non-stop hours? I highly doubt it, unless you have prior aviation related experience. But when you take 2 semesters of aviation weather courses over the span of an entire calendar year, it has time to sink in AND become practical -- not just theory. Then an entire semester on aircraft systems. And another semester on how to read maps and measure and use navigational tools. Entire semesters for EACH topic of a dispatch school, instead of a few days.

All other things being equal, I'm going to take ^^THAT guy/gal over anyone who went to a few weeks of school at IFOD, et al.

I understand the college route is not available or practical for everyone. However, this thread's topic is about DX schools that last longer than 6 to 8 weeks. So, I'm just putting it out there that you can get your DX cert as part of a college degree, as another avenue into the industry. (and it's not just for the young guns... I changed careers at the age of 40. I started that career change by going to a 4yr aviation college.)

From a personal standpoint (and also a professional standpoint as an OCC manager), I can't stand the following phrase: just memorize as much as you can for the exams and then forget everything, because they're going to teach you "their way" once you get to a company. Bull$h** !! You're paying for the education, you should come out the other end with knowledge and understanding and the ability to apply theory to practical applications. Unfortunately, you can't do that at certificate mills six week schools.
 
I disagree somewhat. I got my ticket at Middle Tennessee State University as apart of a Dispatch Degree. Without going there I would not have made the connections that got me to AA.
It’s so competitive at the Major Level now, they want to see degrees and deeper aviation backgrounds. CrackerJack tickets from this place or that place is fine, but if they have no connections to a major then you could be stuck at a regional, until a connection at your regional makes it to a major and then opens a door for you. It’s a wild and unforgiving game to get to the top.
 
JimAK said:
There are several dozen aviation-degree programs (4yr and 2yr) at colleges all over the country which also offer a dispatcher's certificate course as part of the overall degree program. The upside to doing it that way (in addition to the 4yr Aviation Management degree that you get to put on your resume and have an INSTANT boost up over all the other applicants) is that each 2- or 3-day segment of a "boot camp" style dispatch school lasts, instead, for several months. Can someone REALLY understand how to look at weather reports/forecasts and be able to put together a complete understanding of the impacts when they get weather theory crammed into their brains over 72 non-stop hours? I highly doubt it, unless you have prior aviation related experience. But when you take 2 semesters of aviation weather courses over the span of an entire calendar year, it has time to sink in AND become practical -- not just theory. Then an entire semester on aircraft systems. And another semester on how to read maps and measure and use navigational tools. Entire semesters for EACH topic of a dispatch school, instead of a few days.

All other things being equal, I'm going to take ^^THAT guy/gal over anyone who went to a few weeks of school at IFOD, et al.

I understand the college route is not available or practical for everyone. However, this thread's topic is about DX schools that last longer than 6 to 8 weeks. So, I'm just putting it out there that you can get your DX cert as part of a college degree, as another avenue into the industry. (and it's not just for the young guns... I changed careers at the age of 40. I started that career change by going to a 4yr aviation college.)

From a personal standpoint (and also a professional standpoint as an OCC manager), I can't stand the following phrase: just memorize as much as you can for the exams and then forget everything, because they're going to teach you "their way" once you get to a company. Bull$h** !! You're paying for the education, you should come out the other end with knowledge and understanding and the ability to apply theory to practical applications. Unfortunately, you can't do that at certificate mills six week schools.
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To be clear I don’t disagree with you.
 
Agreed with above but people also have to go with what is practical.

If IFOD is all you can do then that’s what you’ve got. Later on you can pursue college but technically the DX certificate is all you need to get started.
 
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Altimeter said:
I disagree somewhat. I got my ticket at Middle Tennessee State University as apart of a Dispatch Degree. Without going there I would not have made the connections that got me to AA.
It’s so competitive at the Major Level now, they want to see degrees and deeper aviation backgrounds. CrackerJack tickets from this place or that place is fine, but if they have no connections to a major then you could be stuck at a regional, until a connection at your regional makes it to a major and then opens a door for you. It’s a wild and unforgiving game to get to the top.
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Some of us went to DX school because we already HAD a degree; granted, it may have been in something else, but we already have a degree-been there, done that... ;)

WRT going to a major, that's not everyone's goal. I'd be happy to get to a decent supplemental or even 135 operation. Anything beyond the regional level is fine with me.
 
A-9er said:
Some of us went to DX school because we already HAD a degree; granted, it may have been in something else, but we already have a degree-been there, done that... ;)

WRT going to a major, that's not everyone's goal. I'd be happy to get to a decent supplemental or even 135 operation. Anything beyond the regional level is fine with me.
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Great point of view. Everyone’s position is different, and the paths to your end game just as expansive. Figure out your end game, they're all different. For instance, if your dream is to be a Delta dispatcher, you're going to have to go down a completely different road than getting to AA/UA/SWA/ect. It can be done, they still hire dispatchers, but you might have to play the loooong game. It's a combination of preplanning, hard work, and luck.
 
Altimeter said:
Great point of view. Everyone’s position is different, and the paths to your end game just as expansive. Figure out your end game, they're all different. For instance, if your dream is to be a Delta dispatcher, you're going to have to go down a completely different road than getting to AA/UA/SWA/ect. It can be done, they still hire dispatchers, but you might have to play the loooong game. It's a combination of preplanning, hard work, and luck.
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I do have an associates in aviation flight technology, but that's only half the piece of paper. My bachelors was in electronics engineering technology.

As for end goal, I'd simply like to get somewhere that goes beyond the 'click, click, send' of regional dispatching; I'd like to go somewhere where I can do the job more in depth.
 
What you take away from school is what is important. Anyone can read a TAF, interpret a METAR, and use the 1-2-3 rule. It is how you use that knowledge and information to release a flight that is safe, legal, and economical, while using all the tools at your disposal. After you push the button you are there to maintain operational control and pass along pertinent information to your crew.

The cert is just part one.
 
Flynchick said:
The reason that most go for a 5 week course is economically driven. Unless you are living in the area where a 8-12 week course is being offered then the cost of hotels and eating out 3 meals a day just wouldn't be worth it. Just my hotel room was an extra 2k on top of the cost of the school; not including meals. If you need to your keep cost down I would recommend doing an intense self study then do a 5 week course.
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I can see that. I looked at the hotel option when I attended Sheffield, but I quickly decided against it on economic grounds. I opted for the student housing instead. It was cheaper, plus we could eat in. The only students who stayed in the hotels were those whose companies were sending them to school; the rest of us either did student housing or AirBnB.
 
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