FFDO Dispatcher?

TomatoFlames

TomatoFlames

Well-Known Member
I was jumpseating recently on another airline, and upon entering the cockpit, the normal meet & greet, and strapping my cushion beeds to the jumpseat, the Captain asked me if I was FFDO. I was a little surprised, and my first answer was "OH, I'm a dispatcher," to which he said "Ok, but are you FFDO?"

I said no, but it got me thinking...are dispatchers able to be FFDO?
 
No....That was a pretty stupid question on his part. But then again, so many crews don't even realize dispatchers can jumpseat So I wouldn't put it past one to think we're eligible for the Federal "Flight Deck" Officer program.
 
PHL_Approach said:
No....That was a pretty stupid question on his part. But then again, so many crews don't even realize dispatchers can jumpseat So I wouldn't put it past one to think we're eligible for the Federal "Flight Deck" Officer program.
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I know this doesn't have anything to do with FFDO, but am sharing a recent experience where an airline had no idea dx can jump seat.

I sat jump seat in the flight deck on American recently and let me tell you...achieving that was a nightmare. The gate agent swore up and down for 45 minutes that I did not have jump seat privileges and refused to look me up in CASS. She said that only Captain's and FO's can jump seat and she would see about putting me on "standby". It took a whole lot of patience & restraint on my part to keep a smile on my face and kiss just enough butt to finally get anywhere. She actually sent her co-worker on board to talk to the flight crew. Luckily the crew knew that Dx can jump seat. She came in with her tail between her legs and swore that in her 26 years she's never had a dispatcher try to jump seat. She finally looked me up in CASS and said, "Oh...you're approved". In the end, I got to sit in the flight deck and the crew was amazing. Had an awesome time getting to know them.

How often do you guys run into similar problems?
 
When I worked the gates, we were always trained that dispatchers were allowed to sit in the flight deck, if they (the airline) had a reciprocal agreement. Before CASS, I know at Delta and SkyWest had JS forms that said "Dispatchers". I know it had changed with CASS where we printed out boarding cards that said "JUMPSEAT" on them.
 
MT said:
That is SSI
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Iv seen people banned on other forums for posting much less specific info than this. In order to preserve the security of our crews and our abilities to jump seat I suggest people stop posting things that could be considered SSI to some as I have seen the last few days on here. Mainly specific procedures.

If you don't know HOW to find the specific procedures you probably shouldn't be jump seating on other airlines. Just sayin.
 
izanti said:
Iv seen people banned on other forums for posting much less specific info than this. In order to preserve the security of our crews and our abilities to jump seat I suggest people stop posting things that could be considered SSI to some as I have seen the last few days on here. Mainly specific procedures.

If you don't know HOW to find the specific procedures you probably shouldn't be jump seating on other airlines. Just sayin.
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I don't see anything here (yet) that touches on SSI. So far, it's very much the basics of the "what", not the mechanics and specifics of the "how". So long as it keeps to being basic and non-specific of "how" the particular steps are done or what it specifically done, then it's fairly general info that is no problem.
 
I'll go ahead and delete my info concerning the jumpseat but calling anything posted here recently SSI is ridiculous considering the largest pilot union in the nation publishes and maintains a publicly-accessible website entitled jumpseatinfo.org that lists specific procedures for every airline in the USA and general jumpseat info.

Little too sensitive around here...
 
MT said:
Talking about the FFDO program can stray really close though.
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So long as it isn't anything more than what's generally out there. FFDOs = Pilots with guns. Can find that out anyplace, as its common knowledge that they exist. In fact, I'd say that making the FFDO concept known is a good deterrent. Now, the specifics on how exactly they do their job and/or any protocols related to same, that's where you get into stuff that shouldn't be on a public forum.
 
belgiumania said:
I'll go ahead and delete my info concerning the jumpseat but calling anything posted here recently SSI is ridiculous considering the largest pilot union in the nation publishes and maintains a publicly-accessible website entitled jumpseatinfo.org that lists specific procedures for every airline in the USA and general jumpseat info.

Little too sensitive around here...
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I didn't say anything here specifically was SSI. I only mentioned that to someome it could be considered as it. There's a couple of freshly hired dispatchers on here that like to talk a lot about jump seating lately and how to do it so before one of them goes ahead and says too much I figured I would be the jerk that says something. Go ahead and go on APC forums and you will get banned for mentioning anything beyond CASS so it clearly isn't just me. Better to be proactive then reactive. I have no issues with people discussing jump seating but just remember that its procedures are a need to know basis. It is a "privelage", not a requirement to be in CASS and it CAN be taken away.
 
izanti said:
Go ahead and go on APC forums and you will get banned for mentioning anything beyond CASS so it clearly isn't just me.
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Haha, APC... Yeah you may be right there but one read through the "tool of the day" thread could probably result in enough firings for SSI to solve the regional pilot stagnation issue. =P
 
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