A dispatcher applicant must meet the eligibility requirements of FAR Part 65.53. You must be 23 year of age, however, you can complete the training  and testing at age 21 but will not be issued the license until you turn 23. This means you can work as an assistant dispatcher or flight follower under the supervision of a licensed dispatcher until turning 23. You must also be able to read, speak, and understand the English language.

FAR part 65.55 addresses knowledge requirements. You must pass a Federal Aviation exam on the appropriate subjects and an oral/practical exam with an FAA examiner. The FAA approved schools prepare you for these requirements.

FAR Part 65.57 lists the various experience requirements to satisfy the FAA minimum for the license. An applicant must have, in two of  the last three years before the date of application, experience in scheduled air carrier operations, military aviation operations, or any other aircraft operations that the FAA finds provides equivalent experience such as pilot, navigator, meteorologist, etc.

If you have no previous aviation experience, you must attend an FAA approved training program. There are a number of schools around the country that provide this training. All meet FAA requirements. The minimum FAA training program is six continuous weeks on location. There are several Distance Learning Courses available which require only one to two weeks of residency training upon completion of the associated correspondence course.

What are the classes like?
Classes are intense. Plan on lots of homework each night with daily or weekly quizzes to evaluate your progress. The instructors are not required to automatically recommend you to the FAA for the checkride unless you meet minimum requirements. You should be able to type at least 25 words per minute, if not more, as all the dispatch offices are computerized. In addition, you might want to consider attending a private pilot ground school at the local airport just to get a jump on the subject matter.

The biggest part of the training program is meteorology. You will become a weather buff very much like the weatherman on the evening news. Your job is to prepare the weather package for the crew before they arrive at the airport and answer any questions for them regarding the weather along their route. In addition, you will do the preflight planning and all the paperwork for the flight to include filing flight plans, preparing the dispatch release, the weight and balance, and ordering fuel.

How much does the training cost?
The average cost of a six-week training program is $3,000. This is a small investment compared to your long-term earnings. The average starting salary in the Cincinnati, Ohio tri-state area is $30,000 a year. With seniority and 20 years experience, you will be making $80,000 to $100,000 a year and we haven't even mentioned all the benefits of working for an airline!

(The above was written by Danny Mortensen-President of Airline Ground Schools for Aviation Career Magazine January 2001.)

You must always check the latest FARs for any changes.