Beginning Aircraft Dispatching Career

Kankles32

Kankles32

Dispatcher
Hello Everyone,

I would like to ask the community for any help and hints about the dispatching profession.

A little bit about my aviation background. There is none. I started with a fascination for sUAS at the beginning of 2017. Quickly learning all there is about this new industry and becoming Part 107 certified(I took the remotepilot101 course). During this time of learning METARs, TAFs, and NOTAMS I had ran into a friend of mine who is a Captain for Southwest. He introduced me to the career of Dispatching. I was hooked! From here he allowed me to directly call and ask Southwest dispatching about the profession. Out of all the knowledge I've gained from conversations and personal research, I'm still needing answers to a few questions.

Final note: I've enrolled at IFOD for the October 2nd start date and am currently studying Sheppard Air ADX test prep. Also, watching countless videos over aviation weather, approach plates, and other related material.

Questions:
1. Can someone with no aviation experience become an (successful) Airline Dispatcher/Coordinator?
2. What does the Oral and Practical tests cover?
3. Should I take the written before my class start date?
Anything related that the community would like to add would be greatly appreciated!
 
1: Yes. There is no reason one can't become successful if there committed to it. Just remember, the road to the top of the dispatch hierarchy
is through building time as a dispatcher at a regional or small cargo feeder or possibly corporate dispatching.

2: It's been awhile, but the practical was taking information like weather and putting together a flight plan and the oral was questions related to that plan. It could be different, best to get a large feedback on what many people experienced.

3: When I was in dx school, I had to take the private pilot written and ADX before reporting to actual class. If you have those out of the way, it is one less thing to stress over while in school.

Are you doing school all in a classroom or via correspondence? If in the class room, are you doing x number of weeks straight through or is it broken up with classes on certain days?
 
I know of a few people with no aviation background and no college degree who are doing quite well in the industry.

If you think you can handle the ADX before October, take it. If not, don't. You should have a good idea of where you stand from practice tests. Just learn what you need to learn to pass the test, even if it means memorizing some answers. Once the test is complete, forget what you know.

School will prepare you for the checkride. Just make sure you have the ability to focus a good deal of time and energy towards it and you will do fine.

After school, be open minded about opportunities. You might have to relocate. I did and while it wasn't always great, I wouldn't change the path I took to get where I am today.

-signed, someone with no aviation experience and no degree who just got his dream job after the majority of a decade in the industry.
 
I will be attending the 5 week program at IFOD(if someone comments about taking their course). All classroom time straight through.

Realizing that I will have to gain experience(paying my dues). Is it rather easy or difficult to get hired at a regional or corporate, with only my two certs? (107 and AD)

And Thank You so much for your response and help!
 
DispatcherSam said:
I know of a few people with no aviation background and no college degree who are doing quite well in the industry.

If you think you can handle the ADX before October, take it. If not, don't. You should have a good idea of where you stand from practice tests. Just learn what you need to learn to pass the test, even if it means memorizing some answers. Once the test is complete, forget what you know.

School will prepare you for the checkride. Just make sure you have the ability to focus a good deal of time and energy towards it and you will do fine.

After school, be open minded about opportunities. You might have to relocate. I did and while it wasn't always great, I wouldn't change the path I took to get where I am today.

-signed, someone with no aviation experience and no degree who just got his dream job after the majority of a decade in the industry.
Click to expand...

Beyond grateful for your help and insight! Thank you!
 
Kankles32 said:
I will be attending the 5 week program at IFOD(if someone comments about taking their course). All classroom time straight through.

Realizing that I will have to gain experience(paying my dues). Is it rather easy or difficult to get hired at a regional or corporate, with only my two certs? (107 and AD)

And Thank You so much for your response and help!
Click to expand...
Just like any job interview (because that's what it is) you have to market yourself. Maybe the regional will be hurting for people and you won't have to exert too much effort, or vice versa. Just be prepared by knowing the very very basic stuff well.
 
Kankles32 said:
I will be attending the 5 week program at IFOD(if someone comments about taking their course). All classroom time straight through.

Realizing that I will have to gain experience(paying my dues). Is it rather easy or difficult to get hired at a regional or corporate, with only my two certs? (107 and AD)

And Thank You so much for your response and help!
Click to expand...

Getting the first job requires you to show your interest in the position and company. You may also have to prove some knowledge on a interview test. Just remember the basics: dress right, know what you can and show them you want to be there.
 
Delta Echo said:
Getting the first job requires you to show your interest in the position and company. You may also have to prove some knowledge on a interview test. Just remember the basics: dress right, know what you can and show them you want to be there.
Click to expand...

On top of everything, I believe this is very important. Understand that it's more than just a job; it's a responsibility. Show you want it for the right reasons. It's more than a paycheck, it doesn't matter what size airline signs it.
 
R2D said:
On top of everything, I believe this is very important. Understand that it's more than just a job; it's a responsibility. Show you want it for the right reasons. It's more than a paycheck, it doesn't matter what size airline signs it.
Click to expand...
You hear it all the time people thanking the military, police, firefighters. So When I spoke with the Captain from Southwest about Pilots, Dispatchers, and ATC. Jokingly, I mentioned that people should be doing that for Aviation professionals(PIC, AD, ATC) as well. Keeping thousands of souls safe everyday. Talk about responsibilities haha!

Again, I appreciate the help and insight!
 
Kankles32 said:
You hear it all the time people thanking the military, police, firefighters. So When I spoke with the Captain from Southwest about Pilots, Dispatchers, and ATC. Jokingly, I mentioned that people should be doing that for Aviation professionals(PIC, AD, ATC) as well. Keeping thousands of souls safe everyday. Talk about responsibilities haha!

Again, I appreciate the help and insight!
Click to expand...

Any time.

Many of us are happy to fly under the radar. Hell, I often can't answer competently when asked what I do for a living.
 
R2D said:
Many of us are happy to fly under the radar. Hell, I often can't answer competently when asked what I do for a living.
Click to expand...

I have been known to not talk about what I do for a living as well, with strangers especially, since I hate hearing airline horror stories that I had nothing to do with and honestly don't care about.
 
manniax said:
I have been known to not talk about what I do for a living as well, with strangers especially, since I hate hearing airline horror stories that I had nothing to do with and honestly don't care about.
Click to expand...

My explanation turns into me becoming "the dude who puts gas in the plane."

I don't care enough to correct the misconception and in a way it is right.
 
I somehow got to explaining my job to my beer league softball team. They eventually decided that I was "the guy with the sticks on the ramp that talks to the tower and tells the pilots what to do." Close enough.
 
Kankles32 said:
You hear it all the time people thanking the military, police, firefighters. So When I spoke with the Captain from Southwest about Pilots, Dispatchers, and ATC. Jokingly, I mentioned that people should be doing that for Aviation professionals(PIC, AD, ATC) as well. Keeping thousands of souls safe everyday. Talk about responsibilities haha!

Again, I appreciate the help and insight!
Click to expand...
I will cut you for leaving out A&P mechanics.
 
Kankles32 said:
Hello Everyone,

I would like to ask the community for any help and hints about the dispatching profession.

A little bit about my aviation background. There is none. I started with a fascination for sUAS at the beginning of 2017. Quickly learning all there is about this new industry and becoming Part 107 certified(I took the remotepilot101 course). During this time of learning METARs, TAFs, and NOTAMS I had ran into a friend of mine who is a Captain for Southwest. He introduced me to the career of Dispatching. I was hooked! From here he allowed me to directly call and ask Southwest dispatching about the profession. Out of all the knowledge I've gained from conversations and personal research, I'm still needing answers to a few questions.

Final note: I've enrolled at IFOD for the October 2nd start date and am currently studying Sheppard Air ADX test prep. Also, watching countless videos over aviation weather, approach plates, and other related material.

Questions:
1. Can someone with no aviation experience become an (successful) Airline Dispatcher/Coordinator?
2. What does the Oral and Practical tests cover?
3. Should I take the written before my class start date?
Anything related that the community would like to add would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
1. Yes!
2. Study the ADX portion of the ASA/Gleim books.
3. No. IFOD will prep you for the test. Some schools do not, but IFOD will.
 
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