Dispatch Experience

That's Affirm

That's Affirm

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My first post here and could really use some input from all you DX professionals out there. With the goal of getting to a big major air carrier, when it comes to dispatch experience is it best to be with a solid regional type like a Compass or Skywest or does it help your resume/career more to go to a Spirit or Frontier type airline to get larger jet (Airbus/Boeing) experience, etops and something other than just Mexico/Canada international experience? Thanks in Advance...
 
I started at a regional, worked at an ACMI carrier doing troop charters, worked for an ACMI Cargo carrier, and now work for a major cargo carrier. Do not be picky with your first job. Major carriers are looking that you got experience, not necessarily what kinds of airplanes you dispatched. ETOPS and international flight planning just make you a bit more competitive. I totally believe in going the regional route, and if you can get hired by an LCC, then go for it! Experience is experience!
 
I am at a solid regional already, is it helping me to leave and go to one of these other guys for the additional experiences?
 
In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter if you have experience pushing around Airbuses versus CRJs. It's the same job, just bigger numbers. As an HR person, I would give more weight to an applicant that stuck around one company vs jumped all over the place.

The only possible exception to this, and really if I were you I would NOT consider it because of the nature of the ACMI business lately, is going to a 121 supplemental to get international experience.

Personally, I would stick with your present gig and work on the big leagues from there. You have the perks and benefits of having seniority there, which believe be you will miss when you move to a new company and end up back as the FNG.
 
Compass is hiring right now too. Dunno if thats why you mentioned it. They had the position open about a month or so ago...hired three...and are looking for a few more. I dont know the exact time frame...but they plan to hire three more in the next few months.
 
I can attest to the jumping around. I made a move out of a regional to get international and heavy jet experience and it proved to be costly. The cargo company I was with was shady and not very stable. DO YOUR RESEARCH IF you want to go the ACMI/Cargo route. I didn't and got stuck at a carrier that wasn't giving me what I thought was due justice. There are a few good stable cargo companies out just do your research.
 
nyk said:
I can attest to the jumping around. I made a move out of a regional to get international and heavy jet experience and it proved to be costly. The cargo company I was with was shady and not very stable. DO YOUR RESEARCH IF you want to go the ACMI/Cargo route. I didn't and got stuck at a carrier that wasn't giving me what I thought was due justice. There are a few good stable cargo companies out just do your research.
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Thanks nyk I actually do want to end up at a cargo carrier. UPS is my dream job. I know international experience is key to go there.
 
I knew one guy that had only ever dispatched with a small regional airline. He wasn't selected by Allegiant because he didn't have enough "large aircraft experience," according to them. Then he got hired by Continental. You can never tell what an employer thinks is good experience for them, is my point.
 
Several dispatchers with zero international experience have been interviewed for the current round of hiring at UPS.
 
manniax said:
Just for fun I used to list 5-10 dispatchers most likely to drive a company into bankruptcy based on people I'd worked with over the years...along with managers, coordinators, etc. I obviously didn't share it around much but it's a fun exercise.
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I'm thinking we could probably make a similar list of users of this forum most likely to bankrupt any company desperate enough to hire them.
 
It's all relative. I have known dispatchers with 6 months regional experience get hired with guys who had 10+ years flag wide body operations. Nothing wrong with going the regional route as a lot of our recent hires the last couple years have been regional people
 
That's Affirm said:
My first post here and could really use some input from all you DX professionals out there. With the goal of getting to a big major air carrier, when it comes to dispatch experience is it best to be with a solid regional type like a Compass or Skywest or does it help your resume/career more to go to a Spirit or Frontier type airline to get larger jet (Airbus/Boeing) experience, etops and something other than just Mexico/Canada international experience? Thanks in Advance...
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First things first realize that every career is a ladder. Or, if you prefer, a staircase. You start at the bottom, and take it one step at a time. If you try to take a step before you're ready, or skip one altogether, you may stumble and fall.

You ask "should I do this or that?" The reality is that you will probably have to do both. More than likely, you will start at a regional carrier with no experience. Expect to spend 2 to 3 years there. There will be a lot of learning and growth during this time, but after those 2 or 3 years, I think you will start to feel that you have plateaued. At that point it's time to think about the next step.

What is that next step? It could be moving on to being a dispatcher at a larger carrier like a Frontier or an Allegiant. Or it could be moving up in your current carrier to a position of more responsibility, such as supervisor, or perhaps instructor. You have to decide what is best for you, but personally I have found that broadening your skills provides better results than lengthening them.

I'll leave you with this thought...

“I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.”

You're at the foot of the mountain. Enjoy the climb!
 
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Phil Schuyler said:
I'll leave you with this thought...
“I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.”
You're at the foot of the mountain. Enjoy the climb!
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Aahhh Grasshopper you are wise beyond your ears. [and whatever is between them].

These forum thingys are so much fun. Where to now??
 
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