Professional profile: flight dispatch
Dispatchers play an essential role in the smooth flow of airline operations. Through a thorough training in all aviation related subjects, dispatchers are a crucial partner to the pilot. Dispatchers also are a competent partner to air traffic services, Eurocontrol and other related departments. The main aim is to guarantee safety, on-time performance and economy.
Tasks of the dispatcher are, but are not limited, to preparations connected to flight planning:
- Analysis of meteorological conditions at departure and arrival aerodromes and along the proposed route of flight.
- Exact routing and flight planning
- Determination of flight times and flight levels
- Calculation of fuel consumption, maximum payload and take-off and landing weights
- Taking into account of technical factors and limitations along the route of flight (e.g. closure of airspace)
- Filing of the ATC flight plan
- Compilation of all flight documents and briefing of the flight crew
If questions or irregularities arise, the dispatcher offers in-flight assistance via radio or other communication means and such assists in the decision process.
Another profession related to the dispatcher is the operation controller. This person determines and controls the aircraft rotations by focusing on safety, reliability and on-time performance as main objectives. Due to the similarities in objectives dispatchers and operation controllers work together very close. Operation controllers require the same qualifications as dispatchers.
Both professions depend on the will to learn, flexibility and the application of a wide selection of complex computer programmes.