UAS and doing trip support

av8or757

av8or757

Well-Known Member
Good morning everyone. Well as most of you have probably figured out from my posts, I'm new to the game. Newly minted license this past February. Absolutely ZERO dispatch experience. I have the airport ops experience aka super ramper.

If I know 121 is my career goal,do jobs like UAS or trip support hold much weight with majors ? Or even regionals for that matter ? They mention 135/121 in the job description, but I've wondered just how much and how potential employers look at candidates from such positions ? Or will it get me enough experience to get to a regional,in which case just apply for the regionals.

Anyone have any thoughts ?
 
But if you need to put food on the table, you could do worse than UAS.

You willing to move anywhere?
 
Yes.

Most places.

I know that sounds terrible if I say I'm looking for work. My other half won't be coming so I've been applying at places that may be decent commutes on days off. In the end I'll be moving for sure whoever calls from where I've applied.
 
Not necessarily... 135 operations will teach you all about where your plane and company can operate. This will give vast knowledge of international ops (if your company did that), Ops Specs, alternates, etc. these type operators are also for flight departments at major corporations who use them for their overflight and permits for overseas trips. Usually pay is descent, no travel benefits, BUT there usually is a very nice bonus/tip from the customer as well. These companies will hire from UAS, Colt, World Fuel to run their corporate flight departments.
 
I don't like talking about it much, but after school I got a job with a 135 carrier. The people were nice and the company was good (and the pay was fantastic) but it wasn't for me and I ended up getting hired by a 121 regional. Couldn't be happier with my decision. I definitely enjoy the actual flight dispatching as opposed to the work you do at a 135.
 
If you want to dispatch, go regional if you get an offer. I've been working for a trip support company since 2012. They like to boast that we're all dispatchers or that we have our licenses at least, but at the end of the day, all of our stuff is part 91 so we do absolutely zero dispatch. Having friends that have worked for other similar companies, I can assure you it is the same at those as well. You will learn a lot about international filings/requirements and pending the company a good deal about how the NAS works here in the US, but at the end of the day, it gets you nowhere closer to dispatching.

TLDR: If you ultimately want to dispatch for a major, then just get on with a regional somewhere and work your way up. Like someone else mentioned, if you need to put food on the table and pay bills, the pay isn't usually too bad and the schedules all seem to be around the same (4 on 4 off).
 
Thank all of you for your responses. It has cleared up a lot of questions and thoughts I had going on in my head.

I do have a fairly decent paying job now...just not dispatch. I certainly hope i don't give the appearance of being picky meanwhile.
 
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