Newly Licensed Dispatcher looking for a gig.

JetCrew

JetCrew

Well-Known Member
Good evening everyone. I have been following yours posts on here for quite some time and I just now finally created an account. It seems that this forum is filled with stand-up, helpful people and I have liked what I have read so far. I now turn to you seeking your wisdom and help.

I have been in the industry for a little over 6 years. I started at Comair and now I currently work for B6 as an inflight Crewmember. I met a few dispatchers over the years and I started to express more and more interest in what they do. It took a while for me to work up the courage to leave my comfort zone and pursue my license but I finally did it and I earned my license in December last year!

I applied for a dispatcher position at B6 in January but so far, I haven't heard much about it. I understand that I am newly licensed and there are more experienced and better qualified dispatchers in the pool but I am slowly beginning to lose hope. I would like to stay at B6 for as long as I can, but I know that at this position and at an airline this size, a lack of experience does not help my cause.

I was made to understand that as an inflight Crewmember, and working for a Part 121 carrier, I cannot be a dispatcher for another Part 121 carrier. Does this mean that I can work for a for a Part 135 or a cargo outfit as a dispatcher/flight follower while still employed at B6? If I don't hear anything positive from B6, do I stay on and bide my time as an inflight Crewmember and just wait for my number to be called?

Are there any suggestions or words of advice that I can receive from the forum on what to do or look for as a future dispatcher?

Thank you all,
JetCrew
 
I dont know of any FAR legality that says one cannot be a Flight Attendant or even a pilot for one airline and dispatch for another airline. Union contracts and company outside employment policies may prohibit you from holding a second job. Most if not all Part 121 airline companies dont hire part time dispatchers. But many dispatchers work second jobs of some kind.

Your problem with any dispatch job may be working for B6. B6 is non union but I have no clue what their policy is on outside work. If you are Inflight Crew at B6 they may not like it if you work full time dispatching since you cant easily do both.

Even doing Part 135 or cargo dispatching while working as a flight attendant will be tough. Dispatching is a demanding job that requires a wide range of work hours and days. Like in the Inflight world, there is only so much flexibility in your schedule especially as a new hire.
 
Thank for the reply. I understand that I cannot do both, especially at B6. Being a dispatcher is what I want to do. I know that juggling two airlines is highly impractical but I really want to keep my foot in B6's door. I have enough seniority to cut back to part time at B6 if necessary and work somewhere else. In a perfect world, I could manage.

It would be difficult to give up my current pay scale and seniority at B6 but if I want to progress in this profession, I have to do what Is necessary. It is easier said than done but I will do it if a have to.

Thanks again for the feedback
Flagship_dxer said:
I dont know of any FAR legality that says one cannot be a Flight Attendant or even a pilot for one airline and dispatch for another airline. Union contracts and company outside employment policies may prohibit you from holding a second job. Most if not all Part 121 airline companies dont hire part time dispatchers. But many dispatchers work second jobs of some kind.

Your problem with any dispatch job may be working for B6. B6 is non union but I have no clue what their policy is on outside work. If you are Inflight Crew at B6 they may not like it if you work full time dispatching since you cant easily do both.

Even doing Part 135 or cargo dispatching while working as a flight attendant will be tough. Dispatching is a demanding job that requires a wide range of work hours and days. Like in the Inflight world, there is only so much flexibility in your schedule especially as a new hire.
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It's a difficult decision, to be sure. Have you given the Dispatch manager or whomever makes those kinds of decisions a call? Being an "insider" certainly gives you some avenues not normally afforded to external applicants, so I would certainly work those to get some idea how practical your aspiration of an internal move to dispatch is at B6. Even if you ultimately do have to leave there to find a dispatch gig, the connections you make while you're there can benefit you if you decide you want to get back with them. Your interest and enthusiasm won't be lost on them, but you may need to be persistent.
 
pljenkins said:
It's a difficult decision, to be sure. Have you given the Dispatch manager or whomever makes those kinds of decisions a call? Being an "insider" certainly gives you some avenues not normally afforded to external applicants, so I would certainly work those to get some idea how practical your aspiration of an internal move to dispatch is at B6. Even if you ultimately do have to leave there to find a dispatch gig, the connections you make while you're there can benefit you if you decide you want to get back with them. Your interest and enthusiasm won't be lost on them, but you may need to be persistent.
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I have started to an extent. I've shadowed a few guys, both before and after I earned my license. I have my name and face a little bit known on the SOC floor but not as much as I would like to to be. I briefly met the manager when I was up there last and I am in correspondence with a supervisor. I hope to meet him or hear something more definite on Wednesday. Fingers crossed.

Thank for your reply
 
JetCrew said:
I have started to an extent. I've shadowed a few guys, both before and after I earned my license. I have my name and face a little bit known on the SOC floor but not as much as I would like to to be. I briefly met the manager when I was up there last and I am in correspondence with a supervisor. I hope to meet him or hear something more definite on Wednesday. Fingers crossed.

Thank for your reply
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Work your internal contacts. Get on good terms with everyone in the SOC, not just the managers or supervisors. When an postion is posted, have all your internal contacts throw your name out there. Since you're already a active employee, ask if you can spend more time in there observing what they do. Dispatch can be super slow one day and completely crazy the next. By spending more time in the SOC you can see first hand if its something you really want to do and it also shows everyone in there you're willing to spend our own free time to learn more about the operation.. Good luck..
 
@JetCrew Hiya buddy! I too work at B6. Just started as AO partime while working Fulltime elsewhere. I too wanted to do dispatching for them. Was talking to a few ppl in SOC to get feedback. From my understanding being internal and having a license gives you a edge. However, if you do not have prior experience in dispatching it may be a little difficult. My suggestion to you is to perhaps look at other jobs within B6 that could be beneficial to get you into dispatching. Such as crew scheduler, tower coordinator or fuel load coordinator.Once you gain the experience there you can always apply to a open dispatcher position. I know B6 trains you in depth. Its a growing company so I know for sure they will be hiring once our fleet/destinations expand. Spoke with few supervisor and they sounded confident in what they said unto me. They did warned me because its a very competitive field and has a lot of dispatchers out there. However that should be a challenge to succeed and get the gig you want and not a threat. Competition is always good. Makes you better prepared and determined . Good Luck Buddy!
 
Thanks for the advice Rory. I have thought about about that. When I did my first shadow I met with a supervisor and we had an "impromptu" interview. He took me into one of their small rooms and chatted about what I saw myself doing and where I wanted to end up. Basically feeling me out. He mentioned a TDY in load factors but nothing ever came of it. Once I got my license I never put much thought into it. I guess I got tunnel vision and tried to focus on Dispatch. I will start looking out for more openings in SOC.

Thanks again, and good luck to you too.
Jet crewJet crew
 
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