There are a few variations that define the aircraft dispatcher job title but one thing remains the same: the career itself. The Sheffield School of Aeronautics has some great posts regarding the history of aircraft dispatchers, aircraft dispatcher job description and even aircraft dispatcher interview questions to look out for.
When you start your courses at the Sheffield School of Aeronautics you’ll quickly realize how many different names have been given to this profession. Even a quick search online and you’ll see plenty of variations. Here’s a list of some of the most common:
Aircraft dispatcher – of course this is the technical term we hear often and also the term used by the FAA to describe this position.
Airline Dispatcher – Although it sounds specific to the airline it’s not. Same exact duties.
Flight dispatcher – pretty similar term but not quite the same. To the unknowing person this might sound as if aircraft dispatcher and flight controller are the same but of course we know different.
Flight follower – this is slightly different. See the FAA requires that air carriers give aircraft dispatcher jobs to certified applicant. But cargo carriers may have a flight follower, a person who does the same aircraft dispatcher job you expect but this position does not require the certification.
Flight operations officer – this is more of a supervisory role but you can guarantee that the officer had an aircraft dispatcher job before getting promoted to this role. This is the end goal for a lot of career dispatchers. Reaching this point in a major airline come with a lot of benefits; monetary and otherwise.
