FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certification School-school selection

Select the Best School for You

There are a number of reasons that make Sheffield School of Aeronautics the most qualified Aircraft Dispatcher Training School in the World.

Among them:

HISTORY. We have been in the business of training aircraft dispatchers for over 64 years. That makes us the most experienced and highly reputed aircraft dispatcher school in the world. In fact, we've not only been training dispatchers longer than any other school in the world, we've been doing it longer than most other schools combined. We take our job seriously; there are no moonlighters, or absentee-owners at this school. Beware of ads claiming "Aviation experience for -- years." Schools should specify the actual number of years they've provided 198-hour (or more) Aircraft Dispatcher Training courses, not 2-day test prep courses, not correspondence courses, not flight training, and not 5-10 day accelerated courses. All of the aforementioned may have some merit, but not in the same context as full FAA-approved certification courses. Check a school's history. Has there ever been a name change in the school's "selective" history? Why? Any incidents? Any investigations? Any violations?

Stability. Our school has only continued to expand and grow throughout the years. In recent years, we have added courses, increased our airline specific training, and plan to expand in the future. While others are still seeking FAA approval, or have closed down their schools, or are relegated to renting out conference rooms for class, Sheffield continues to grow, assist it's graduates, and positively affect the careers of new students from around the world.

We employ only full-time aviation instructors. Our 64 years of experience in the field of training has taught us a few things too....the most important lesson we've learned is that students are more likely to achieve success in a training environment run by full-time, dedicated training professionals, rather than frequently changing part-time instructors with jobs and priorities elsewhere. Over the last 2 decades, we have tried every instructional approach possible to maximize effectiveness. We deduced through our own observations that the best instructor is an intelligent, quick-thinking, and entertaining individual. If an instructor has airline experience; wonderful. If they can't get the point across to the students in a professional manner; they can apply to other schools, but will not remain at ours. We have assisted airlines in rewriting their own operations manuals as well as assisted them with technical questions. We have, as well as our graduates have noticed an incredible amount of misinformation that has infiltrated the industry. This is the information that is typically debated throughout dispatch offices in this country. We find it so fulfilling when our graduates report back to us about how well-prepared they are for airline training. Why do we have some graduates from other schools request to sit through International flight planning, ETOPS, EWINS, or simply get refresher training? Why don't they return to their own schools?

From our own observations on practical exams, as well as graduate and airline feedback, we've confirmed over the years that our professional instructors consistently produce the most knowledgeable graduates. The hiring airlines continue to confirm what we know as a fact. Some of our favorite quotes from some of our past interviewers (after "quizzing" our students) are:

"I wish I attended your school."

"We never received this amount of detail."

"Everyone is well-prepared."

"Extremely thorough knowledge."

"It is refreshing to find a school that makes our job (airline initial training) so easy."

"I'm glad I attended your school."

What is sometimes more astonishing is the fact that many interviews are held during the first half of the course, prior to a students' full exposure to dispatch scenarios. This is a testimony of the real-life scenarios that are instructed at our school instead of the theory-only basics you may receive at a substandard school.

Full-time employees. Currently, ALL of our instructors are full-time employees of Sheffield School. If a student needs help after class, they will receive it from either the instructor or the President - our instructors won't leave for work in the early afternoon only to leave you alone or in a "study group". Our profession requires us to educate and train motivated individuals using the most up-to-date information and technology available. We don't moonlight as educators and instructors. We also don't sit by and watch advancements pass us by; our course is in a constant state of flux. Our school doesn't rest in a protective bubble from the outside world; we dispatch ourselves to major airlines as well as "regional" airlines to develop and present an overall comprehensive, wide variety of dispatch techniques. We do not teach with a "blinders-on" approach. No matter what airline hires you (large or small), you will be prepared for that company's initial training. Your Sheffield Diploma guarantees it!

"After graduating from Sheffield...I have found that I have greater knowledge than many people who have been in the business for years."
Jim Johnson, Graduate
(Currently, at Southwest Airlines)

[Words indicative of Sheffield School's training objectives- to go above and beyond the "minima", to give students the solid foundation to continue the learning process, and to show respect to a career that demands it - The Airline Dispatcher.

Sheffield School's curriculum is overseen by a Program Advisory Board. The following aviation industry representatives serve as advisors with regard to course content and curriculum. This process ensures that Sheffield graduates continue to meet or exceed the expectations of those who would hire them. The Advisory Board members are:

Gene Cameron, Manager of Flight Dispatch Standards & Training, UNITED AIRLINES	Richard Gromel, Manager (Retired) of System Operational Control, AMERICAN AIRLINES
Leon Jansen, Designated Examiner, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION	Frank Shea, Fmr Vice-President - Operational Reliability, World Airways, (Former Director of Flight Operations and Chief Dispatcher - Delta Air Lines)
Pat Palaveda (Fmr) Manager -Air Traffic Services Delta Air Lines	Mike Senior Manager - Flight Air Operations Delta Airlines Captain: B-767, B-757, B-727, DC-9, MD-80, DC-8
Dave Soaper Director of System Control Comair Airlines	Lee Wilson (Fmr) Manager - Dispatch Horizon Air

Sheffield School was the FIRST Aircraft Dispatch Training Facility to offer ETOPS training. This course has been in great demand for the last few years. Our students are exposed to basics as well as advanced practical concepts and applied situations that cannot be thoroughly inserted into our 5-week course without sacrificing sections of our classic course. We refuse to compromise our integrity and skim over material. This course is no 5 hour quickie overview; we'll end when the class is comfortable with and capable of producing and analyzing a multitude of practical flight plans with hypothetical scenarios discussed. Like the AIFP, you also get a live instructor; not CBT "on-your-own" training.

Sheffield School was the FIRST Aircraft Dispatch Training Facility to offer Advanced International Flight Planning training. This course was not rushed into existence as an afterthought. It took Eric Morris approximately 5 years to outline what would benefit the student most in a 2-3 day period. For Sheffield to insert these advanced techniques and concepts along with an ETOPS course together in a compressed 4-6 hour overview course would be an injustice to our students, and a compromise to our integrity and reputation. You get what you pay for.
Sheffield School has placed more graduates in rewarding careers with the airlines than any other school in the world. In fact, we are confident that we have placed more graduates in the industry than all the other schools combined. Many times, our graduates are hired without a formal interview. Airlines realize which school produces graduates who have earned their license through hard work. They also know which schools hand out licenses to unqualified students, which schools guarantee licenses to students who have previously failed Aircraft Dispatcher courses, and which schools' graduates are so underprepared that they cannot pass airline initial training.

It seems that the diploma from Sheffield is enough for most airlines. From two of our respected Graduates:

"I had over 12 interviews and job offers around the country and every interview I went on I was told that they called because they saw I was trained at Sheffield. Sheffield is a very respected name in this business."

"I've been amazed by how many of these companies have said that they will only hire Sheffield graduates. Your reputation and training is second to none! Thank You!"

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:26:41
Subject: I got hired

Hi Eric,
... you helped me refresh my dispatcher memory back in March of this year when I had an interview with..United Parcel Service...I begin on Sept the 5th in Louisville, Ky.

I wanted to send you an email and thank you again for all the information that you supplied me with prior to my interview...I appreciate everything you did. Thanks for all your help!!

(An example of Sheffield School spending time AFTER graduation to help one of our graduates!!)
E.M. - Sheffield School

Sheffield School has taught hundreds of FAA and ICAO-sponsored students and continues to do so. This is a fact; however, the FAA (as a whole) is not in a position to favor one school over another. In fact, it is against FAA policy. Various schools may provide training for FAA factions or individuals. Be wary of claims that only one school controls FAA training. We've even refused the FAA training that one school claims to have been awarded. Sheffield has, in the past, refused training if we felt that (minimal length) accelerated courses would be an inappropriate route to a license.

Sheffield School was the first aviation school to be approved by the FAA for Aircraft Dispatcher Training.

We actually pre-date the FAA.

"Sheffield School has an outstanding reputation with the public and with this agency. I appreciate having your experience as a resource..."
K.T. FAA Aviation Inspector December 4, 2001

Sheffield School offers free Refresher Training for our graduates as well as free Technical Support. For how long? As long as you'd like - forever is an appropriate word since this school has no plans to discontinue training. This has been offered by us longer than most dispatch schools have been in business. We also love to take any technical questions (on "gray" areas) that may arise at work. We've fielded calls from the smallest of companies to largest air carriers. Remember - you'll find us at Sheffield School and nowhere else.

Sheffield School has trained (or actually retrained) a number of GRADUATES of other schools and continues to receive requests for recurrent/refresher training from GRADUATES of other schools. This speaks for itself.

"I will fax my résumé over this morning. Have a great day! By the way, I am aware of the rivalry between ----- and Sheffield. After having the opportunity of working with a few Sheffield graduates, I realized what a better program Sheffield offers. Go figure!"

Thanks,

-----

From a former instructor at that "unnamed school" who applied for a teaching position at our school.

Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:52:00 (PDT)
Subject: Basic questions regarding training.
I have been interested in attending Sheffield to take the airline dispatcher training, ... I would like to say I have only heard great things about this school and its training. I recently flew to ------- to meet the VP's and regional managers of (airline), and they allowed me to spend about two hours in SOC, and have invited me back. When I asked what school would be most helpful, the answer was a unanimous "Sheffield." Even those who did not attend Sheffield thought you had the best program. That day helped me make my decision to attend Sheffield when the time comes.
Thank you for your time. JV
Sheffield School is the first school to be awarded U.S. Air Force training to be given onsite. We also trained students from the Pacific Air Forces.

INTEGRITY. A school can only remain in business and maintain their stellar reputation by being trustworthy and providing quality service. We provide our students with an outstanding education. They are not spoon-fed questions and answers for 5 weeks to simply memorize 2 standardized tests. We charge anywhere from $3,100 - $5,000 for the student to receive an education. In the process, they develop the skills to not only pass the standardized tests, but ALSO the Sheffield tests. These tests develop problem-solving skills and speedy decision making. When you enter Airline initial training, you will be prepared. What good is an unearned license that was promised to you or guaranteed to you, if you have been under-prepared and may fail within the airline?

Prior to and following graduation, we'll support you in your job search and technical support when you have a problem. You can't receive this continued "lifetime" support from a school that has had FAA violations, investigations, suspensions, or shutdowns. Some schools will not be around long - certainly not 60 years or more.
SHEFFIELD SCHOOL DOES NOT CANCEL CLASSES! "Can you please guarantee to me that you will not cancel my class due to low enrollment?" is a question we receive often. Although some schools have a minimum student enrollment requirement of as many as 12 students, Sheffield School does not penalize our prospective students and customers in this manner. Other schools won't even tell you that they have a minimum enrollment requirement until they simply cancel. This occurred once within 5 days of the class start date at another school and affected a number of international students who already had their student visas! Sheffield School does not typically have a low enrollment, but even if we enrolled only one student, we would run the class - once again, having full-time instructors has it's benefits, and nobody gets hurt or "ripped off."
Committment to the airline industry. We have made a promise to the airline industry. That promise is to produce the most qualified, and prepared graduates that enter the job market. We do not believe in handing under-qualified students to the airlines. We guarantee that those students passing our course have earned their license. Many airlines have seen the light and have complained vigorously about uneducated graduates who must be "reprogrammed" because of inadequate education.
Testimonials - No school can match the quality and quantity of our student/graduate and airline testimonials. You may notice other schools' web sites with ZERO testimonials or very few testimonials, most or all of which are UNDATED. Interestingly enough, these schools dated them in the past, then removed them to disguise their lack of consistent and recent praise. Visit our testimonials index page for a huge variety of testimonials including students who DID NOT attend Sheffield, but wish they had!

Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 21:14:01 EDT
To: morris@sheffield.com
Subject: Re: new class

Hey Eric,

How's life in the big city? Work is going well for me. I start training on Oct 1st for dispatch Coordinator. What a big surprise that was. They are thinking that I'm ready to move up. I would have liked to dispatch a little longer but can't pass up a promotion....plus it pays 1.60 more per hour.

Is the new class full and ready to start working on a new career? I can remember my 1st day. It was 1 year ago today that I started....I've come a long way in 1 year. Once again, thanks for the opportunity and I'm so glad I came to Sheffield.

Thanks for all your help and God Bless.
(Sheffield Graduate)

----
Domestic AND International Students:
Why FAA-approved at Sheffield School should be your prime objective:

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:19:26 -0700 (PDT)
To: morris@sheffield.com
Subject: aircraft dispatcher license conversion and ETOPS
hi mr morris,
I am licensed aircraft dispatcher having license from civil avaition pakistan. I am residing in (Middle East) and working in xxxxxxx airlines in ground operation. I wanted to convert my license from FAA and ETOPs certification as xxxxxxx airlines flight operations department is giving preference to those dispatcher who are holding FAA license and especially from your school. please guide me, how can I convert my license and what will be the minimum cost (tuition + boaring and lodging fees) and how many days classroom training I require?
best regards, S.Z.

---
21 Dec 2008, 07:38:52 AM

"Wanted to give you guys an update. I've been dispatching for just over four months now with xxx and things are going great. When I came out to interview my boss only asked me a few dispatching questions and referenced the fact that I went to Sheffield as to why the questions were so limited. He said that he respects the school and knows the caliber of student that graduates. As an interesting side note the fellow I was in ground school with here at xxx went to a dispatch school which will remain nameless but is located in Denver, CO. He struggled to make it through ground school specifically referencing the fact that they never even taught him simple things like xxx & xxxx. When I was first looking for a dispatch school I couldn't find much in the way of feedback about schools besides what I found on your website, and it being your website I was suspect as to it's validity. After graduating and now dispatching for a while I have come to realize that all the testimonials on your site have to be absolutely true and accurate."

P.S. I am slated to become a chief dispatcher sometime early next year.
Sincerely,
F.N. - Graduate Dispatch class June '08

Our Facilities - We don't teach out of a garage. We don't instruct out of a hotel room or rent a small conference room. We provide pictures, including 3-D tours of our facilities. Nothing is hidden from view. You're welcome to tour our facilities if you'd like.
Our location - South Florida weather cannot be beat, especially during the winter months, as you can see from the pictures below:

above: South Florida

below: Kentucky January 31, 2009

Online ADX training. Do you really want to pay $500.00 to over $5,000.00 for FAA standardized Knowledge test preparation? You can purchase a book and CD for approximately $25-$50 to prepare yourself for passing the FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Knowledge (ADX) test. Some schools prepare very well for the test. Extremely well. So well that you may spend at least half of your class time (and tuition) on something that you could have accomplished yourself. That leaves only a small portion of the course (what your tuition really goes for) to cover practical concepts. How much are we against this type of training? We spent hundreds of hours coding and testing our series of Online FAA test preparation modules. Currently, we have a majority of the questions and diagrams from the government ADX test-prep book uploaded in a modular test format. It is password-protected, but it is FREE for everyone who enrolls in the course. Future students can now recieve instruction and practice quizzes to review before they arrive for their 1st day of classes. We just uploaded instructional modules in early October 2009 to assist our students even more.

Sheffield School of Aeronautics is the Industry-recognized World Leader in the field of Aircraft Dispatcher Training. It's a simple undisputed fact: we've been doing it longer, better, and with greater success than any other school in the world. We've trained more airline personnel than any other school. As a result, our graduates are unquestionably regarded as the most highly qualified, most highly trained, and most likely to succeed in the industry by the airlines that hire them. Just ask our Graduates, as well as the Airlines (who only prefer prepared graduates). The link below illustrates what World Leader represents:

View one example of a class of students from around the world!

The following airlines below attended Sheffield's Jan-Feb 2009 classes!!

We use real world learning tools. Some schools will only allow their students the opportunity to use government publications in their courses. These materials are inexpensive, but the airlines use many other publications with different formats. And they expect you to understand how to use them before you arrive on Day 1. It is also impossible to instruct and learn computer flight planning, weather retrieval, and the use of Aircraft Situation Display in a classroom without computers, monitors, and internet access.

Run a Cost comparison. [Note: some schools do not even reveal their fees, they'd rather ask you to "request a quote" = bad news.]

Although Sheffield School has the longest history and most experience of any dispatcher school in the world, we provide a greater education, more physical and electronic materials that you can actually keep, and more services before AND after graduation, but we also typically match or beat others' prices - typically, coupons are placed on our home page, course pages, or catalog request pages, or you can always email us at morris@sheffield.com and ask!

May 7, 2000

"After looking through all the aviation magazines, I contacted 5-6 schools. Some of the brochures looked as though they were running a school from their kitchen table.* What clinched my decision to settle on your school have been testimonial letters, job placement assistance, and reputation...I'm looking forward to the training."

A.M.-a future student who made the correct choice.

*Some schools won't even send materials out to you. You should always get a hard copy of all agreements.

Something to think about

Any school can make any claim they want, including us. We recommend that you ask around and see which school name comes up the most for recommended training.

Still unsure?

Q: Why is Sheffield School the only school that recommends that you contact the airline industry professionals for school selection advice?

A: We don't fear the airline industry's answer.

More to think about

When a school claims to have active dispatchers teaching, ask them the following:

Why don't you list them under "Staff?" Are they part-time or full-time?

If they are listed, find out if you can speak to them about the curriculum.

Request written testimonials from graduates concerning their instructors.

Ask the instructors "How many hours per week they teach?"

Do they teach coming off a midnight shift or going onto a day or night shift. If not, "can you guarantee that I'll have the same instructor for a majority of the course?"

Is part of your FAA-approved training curriculum conducted via computer? Why sell me on your instructors if THEY ARE NOT AROUND?

What is your instructor turnover per year?

Continuity and familiarity with a professional instructor and support staff WITH a variety of prior aviation experience is the most effective way to facilitate learning.

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