New Dispatcher FAQ

Hello all! I hope everyone had a merry Christmas/happy holiday. This is my first post but I have been reading up on this forum for a couple of months now. Huge thanks to everyone for all the great information. It has been very helpful as I begin my transition toward a career in dispatch. I just earned my DX certificate from Jeppesen as of last week and I have now begun the process of looking for a job. I do have an aviation background. Started out doing the pilot thing, have a private w/ instrument and multi-engine ratings, and I'm also pretty close to completing my bachelor's in Aviation and Aerospace Science from Metro State in Denver. After trying the pilot thing some years ago, I decided it wasn't for me and contemplated either a career in dispatch or ATC. I took a shot at ATC, but it didn't work out, so now I'm set on dispatch and hope to make a long career of it in the industry that I love. Fresh off having my temp certificate in hand, I've already applied to a couple of regionals. But there is one burning question I have that seems to keep coming up and is a bit confusing to me as I get mixed responses. With the ultimate goal of landing at a major in mind, it seems the vast majority of people say the regional route is the way to go. Work at a regional or two for a few years, get the valuable experience, and then start going after the majors. But I have also noticed a few people on this forum, and I have spoken to several people I've met in the industry, that claim some of the majors almost exclusively hire dispatchers internally (Southwest, Delta, and UPS are some I've had mentioned). Which is the complete opposite of what I have typically read/heard, which is that a major will not hire you as a dispatcher without dispatch experience. So my question is this... is there any truth to these claims? And if the ultimate goal is to get hired by a major would one have a better chance of getting there by being hired as a crew scheduler or something similar first and then trying to transfer to dispatch as an internal candidate? Or is the best bet to do what most people seem to do and get experience from a regional first, and then just keep applying as an external candidate until a major finally picks you up?
 
Luigi said:
Well it comes down to this. Do you want to dispatch or do you want to be a ramper?
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Ramper, no. I wouldn't mind Crew Scheduling though, I did it for just over a year and I actually enjoyed it. But I'm sure I would much much rather dispatch at a regional. Dispatching is definitely what I want to be doing. I guess what my concern is, looking at the long term, I get the impression that the hardest thing is making the jump to the majors. And since they don't hire very often, and there's so much competition for so few openings, I'm afraid of getting stuck at a regional forever. And while that's a risk I'm willing to take because it is what I want to do, when I see people saying things like "so and so legacy carrier hardly ever hires external candidates", I start to think, well then would that be a safest route to reach the end goal? But at the same time it totally confuses me because 99% of what I've researched and heard says no major will touch you without experience. So is the fact simply that those making such claims just have no idea what they are talking about? Or is there some truth it?

I honestly hope the answer is that they are way off base, because I really want to start dispatching asap. But I would feel much more confident when I do get that first job, knowing that I'm working toward a reasonably attainable goal.

I just don't understand how the two ideas can be so contradictory to each other. Someone says, absolutely 100% you must get experience at a smaller carrier before a major will touch you. And then someone else says, oh they rarely hire external candidates, most are promoted from within. So I'm sitting here tying to learn as much as I can about the process and I'm like, what?! That make absolutely no sense??
 
Foxtrot_Mulder said:
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It is contradictory and frustrating. However, many of the internal hires I know at all but one major still took a turn in the regionals to get a couple years of experience then took a position that would get them in the right room at a major. Yes, some people at all majors still seem to sneak in with a dispatch license and no experience, but for the most part United, American, and Southwest all seem to either hire a balanced mix of internal and external candidates, and recently the pendulum has been swinging towards the external.

What you've heard about Huff Daland Dusters is true. They haven't hired externally in over a year, and I wouldn't count on them doing it for the foreseeable future.Hell, you're probably out already because you got your ticket at one of those external dispatch schools.
 
Foxtrot_Mulder said:
But I have also noticed a few people on this forum, and I have spoken to several people I've met in the industry, that claim some of the majors almost exclusively hire dispatchers internally (Southwest, Delta, and UPS are some I've had mentioned).
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UPS definitely hires externally...unsure about FedEx, I have heard they like to do more internal hiring but they have hired externally in the past also. Southwest used to hire almost exclusively internally but has in the past few years switched to hiring a mix of internals and externals. Delta, as @MT stated, has shifted to only hiring internally. I think it's kind of a shame, because they are another "used to only hire internally, now hires some externally" carrier that seemed to finally be realizing the value of practical dispatch experience...but since they started their own dispatch school, they seem to be back on the "internal only" hiring mantra.
 
MT said:
It is contradictory and frustrating. However, many of the internal hires I know at all but one major still took a turn in the regionals to get a couple years of experience then took a position that would get them in the right room at a major.
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Okay that makes sense. That could definitely be a good option if I found myself getting turned down when it came time to move on from the regionals.

MT said:
but for the most part United, American, and Southwest all seem to either hire a balanced mix of internal and external candidates, and recently the pendulum has been swinging towards the external.
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That's good. Gives me a little more confidence if they are at least keeping it balanced. More toward the external side, even better.

manniax said:
Southwest used to hire almost exclusively internally but has in the past few years switched to hiring a mix of internals and externals. Delta, as @MT stated, has shifted to only hiring internally. I think it's kind of a shame, because they are another "used to only hire internally, now hires some externally" carrier that seemed to finally be realizing the value of practical dispatch experience...but since they started their own dispatch school, they seem to be back on the "internal only" hiring mantra.
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I'm glad to hear Southwest is mixing it up more, I agree it's a shame that Delta is not. I didn't even know they had their own dispatch school. I've heard about it before but I always thought it was referring to initial OJT. I didn't realize they were actually providing the ticket there too.


Thank you both for the great info and helping me clear up some of my confusion. I think that now I feel pretty confident about continuing with my plan to find a job and start dispatching as soon as possible. As I mentioned before, that's definitely what I would prefer to do, as I've already got my ticket and I've got the itch to get at it right away. It just kinda threw me off a bit when I started to feel like I was getting contradictory information. But as long as most of the big guys are at least hiring a decent mix of those coming from the regionals, which you guys are telling me they are, then I think it's a relatively safe bet looking long term. Now I just have to keep applying and wait! Hopefully I get a call soon!
 
I was in the same boat as you considering the same question. Get on with any regional you can as a dispatcher and start getting experience. In my dispatch class there were many people from AA that had 10-15 years experience with them waiting to become an external. This doesnt include those with their ticket already working in different positions in the airline. The mere fact that you are internal will not guarantee you a position. Plus supposed said major doesn't hire you the first time you could have that awesome crew scheduler job for another few years until when/if they hire again. If you want to be a dispatcher go dispatch at the first airline that hires you. Then work hard, do an awesome job and learn as much as you can. Let the major dream take care of itself in time. Good luck!
 
Wow good to know! Yea I think I'm making the right decision. And great point, I'm super anxious to start right now, so I can only imagine crew scheduling or anything else would get old pretty quick when I'm staring across the room at the dispatchers everyday wishing I had their job. Thanks for the advice, I am definitely ready to work hard, learn, and get experience!
 
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As ridiculous as this sounds, I need some "calming words". I am currently a student at a 141 flight school in west- central ms. I have obtained my bachelors in Aviation Management and will finish my second degree , Aviation Logistics, in May 2017. I have been looking at ADX for about 6 months and have talked myself into it. Im looking at going to Sheffield for the June-July class. This is the kicker, Im terrified. I have no idea why. I have done well with my first two degrees. There is nothing about the job that makes me nervous. I think its more or less the fear of failure. Ive never been someone to be fearful of anything of this nature. So when this emotion hits me, its out of the norm. I guess I'm asking people with experience for a few wise words. I love the aviation industry and all the promise it holds for our future. I know that i will do well because it is something I love and find extremely interesting. Thank you ahead of time.
 
Tour a regional airline dispatch office. Some place where they hire with no dispatch experience. Then you can see what kind of people made it through dispatch school and got dispatch jobs.
 
I came from the management side of aviation and made it through. I had no idea about how the operation worked. I had never heard dispatch until a friend in college convinced me to take the course. I am not going to lie I did struggle in the beginning but thats because like I said I had no operations type experience or knowledge. All in all I am glad I got my license as it gave me a wider perspective of aviation beyond the airport. I got my BS in Airport Management.
 
Hello everyone! I've been reading this forum for a while but just created my account. I'm considering making a career change into becoming a flight dispatcher. My main hesitation is the scheduling. Since it is a 24/7 operation at most airlines, how is the work life balance? Is it harder or easier to have a family with this kind of job compared to a 9-5 where you get holidays and weekends off?
 
Foxtrot_Mulder said:
But I would feel much more confident when I do get that first job, knowing that I'm working toward a reasonably attainable goal.
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Did you find a job yet? So I want to offer a few words. But when I read that line above...I was lost. Im not sure you are asking the right question. What is your goal?
I will say that the only major that I have read about here only taking internals, is DL. And that is just recent hearsay regarding their establishment of an internal dx training program. Seems smart to me. But anyway.....They all hire off the street. (from other carriers, 121,135, sup, freight...whatever). And that ratio changes every time. So stop focusing on that.

Have you "worked" for an airline or airport to date? I think the answer is no. So you can't possibly know what you don't know! (Thanks Rummy!)
Even if you "try" dxing for a while and hate it (or they hate you) there are still many jobs out there "in aviation".
There are a zillion different types of jobs "in aviation"...Try looking at the admin jobs online for a large airport...Lots of cool stuff there.
At SFO the Airfield Safety guys have the coolest jobs and make tons of money. Plus, im pretty sure they get to shoot birds out at the ends for the rwys!

Making the crossover to the majors is not easy that's for sure. You will find that everyone has a slightly different story about how they made it into DX at a major. Some got lucky, right place, right time. Some had refs on the inside. Others climbed the wall from CS or other internal spot. I know one person that was a gate agent for a while before she made it...and another who was the ops manager at an out station before he made it. So the short of it is...it might happen quickly, or it might take a few years. Ya never know.

I will say lastly that dxing is NOT for everyone. I know a few guys that have already come and gone. They hated the environment and didn't give 2 Shiites about jumpseating (what we all love!) and now they are either ramp managers or Ops managers for their carrier and making almost the same money. And they love it.
I would suggest that until you come up with the right question, you will not ever find your correct answer. Just shoot for a regional and hang in there.
 
TaxiBack said:
Did you find a job yet? So I want to offer a few words. But when I read that line above...I was lost. Im not sure you are asking the right question. What is your goal?
I will say that the only major that I have read about here only taking internals, is DL. And that is just recent hearsay regarding their establishment of an internal dx training program. Seems smart to me. But anyway.....They all hire off the street. (from other carriers, 121,135, sup, freight...whatever). And that ratio changes every time. So stop focusing on that.

Have you "worked" for an airline or airport to date? I think the answer is no. So you can't possibly know what you don't know! (Thanks Rummy!)
Even if you "try" dxing for a while and hate it (or they hate you) there are still many jobs out there "in aviation".
There are a zillion different types of jobs "in aviation"...Try looking at the admin jobs online for a large airport...Lots of cool stuff there.
At SFO the Airfield Safety guys have the coolest jobs and make tons of money. Plus, im pretty sure they get to shoot birds out at the ends for the rwys!

Making the crossover to the majors is not easy that's for sure. You will find that everyone has a slightly different story about how they made it into DX at a major. Some got lucky, right place, right time. Some had refs on the inside. Others climbed the wall from CS or other internal spot. I know one person that was a gate agent for a while before she made it...and another who was the ops manager at an out station before he made it. So the short of it is...it might happen quickly, or it might take a few years. Ya never know.

I will say lastly that dxing is NOT for everyone. I know a few guys that have already come and gone. They hated the environment and didn't give 2 Shiites about jumpseating (what we all love!) and now they are either ramp managers or Ops managers for their carrier and making almost the same money. And they love it.
I would suggest that until you come up with the right question, you will not ever find your correct answer. Just shoot for a regional and hang in there.
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Sorry you didn't understand my question. @MT and @manniax seemed to know what I was asking and I think they answered all my questions very well.

What I meant by I want to know that I'm working towards a reasonably attainable goal is... I know that I want to dispatch for sure, (so thanks for the advice about other careers in aviation but I'm not interested in anything other than dispatching), but my ultimate goal is to one day get to a major. And I had heard and read many conflicting things about how some majors hire dispatchers. I had heard for example that AA, Delta, UPS, FedEx, only hire internal candidates. I personally wanted to start at a regional and eventually move on to a major, as that is what most people seem to do, but I wanted to make sure that was the best course to take and I wondered if since some of those airlines I had heard only hire internally, that maybe I would have a better chance of getting a dispatching job with a major if I started in a different department and then applied as an internal candidate. But as @MT and @manniax explained, I should have nothing to worry about as it seems all the majors except for Delta hire a good mix of internals and externals, and it seems the things I had read and heard about many of those airlines hiring internals exclusively was exaggerated.

And no I don't have a job yet, but I have been applying to every regional opening that comes up. And I know it may take years to get picked up by a major, I simply wanted to get some thoughts on what the best path to that goal would be, and I now believe this is my best option.

Also, you asked if I had "worked" for an airline or airport before. The answer is yes. I worked as a ramp agent at DEN for 6 months, and I was a crew scheduler at Frontier Airlines for 1 1/2 years. Which I did mention in one of my replies to my original post. I also was an Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee with the FAA academy in OKC (didn't end up making it), I'm only a few classes short of a CTI degree, and I have about 200 hours of flight time as an instrument and multi-engine rated private pilot.

Hopefully that clears up any confusion you had about my post. But I am definitely set on dispatching and don't have interest in anything else right now. Obviously I can't guarantee that I will love it once I start doing it, but I'm very confident that I will. I very much enjoyed working in the SOC as a crew scheduler and most people hate that job, but I loved it. But now that I've got my license I'm very anxious to land that first DX job and I can't imagine doing anything else. Hopefully I'll get a call soon.
 
oh shoot soo sowey....Mannix and MT are waaaay beyond anything I will ever know. God speed and good luck.
 
TaxiBack said:
oh shoot soo sowey....Mannix and MT are waaaay beyond anything I will ever know. God speed and good luck.
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Not what I'm saying at all. I'm sure you are full of valuable advice and I'm completely open to advice from anyone on this forum. Everyone on here has been very helpful.

I simply meant that I don't know how to better explain what I was asking, but if you were to reference their replies, maybe that would help clarify since they seemed to understand exactly what I was getting at.
 
ATL13 said:
Hello everyone! I've been reading this forum for a while but just created my account. I'm considering making a career change into becoming a flight dispatcher. My main hesitation is the scheduling. Since it is a 24/7 operation at most airlines, how is the work life balance? Is it harder or easier to have a family with this kind of job compared to a 9-5 where you get holidays and weekends off?
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I think if you already have a family, it is easier to adjust than if you dont have one but want to start one. Even with work trades and seniority, you are likely to spend a good portion of your career either working evenings, midnights or early morning starts. When you are working, dating can be difficult as you are often working and sleeping when other people are doing social stuff.

Dating and marriages inside the workgroup, other ops center groups as well as other airline work groups are pretty common. Those are the easiest schedule wise as they know and live the airline lifestyle and can more easily be flexible with work shifts.

People in the airline industry like to travel and often work trades are made to allow for that. If you dont like to travel, your will have plenty of time on your 3 or 4 day stretch of scheduled days off for social time. Those days may likely be all weekdays though and if you are on mids, you will have to adjust your body for that.

Seniority determines your schedule. The more senior you are, the more options you have. It can take decades at a major to get the schedule you want. Attrition and promotions at majors are very minimal. People generally only leave dispatch when they retire or die. You can make deals with other dispatchers through work trades but you will need to have something they want to be able make deals.

Personally, if I had to do it all over again I would have started a family before getting into the industry.
 
Well all, tomorrow is the day. I spend the next 6 weeks in training and then after that I will (hopefully) be joining the ranks of licensed dispatchers. Wish me luck!

Any last words of advice or hints would be appreciated!
 
RedFive said:
Well all, tomorrow is the day. I spend the next 6 weeks in training and then after that I will (hopefully) be joining the ranks of licensed dispatchers. Wish me luck!

Any last words of advice or hints would be appreciated!
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Good luck!

Show up to training on time. :D
 
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