How to Become an Aircraft Dispatcher Aircraft dispatchers work for airlines and other scheduled carriers to ensure the safety of flight. They share the overall responsibility for the safety of each flight with the captain and work to maintain safe, efficient operations for their company. It takes only about five to six weeks of training to obtain your Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate.

Aircraft Dispatcher Responsibilities

Aircraft dispatchers work with many different departments and personnel in an airline to manage a flight’s safe, on-time departure and arrival. While an airline pilot is in charge of one flight at a time, a dispatcher oversees many aircraft at once.

Some of the responsibilities of an aircraft dispatcher include:

Producing flight plans while considering every aspect of the flight, such as fuel, winds, weather, maintenance issues, weight and balance, and airport delays

Managing weather delays and routing or re-routing aircraft as necessary

Ensuring each aircraft is properly equipped, or that the flight planning is properly adjusted for maintenance issues

Monitoring flight progress and alerting the captain of changes in weather, airport delays, runway closures, etc.

Canceling or delaying flights when necessary

Determining the best course of action during an emergency situation

Prerequisites for Aircraft Dispatcher Training

To apply for an FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certification, you must be at least 23 years old and be able to read, speak and write English.

Dispatcher candidates must accrue 200 hours of training on specific topics. Then, students must pass a written knowledge test, a practical flight planning test, and an oral exam.

You can take the FAA Aircraft Dispatcher knowledge test at the age of 21.

Aircraft Dispatcher Training

The FAA has mandated that all its dispatcher courses provide a minimum of 200 hours of training to aircraft dispatcher students.

There are numerous aircraft dispatcher certification programs that are FAA-approved. Most of these offer either a five-week or six-week course that includes the 200 required hours. Some people, such as air traffic controllers and airline pilots, can get the dispatcher certificate with fewer hours of training since many of the trainin.