First week on the job

pilotmike327

pilotmike327

Well-Known Member
So it's my first week working the desk by myself and overwhelmed is an understatement. I understand it's going to take time but it's frustrating having to constantly ask for help (for my co-workers and myself). How long did it take you guys before you felt comfortable dispatching? I'm talking about making it through the day with relatively little help from others.
 
Stick with it, it will come. Don't be afraid to ask for help. The overall goal is safety. Ask your neighbors, managers (or supervisors, chiefs..etc) to see if you can get flights moved off if you get behind. 1 week is nothing in the grand scheme of things, you will pick it up over time. We are in thunderstorm season so things might be a little hectic right now. (assuming you're at a regional?)

It took about a good solid month before I felt comfortable logging in
3 months for working with the software
6 months to feel comfortable answering the phone
7 years (and counting) before I managed to be able to deal with every kind of pilot out there
 
Hang in there. Its very common to feel overwhelmed at first, and dont ever expect to be able to work with out asking questions. Dispatching is a job that you are always learning new things and every day a new challenge will be placed before you. But everyone is different, and everyone picks it up at a different pace. I know when I first started, I started thinking "what the hell did I get myself into". I cant give you a time frame when that will go away, but eventually it will, eventually you'll look forward to new challenges and new problems to solve. You'll eventually get the hang of it and most of the problems you'll encounter will be quick and easy to solve. Just keep asking for help, use that DRM, and dont do anything your not 100% on, your not expected to know it all, ever.
 
pilotmike327 said:
So it's my first week working the desk by myself and overwhelmed is an understatement. I understand it's going to take time but it's frustrating having to constantly ask for help (for my co-workers and myself). How long did it take you guys before you felt comfortable dispatching? I'm talking about making it through the day with relatively little help from others.
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I love getting opinions from coworkers, just a simple "hey do you trust this SEA TAF?"
 
Very common. Again not sure where you are at but if you are at a regional then it's even harder since things are so compressed and fast paced.

Don't ever be too proud to stand up and ask for help if you need it, any time in your career. I've been doing this a long time and I still will not hesitate to ask for help if I feel like I'm in the weeds. We have too great of a responsibility to just "wing it".

Anyway it will come to you. Don't worry about the timeline. Its expected you'll ask questions. Just endeavor to not ask the same questions.
 
Never, ever be afraid/embarrassed to ask for help. Ever. Like pljenkins said, the responsibility is too great. And it is YOUR ticket that is on the line when you fire off that paperwork.
 
I've seen guys who have been doing this for 20+ years and still don't ask for help, and they are the ones who need rescuing after screaming a collection of 4 letter words. Never be afraid to ask for help!
 
It is totally normal to feel overwhelmed... I'm at my 3rd dispatch job and there are days where I totally feel that way. Be prepared to feel this way for a while. And whenever you change jobs, you're learning a whole new company and their way of doing things. I've learned that there is no way to know it all or memorize everything... It's important to know where to find the answers, and to rely on each other. DRM is essential. I work side by side with some of the best dispatchers out there and I see them still asking for help, using DRM on a daily basis. Seeing this truly helps me to know that it's ok to not know everything and that its encouraged to ask for help when unsure. I'm blessed to work with such an awesome group. You'll get into your own groove after a while and it will get easier, but you'll never stop learning. Hang in there! :-)
 
How about KPHL people !!
My first day on the job I had to deal with a noreastern AND the high minimums on KDCAs runway 19. Learned a lot that day and still learning 3 1/2 years later.
 
pilotmike327 said:
So it's my first week working the desk by myself and overwhelmed is an understatement. I understand it's going to take time but it's frustrating having to constantly ask for help (for my co-workers and myself). How long did it take you guys before you felt comfortable dispatching? I'm talking about making it through the day with relatively little help from others.
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It is quite overwhelming at first...I would venture to say after a month you'll feel much more comfortable, and after six months you'll feel like it's old hat. But it's a job where you never stop learning and can't afford to get to complacent.
 
It's totally normal to feel overwhelmed, especially if you are at your first job at a regional. At a regional you're just freaking busy man. It's a rough business with lots of little technicalities that can catch you unawares. Six months in I still feel like a newbie and ask questions on the reg. At the end of the day it's a team game; I never hesitate to ask questions, let my neighbor know about a weird NOTAM, or when some evil forecaster puts in BKN019. Use that DRM!
 
Thanks for all the encouraging words. At the end of the day, it's still a fantastic job and I'm glad I have the opportunity to be here. To clarify, I wont hesitate to ask for help. It just sucks that I feel like a burden right now to others. I know it will change and I'm staying positive. I guess my first week on the desk consisting of 6 straight afternoon shifts with fun MELs like no RNAV and a lot of flying into Florida is life's way of saying "Welcome to the regionals baby!"
 
pljenkins said:
Haha! DEN TAF. That's a good one.

Never has the term "horoscope with numbers" been more appropriate than with DEN.
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Maybe this is better?

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