Aircraft Dispatching and Thunderstorms

Admittedly, hate is a strong word, but thunderstorms are a frequent and often annoying occurrence that aircraft dispatchers must deal with as part of their daily lives. If prepared during their aircraft dispatcher courses, these aviation experts shouldn’t have much to worry about, except a few minor headaches.

Most see thunderstorms as beautiful; many people love to sleep during a thunderstorm, but not aircraft dispatchers. Aircraft dispatchers see thunderstorms as the same way a waiter or waitress sees a table of 10 seated just before closing. Sure, we know what to do, but it’s not going to be an easy, breezy day and can disrupt a lot of operations throughout the day.

There is a substantial amount of focus placed on weather patterns at Sheffield School of Aeronautics aircraft dispatcher courses, and rightly so. A thunderstorm may be a challenge for an aircraft dispatcher, but it is also a moment to rise to the occasion and prove his or her quality.

Thunderstorms Have Life Cycles

Weather is constantly changing; that’s why the forecast is different every 20 minutes and why everyone thinks the weatherman never has to be right. Aircraft dispatcher courses convey this idea that weather is monitored and predicted, but cannot be tamed.

Thunderstorms have life cycles: cumulus (the beginnings of the beast), mature (the wrath of the beast) and dissipating (the end of the beast). Although they cannot be controlled, understanding what can and cannot be done at each stage of development and also understanding the limitation of the planes (which you would have learned during your aircraft dispatcher course), will ultimately lead you to a successful career in aircraft dispatching.

Understanding the Thunderstorm

During the cumulus stage, there are updrafts. During the mature stage, there are a lot of heavy rains; and during the dissipating stage, the drafts turn downwards. Knowing how to navigate through the stages is what makes aircraft dispatching a craft that has to be mastered with precision, keeping the crew and travelers on board safe at all times.

Avoiding the Storm

No one likes turbulence; the flight crew, the passengers, and even aircraft dispatchers. That is why aircraft dispatchers do their best to plan thunderstorms into flight plans and routes when thunderstorms are predicted that week or month. Planning routes to avoid run-ins with thunderstorms is part of aircraft dispatching that the aircraft dispatcher courses at Sheffield School of Aeronautics teach very extensively.

It is important to note that you have to predict the thunderstorm and use your knowledge to divert airborne planes, as well as develop new routes for planes that have yet to depart.

Aircraft Dispatcher Training Has a Major Impact

Think back on your aircraft dispatcher courses and training. The words ‘hold’ and ‘divert’ will ring true, and if you are starting out as an aircraft dispatcher, absorb as much as you can about thunderstorms so that you can conquer scenarios with precision.

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