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BSUbronco

BSUbronco

Active Member
Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

I would like some input on dispatch programs. I have ruled out Sheffield because of some of the remarks made by the president of the school. I just foresee it being an issue if I attend with not being able to have an opinion without some kind of repercussion from the school or if I feel unhappy with the quality of education by attending Sheffield but further there is a bit of an attitude and integrity issue hovering around the school by the remarks from the president of the school.

I have narrowed it down to a few schools and wanted to know if anyone has attended these schools:

My new #1) Jeppsen Academy in Colorado

IFOD in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area
Pan Am Academy in Miami area
Absolute Altitude in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area

I have also thought about AGS since I have ratings up to my commercial...thought about being a pilot but need a back-up in case I loser my medical.

Thanks!
 
If I may share my honest opinion, which many may disagree......I don't think any of it matters with regards to what school you choose.

I found that the dispatch courses and the testing we undergo offer little that gets applied to the real dispatch world. Weather fundamentals, some navigation basics and weather basics is all that you truly get out of it, and you'll get that with any course. Dispatch courses are a pretty short experience (1-3 months?), so no matter what school you pick, you should plan to hunker down for that time anyway, get it done and walk away with your license. After a couple months, it doesn't matter what school you went to.

I learned much more on the job and by reading/studying books on my own than ANYTHING that was taught to me in the crappy course. The school I went to was HORRIBLE, but it really made no difference. I got that license. They'll all get you your license. I just feel it's not as complicated as people in this forum make it out to be, after seeing every other topic here along the lines of "what school should I go to?"

I say, pick one that allows you a fair schedule, a fair price, and MAYBE see what employment ooportunities they can offer you. The time spent asking questions about what school to go to uses time that could be spent registering and studying.

Also, keep in mind...you said you have ratings already. So guess what? You know most of this stuff already! It's not like you're going to pick a bad school and you'll suddenly be lost and clueless and have no idea.

Sorry if this sounds harsh or insane but it's really not all that complicated to me. Pick the one that's in a location you like, doesn't rip you off, and then go for it. Good luck!
 
TomatoFlames said:
If I may share my honest opinion, which many may disagree......I don't think any of it matters with regards to what school you choose.

I found that the dispatch courses and the testing we undergo offer little that gets applied to the real dispatch world. Weather fundamentals, some navigation basics and weather basics is all that you truly get out of it, and you'll get that with any course. Dispatch courses are a pretty short experience (1-3 months?), so no matter what school you pick, you should plan to hunker down for that time anyway, get it done and walk away with your license. After a couple months, it doesn't matter what school you went to.

I learned much more on the job and by reading/studying books on my own than ANYTHING that was taught to me in the crappy course. The school I went to was HORRIBLE, but it really made no difference. I got that license. They'll all get you your license. I just feel it's not as complicated as people in this forum make it out to be, after seeing every other topic here along the lines of "what school should I go to?"

I say, pick one that allows you a fair schedule, a fair price, and MAYBE see what employment ooportunities they can offer you. The time spent asking questions about what school to go to uses time that could be spent registering and studying.

Also, keep in mind...you said you have ratings already. So guess what? You know most of this stuff already! It's not like you're going to pick a bad school and you'll suddenly be lost and clueless and have no idea.

Sorry if this sounds harsh or insane but it's really not all that complicated to me. Pick the one that's in a location you like, doesn't rip you off, and then go for it. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I agree with Tomato that you'll learn real world dispatching on the job. That has been my experience 100%. What you learn at school is the fundamentals but when you get to work, you'll actually learn the job. They don't call it a license to learn for nothing.

The school you choose won't get you your license for you though...you will. Apparently there are some schools out there who advertise 100% pass rate but I would be very cautious of these... My class had some failures. Two of the three were simply because the students didn't apply themselves or put forth the effort needed. The other I believe tried hard but had zero aviation background and it was just too much to grasp for him. It takes hard work on your part and dedication every day.

I'm not sure about the school Tomato went to but it doesn't sound like it was too good from his description. I went to Jeppesen in Denver and I can tell you that the first few weeks weren't so bad. I was thinking to myself, this will be a breeze. By week three, I was holding on for the ride. It was INTENSE and there was not a single day where I felt ahead of the game, much less caught up. Class all day long, study groups into the night, limited sleep... But it's definitely doable. Just plan on eating, sleeping and breathing the program and nothing else. And I also have my PPL and IR. Having that background truly did help me but it didn't make the pace any easier. Plus, it had been years since I got my ratings so I had forgotten most of what we were learning.

I believe Jeppesen is a really good school. A downside was that our class was completely full and we had 9 different countries in our group. So there were times when time management was not so great. For example, teaching people to read METARS and TAFS took much longer than I ever expected!! Especially since I knew how to do that already. It was torture waiting for everyone to get it. But for times like that, you can take advantage of it by opening up your books and studying a certain area that you are struggling with. Or lay your head in the desk and take a nap...lol

Let me know if you have specific questions about Jepp. I'd be happy to help. Also, contact Jeremy Vincent for more info @ jeremy.vincent@jeppesen.com

Good luck!
 
I did attend Sheffield, I know my review was critical but It was how I saw it from my point of view. Overall, the school will kick you butt, mostly because you have to self study for the ADX since it is not part of their curriculum and from what I have heard from other dispatcher, other schools incorporate that into the curriculum. I did learn a lot at Sheffield but as womanpilot and tomatoflames pointed out you will learn more from your job than the classroom studies. Since you have a good majority of your ratings, the distances learning classes maybe good for you and find a school close by to where you live.

Judging by your avatar, are you in the Boise area still?
 
Todd Weber said:
I did attend Sheffield, I know my review was critical but It was how I saw it from my point of view. Overall, the school will kick you butt, mostly because you have to self study for the ADX since it is not part of their curriculum and from what I have heard from other dispatcher, other schools incorporate that into the curriculum. I did learn a lot at Sheffield but as womanpilot and tomatoflames pointed out you will learn more from your job than the classroom studies. Since you have a good majority of your ratings, the distances learning classes maybe good for you and find a school close by to where you live.

Judging by your avatar, are you in the Boise area still?
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FYI - Jeppesen does make the ADX part of their curriculum and you will take multiple Jepp tests each week so when the time comes, they can see you are ready to take it and sign you off. However, I STRONGLY urge you to show up to class on day one as if you are ready to take it. I say this because in addition to cramming for the ADX, you are learning everything else simultaneously and it is tough. I was nearly ready when I showed up to school and thought I was ahead of the game but still found myself cramming every night and trying to keep up with everything else. If I had it to do over again, I'd have made sure I was ready to pass the ADX before school started. It would have relieved a lot of stress and pressure. Then the stuff we were going over in class would be a great review as well as help me understand some points that I missed along the way. But remember this too - the ADX is really about memorization as you just won't use most of the stuff on that exam in real life. I used the Gleim software rather than the book and found it much easier to memorize the Q&A's as you can take unlimited practice tests. I have heard that Sheffield does give you a reduced bank of questions though, where Jeppesen does not. Having that would have been nice!
 
Choose the school that best fits your needs. Period.

Make a pro/con list if you have to for each. Include everything you can think of.

Don't rule out Sheffield on the preception of what you think might happen.

I have found the folks that work at Sheffield to be fair and honest when issues came up.
They are there to teach you what you need to know.

They can be audited/evaluated by the FAA at anytime just like a dispatcher working the floor.

Speaking from experience, I can guarantee you will have a boss that is much worse than what you preceive to be an issue with Sheffield and he/she will make Sheffield seem like a walk in the park. That's my 2 cents worth.
 
I recommend AGS especially if you are already a licensed pilot. The cirriculum is very straight forward, and you will not have to learn anything that you wouldn't ever have to there.
 
womanpilot73 said:
FYI - Jeppesen does make the ADX part of their curriculum and you will take multiple Jepp tests each week so when the time comes, they can see you are ready to take it and sign you off. However, I STRONGLY urge you to show up to class on day one as if you are ready to take it. I say this because in addition to cramming for the ADX, you are learning everything else simultaneously and it is tough. I was nearly ready when I showed up to school and thought I was ahead of the game but still found myself cramming every night and trying to keep up with everything else. If I had it to do over again, I'd have made sure I was ready to pass the ADX before school started. It would have relieved a lot of stress and pressure. Then the stuff we were going over in class would be a great review as well as help me understand some points that I missed along the way. But remember this too - the ADX is really about memorization as you just won't use most of the stuff on that exam in real life. I used the Gleim software rather than the book and found it much easier to memorize the Q&A's as you can take unlimited practice tests. I have heard that Sheffield does give you a reduced bank of questions though, where Jeppesen does not. Having that would have been nice!
Click to expand...

I went to IFOD in Dallas, and from what I gathered from what went on the first 3 weeks of the course (its a 5 week course, last 2 weeks for accelerated course), they went over the written and were teaching general aviation knowledge as well. They used the ASA Test Prep book, and as they were going through the book, they were teaching the material alongside it. I would recommend you use the Gleim or Sheppard Air, and just memorize the questions. I didn't get a single question from the knowledge test on my practical exam. The FAA views it as (Actually idk what they view it as), because even in the pilot world the knowledge exams don't have any bearing on any other test! Lol Plus memorizing the questions is much faster than learning how to physically do 900 questions, plus you might work it out wrong. Took me 3 days to memorize using Sheppard Air. Very straightforward and they give you memory and study aids.

Good luck on your quest!
 
pilot_nate said:
I went to IFOD in Dallas, and from what I gathered from what went on the first 3 weeks of the course (its a 5 week course, last 2 weeks for accelerated course), they went over the written and were teaching general aviation knowledge as well. They used the ASA Test Prep book, and as they were going through the book, they were teaching the material alongside it. I would recommend you use the Gleim or Sheppard Air, and just memorize the questions. I didn't get a single question from the knowledge test on my practical exam. The FAA views it as (Actually idk what they view it as), because even in the pilot world the knowledge exams don't have any bearing on any other test! Lol Plus memorizing the questions is much faster than learning how to physically do 900 questions, plus you might work it out wrong. Took me 3 days to memorize using Sheppard Air. Very straightforward and they give you memory and study aids.

Good luck on your quest!
Click to expand...
Yep, that's what happened to me, I just studied the 500 questions Sheffield has in the Gleim book so in class I was able to soak up a lot more then if I had to see it all at once...
 
BSUbronco said:
Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

I would like some input on dispatch programs. I have ruled out Sheffield because of some of the remarks made by the president of the school. I just foresee it being an issue if I attend with not being able to have an opinion without some kind of repercussion from the school or if I feel unhappy with the quality of education by attending Sheffield but further there is a bit of an attitude and integrity issue hovering around the school by the remarks from the president of the school.

I have narrowed it down to a few schools and wanted to know if anyone has attended these schools:

My new #1) Jeppsen Academy in Colorado

IFOD in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area
Pan Am Academy in Miami area
Absolute Altitude in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area

I have also thought about AGS since I have ratings up to my commercial...thought about being a pilot but need a back-up in case I loser my medical.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm probably one of the only Absolute Altitude graduates here, so if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Also I pretty much agree with TomatoFlames and womanpilot73 and their opinion about choosing a school, chose one that fits you best, most likely you at the end with a lot of hard work you will end up with a dispatch license.
 
BSUbronco said:
Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

I would like some input on dispatch programs. I have ruled out Sheffield because of some of the remarks made by the president of the school. I just foresee it being an issue if I attend with not being able to have an opinion without some kind of repercussion from the school or if I feel unhappy with the quality of education by attending Sheffield but further there is a bit of an attitude and integrity issue hovering around the school by the remarks from the president of the school.

I have narrowed it down to a few schools and wanted to know if anyone has attended these schools:

My new #1) Jeppsen Academy in Colorado

IFOD in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area
Pan Am Academy in Miami area
Absolute Altitude in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area

I have also thought about AGS since I have ratings up to my commercial...thought about being a pilot but need a back-up in case I loser my medical.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I'm sorry you feel that way, but I understand. Although I contacted JetCareers behind the scenes and quietly in early December about a certain posting, nothing came about. Perhaps my request was lost - not their fault. I wanted to post nothing in the forum.

Claiming 'Sheffield is terrible' as an opinion is not an issue. Claiming 'Sheffield is terrible because the FAA says so, or I don't like disabled people' breaks the Terms of Service, in my opinion. Or a posting stating that I'm all about money, yet also a communist psycho puts me out of sorts a bit, admittedly. So, although I have decided to reveal details within the next few days, that should paint a more complete picture, and this is not to embarrass anyone, but to defend myself, I promise not to rally for your enrollment.

Of those schools listed, Jeppesen appears to lean more towards how I would operate. AGS may be your quicker route based on distance learning capability. An Absolute Altitude employee once recommended a visiting prospective student to take our course, for some reason, so I would gladly point you to them to look at, as a return favor to them. But honestly, my best advice, is to ask outside a forum as well. If you contact 8-12 airlines and ask them who they'd recommend, they may help you. Perhaps ask them their opinion of your top 2-3 schools. Best of luck.
Eric Morris-President-SSoA
 
BSUbronco said:
I have also thought about AGS since I have ratings up to my commercial...thought about being a pilot but need a back-up in case I loser my medical.
Click to expand...
AGS hands down then if you have any type of flying ratings. The fast track program is their specialty. Great people and great employment help going forward (I personally never used their employment website but the owner did have a connection with the SOC manager of an airline I was trying to get on with at the time).

Also, just because it is "fast tracked" doesn't mean it is "half assed." They produce a really good product and don't waste your time or money in the process. In addition, actual dispatchers teach the class. My fast track program was 6 days (3 weekends consisting of 5 days of prep and then 1 day for the practical) and 4 of the days were taught by the former SOC manager at ASTAR (back when they were a big airline). The other 2 days were taught by a shift supervisor at UPS. AGS has made a really good impression and can attract good teachers because of it. Since all the teachers are current/actual dispatchers, this keeps the "real world" at the forefront of program too; where as programs like Jeppsesn or Sheffield have people who "teach" dispatch. Those, and others like it, are fine programs but AGS is a lot more practical in a lot of what they do (IMO of course but I've compared other programs to AGS may times).

I sure hope no one takes this the wrong way but going to any other program while having flying credentials is a waste of money; you're basically repeating Private Pilot ground school for a lot of it.
 
g767 said:
AGS hands down then if you have any type of flying ratings. The fast track program is their specialty. Great people and great employment help going forward (I personally never used their employment website but the owner did have a connection with the SOC manager of an airline I was trying to get on with at the time).

Also, just because it is "fast tracked" doesn't mean it is "half assed." They produce a really good product and don't waste your time or money in the process. In addition, actual dispatchers teach the class. My fast track program was 6 days (3 weekends consisting of 5 days of prep and then 1 day for the practical) and 4 of the days were taught by the former SOC manager at ASTAR (back when they were a big airline). The other 2 days were taught by a shift supervisor at UPS. AGS has made a really good impression and can attract good teachers because of it. Since all the teachers are current/actual dispatchers, this keeps the "real world" at the forefront of program too; where as programs like Jeppsesn or Sheffield have people who "teach" dispatch. Those, and others like it, are fine programs but AGS is a lot more practical in a lot of what they do (IMO of course but I've compared other programs to AGS may times).

I sure hope no one takes this the wrong way but going to any other program while having flying credentials is a waste of money; you're basically repeating Private Pilot ground school for a lot of it.
Click to expand...

I disagree, I went to IFOD based on the good vibe I got from the instructors I was talking to, price (cheapest I could find), and location. I live in Denver and chose to make the trip to Dallas instead of going to Jeppesen. I have all my pilot ratings and am a former Part 135 Cargo pilot, and I did the 2 week accelerated course. It was essentially 6 days of just dispatch material. I didn't have to learn any other material except what was absolutely necessary for the exam. They also have former dispatchers teaching their course, and the examiners are current dispatchers (mine was one from Southwest). I am sure most schools have a similar situation. Also, they help as much as they can with hiring after the class. GoJet came in to interview us one day during training. I got my job at Trans States because they guy who interviewed me at GoJet forwarded my resume to them. Also, after training, they email you a current list of all the companies hiring for dispatchers (the list is quite long).

Personally, I found the school quite easy based on my background, and it was not half-assed, I had to study everynight, but my flying experience did help a lot. I would recommend this school for others.
 
PILOT nate

I will admit IFOD is one of the schools I haven't done that much digging into to. Though it seems their fast track program is about a week longer than AGS.

At any rate its probably six of one half dozen of an other when it comes right down to it.
 
womanpilot73 said:
I'm not sure about the school Tomato went to but it doesn't sound like it was too good from his description.
Click to expand...

I hated my school completely. But as you said, it was up to ME to learn a lot of it and to determine my fate.

My school is under new management today so I do not hold them in the same light. Recent reviews about them are much improved. But I still will not share the name. Maybe one day over a beer I'll tell all!
 
TomatoFlames said:
Maybe one day over a beer I'll tell all!
Click to expand...

Here you go - let have it. :sarcasm:



th
 
emorris said:
Claiming 'Sheffield is terrible' as an opinion is not an issue. Claiming 'Sheffield is terrible because the FAA says so, or I don't like disabled people' breaks the Terms of Service, in my opinion. Or a posting stating that I'm all about money, yet also a communist psycho puts me out of sorts a bit, admittedly. So, although I have decided to reveal details within the next few days, that should paint a more complete picture, and this is not to embarrass anyone, but to defend myself, I promise not to rally for your enrollment.
A
Click to expand...

Again, why the need to come out here and defend yourself? It just discredits you more and make you look unprofessional!

I will admit, I have been called a few things this life but never cared or really found the need to defend myself because of what people said. Being a superior in the Marines, you will have people who hate you, especially when I was a DI. Do you remember the old saying you mom told you?!?!

"Sticks and stones may hurt my body (or break my bones) but words will never hurt"
 
TomatoFlames said:
I hated my school completely. But as you said, it was up to ME to learn a lot of it and to determine my fate.

My school is under new management today so I do not hold them in the same light. Recent reviews about them are much improved. But I still will not share the name. Maybe one day over a beer I'll tell all!
Click to expand...

I've got a cold one waiting for ya :-)
 
I am not sure where I am going to go right now - it's a lot to think about at the moment....

I may post this on the medical board, but does anyone know if there is a wait time with lasik or laser eye surgery?

I think this will help me sway my decision of what I want to do.
 
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