Difference between "Crew Planner" and "Crew Scheduler"

clr4optn

clr4optn

Well-Known Member
On Endeavor Air's website, they have two seperate jobs for: "Crew Planner" and "Crew Scheduler".

Is one of them perhaps a euphemism for dispatcher? Judging by the previous comments regarding crew scheduling, I don't think that I'm that desperate (yet)...

Thank you!
 
clr4optn said:
Thank you! That helps ;) I'm still hoping for Dispatch, so I'll try and be patient....
Click to expand...
Yeah jobs in Crew Scheduling/Load Planning, etc. are great for making you an internal candidate at a Major but actual 121 Dispatching experience usually gives you much more bang for your buck. Like everything else it depends on what you want and what you're willing to do for it. If you're willing to relocate, start at the bottom, work hard & learn harder then some airline somewhere will pick you up in less than a year but it may seem like the LONGEST 12 months of your life in the meantime. Just be careful not to overcommit or undercommit yourself to something that will prevent you from eventually getting a foothold in somewhere better.
 
Thanks, BoilerOps. That's the conundrum, that I'm presently dealing with. I've really just started 'plastering the countryside' with my resume. I'm willing to relocate (nearly) anywhere. I'm in the process of relocating from an overseas contract. I know it's a lot to hope for right out of the gate, but if I can get the right job (definition: good QOL/location with flight benefits); I won't be in any hurry to 'move up' to the majors...
I've got a little leeway right now, so I'm trying to be patient. It doesn't sound like crew scheduling (or planning) will suit me, unless I get backed in to a corner. Mainly, I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't skipping a dispatch opportunity, that might have been cleverly disguised.
 
clr4optn said:
I know it's a lot to hope for right out of the gate, but if I can get the right job (definition: good QOL/location with flight benefits); I won't be in any hurry to 'move up' to the majors...
Click to expand...

You wont find this with the regionals. None have a particularly good QOL for dispatchers. Some have a good location and flight benefits but some have a bad location and bad benefits. American Eagle may come closest to what you are looking for but they may not hire for a long time and they typically want regional or internal experience.

Being a crew scheduler sucks big time at the regionals. It will likely get you into the regional dispatch group though if you can handle the negatives of the scheduling job. At American Eagle, there were a few schedulers interviewed and one hired by AA dispatch with no dispatch experience. If you can get a crew scheduling job at a major, you will be well positioned to get hired into dispatch at that major. Even crew scheduling at a major can suck but it just sucks less than the regionals.

All the regionals are in a decline or just starting one. Endeavor used to hire nearly constantly but now they have stopped and are about to have their fleet drop from 200 planes down to 81. Most regionals have similar stories. You have a lot of people with regional experience that want to make lateral moves to better regionals and also a steady stream of new blood from IFOD, Sheffield and numerous other places. The majors aren't growing and most hiring is retirement or merger related.

The time really has passed where you can afford to spend a long time at the regionals. The regionals are a place right now to get your experience and get out. There is so much uncertainty with the reductions in 50 seaters and pilot staffing that it would be kind of foolish to go into a regional hoping to stay for a while.
 
Thanks for all the good info, Flagship_dxer (even though it's not exactly 'good' news - I appreciate your input). I'll take what I can get and go from there. I've always managed to roll with the punches before...
 
Personally, I would avoid crew scheduling like the plague. Crew planning might be mildly tolerable depending upon how much you have to actually talk with crews. The very limited amount of work I have done in that field made me hate the day-to-day calling out in the event of sick calls, etc. with a passion. If a major has a load planning job open that would probably be better experience (and less stressful). Good luck on your job hunt!
 
You certainly have the right attitude going in, so I have little doubt you'll find something very quickly. I think there are quite a few options that will offer you a decent quality of life and are in good places. Everyone has their own expectation about where is an enjoyable place to live but like all things there is the good and the bad. I spent a few years at Air Wisconsin and it was very enjoyable. Good company (at least when I was there in 05), great city, GAWD AWFUL winters.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top