What You Need to Do to Become an Aircraft Dispatcher

If you are interested in working as an aircraft dispatcher, you are probably wondering what you need to do to help your career take off. First, all aircraft dispatchers must graduate from high school, possess a GED or for international students, have the equivalent education. Once you have achieved your diploma, you can begin to pursue the training you need to guide the skies.

  • Learn Through Experience (optional, not required)

Before you pursue aircraft dispatcher certification, it’s important to note that the course is quite detailed for a novice. You may consider working in a support position or related field, to gain a working knowledge of certain terms within the industry. Through taking an entry-level position, such as radio operator, crew scheduler, or assistant dispatcher in an airport or operations control center, you can become more familiar with the ins and outs of planes and flight planning. You can learn important technical knowledge that might be vital in an emergency, including how to identify and communicate hazardous conditions. While you can research from home, an entry-level job can give you much needed experience and insight that can benefit you are you work toward your career.

  • Achieve Your Aircraft Dispatcher Certification

Most importantly, you must pass the FAA aircraft dispatcher certification test. To do this, you must first enroll in a training program and complete 200 hours of training. You also must be at least 23 years old. Within 90 days of completing your course, you must take a test that includes both written and hands-on components. With the help of a great aeronautics school, you can work to pass with flying colors, obtain your certification, and find a great position in the field.

If you are ready to start your journey into your dispatcher career, the right aeronautics school can make all the difference.

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    “Sheffield School of Aeronautics is known worldwide for its quality training and has been recommended to me by our national airline Swiss International Airlines. Whenever I mention the name ‘Sheffield’ it rings a bell in people’s ears.” IW IW
    “As a graduate of the aircraft dispatcher program at the Sheffield School of Aeronautics…My training was intense and thorough and furnished me with the requisite skills for performing my current job as a Flight Dispatch Supervisor.” N.S. Sidebar NS
    “Sheffield School of Aeronautics is a highly recognized and respected organization throughout the airline industry. They only produce the highest quality of graduate…” P.W. Sidebar PW
    “After receiving my certificate, I joined a class of 4 experienced dispatchers for Part 121 initial training. Without experience, my preparation at Sheffield enabled me to become active at the same time after the initial training.” PR PR
    Good afternoon Eric, I wanted to reach out to let you know that training at (airline) is in full swing and I couldn’t be happier that I chose Sheffield. My classmates, while very smart, definitely had subpar training and that has been very evident. I have waited to write a full scale review of the […] Attending Sheffield School benefits airline new hires in preparation for airline training
    “I am so glad they are like this because it made me a better dispatcher and I really appreciate their high standards. I would highly recommend Sheffield to anyone who is willing to study hard and is serious about obtaining a Dispatcher Certificate.” MC MC
    “Being that half my new hire class dropped out over the course of training, I can confidently say that Sheffield helped to prepare me for the real world.” GT – abridged testimonial – school selection matters
    “Your school has offered me an incredible advantage in the Dispatcher job market.” D.K. D. Kircher
    “While touring my company’s dispatch department before I had my license our OCC manager pointed out that 7 of the 10 dispatchers on shift had come from Sheffield. The overall consensus was that Sheffield grads were able to hit the ground running as they were better prepared.” K.O. Sidebar K.O.
    “I wanted to tell you I got the job offer from Expressjet, and start next month! I think a couple others from class were hired as well. It just shows the Sheffield reputation when I see graduates from other schools complaining that they can’t get an interview – I wasn’t even back home to Minneapolis […] Dan Gustafson
    “Their reputation of excellence amongst the industry is second to none. Sheffield School of Aeronautics should be seen as the standard of how it can be done and how it should be done. I was hired at a major airline with no dispatch experience.” A.Z. Sidebar AZ
    “My experience at Sheffield and my exposure to other aircraft dispatchers that did not go to Sheffield has resulted in an awareness of the superior depth and quality of the training provided by the Sheffield instructors.” CD Sidebar CD
    “As a graduate of Sheffield School of Aeronautics I am a firm believer that I received the most thorough and well thought out aircraft dispatcher training available. I owe my position in the industry to Sheffield School of Aeronautics.” BF Sidebar BF
    “I am a month into my new job at a airline coming out of reorganization, and am helping the training department by referencing the excellent and up to date course book provided to all Sheffield grads.” RW RW
    “Going to Sheffield prepared me for the real world challenges of Aircraft Dispatching. I certainly believe that the method Sheffield used is one not only for success in a real world career, but also one that prepares students to correctly dispatch aircraft.” T.Z. Sidebar TZ
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