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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Aircraft Dispatcher

💰 $ - $

AviationFlight OperationsDispatchSafety & Compliance

🎯 Role Definition

An Aircraft Dispatcher (also known as Flight Dispatcher or Flight Operations Officer) provides operational control and flight-following services for airline, charter, cargo or corporate flight departments. Responsibilities include preparing and issuing dispatch releases, performing weight & balance and performance calculations, analyzing weather and NOTAMs, coordinating with flight crews, air traffic control, maintenance and ground handlers, applying regulations (FAA 14 CFR Part 121/135 where applicable), and making timely decisions during normal and irregular operations to ensure safety, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Military aviation operations or loadmaster roles with flight planning exposure
  • Airline operations agent / station operations specialist
  • Flight operations support, flight follower, or ramp/dispatch coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior/Lead Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Chief Dispatcher / Dispatch Operations Supervisor
  • Flight Operations Manager or Director of Operations
  • Safety Manager / SMS Program Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Dispatch Trainer / Instructor
  • Operations Control Center Specialist
  • Crew Scheduling or Dispatch Systems Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Prepare, review and issue legally-compliant dispatch releases for planned flights (VFR/IFR) including route, fuel, alternates, weather, NOTAMs and operational limitations; ensure every dispatch release meets company SOPs and regulatory requirements (FAA 14 CFR Part 121/135 or applicable authority).
  • Conduct comprehensive weather analysis (METAR, TAF, SIGMET/AIRMET, convective forecasts, wind aloft, turbulence and icing products) and incorporate impacts to route selection, fuel requirements and alternates.
  • Calculate weight & balance and aircraft performance (takeoff/landing distances, climb gradients, reduced runway lengths, obstacle clearance) using manufacturer performance charts and dispatch planning tools; apply runway contamination and runway length corrections where required.
  • Perform fuel planning and contingency fuel calculations (taxi, trip, contingency, alternate, final reserve) and adjust for delays, holding, reroutes and expected ATC constraints to ensure regulatory fuel reserves.
  • Analyze and apply NOTAMs, airspace restrictions, TFRs and operational constraints to select compliant routings and alternates; file or amend flight plans accordingly.
  • File ICAO/FAA/ATC flight plans and maintain flight plan integrity; coordinate flight plan changes and re-routes in response to weather, NOTAMs and ATC flow requirements.
  • Maintain continuous flight-following and monitoring for assigned flights using ACARS/CPDLC, flight tracking systems, datalink and ATC liaison to detect deviations, delays, or emergencies and initiate corrective actions.
  • Provide operational control and execute dispatch authority decisions during irregular operations (IROPS), delays, diversions and emergencies, including recommending safe diversion airports and returning or cancelling flights when necessary.
  • Coordinate closely with flight crew, providing pre-flight briefings, enroute updates, amendments to routing/fuel, and timely information on weather, NOTAMs, airport conditions and MEL impacts.
  • Evaluate and approve or restrict dispatch in the event of Minimum Equipment List (MEL) items, deferred defects or operational limitations, liaising with maintenance and engineering to determine airworthiness for dispatch.
  • Manage dispatch communications with air traffic services, company operations, stations and handling agents to coordinate ground handling, de-icing, fueling, catering and passenger implications affecting dispatch.
  • Maintain accurate operational records (dispatch release copies, flight logs, updates, delay/diversion documentation) for compliance, auditing and post-flight review.
  • Conduct pre-flight risk assessments and apply Safety Management System (SMS) risk mitigation measures; document hazard reports and contribute to safety incident reviews.
  • Execute takeoff and landing performance assessments in degraded runway conditions (contamination, tailwind, wet/icy) and apply additional margins or reject dispatch when performance margins are insufficient.
  • Review and coordinate alternate airport selection and fuel for ETOPS, long-range or overwater operations; ensure regulatory and company requirements for diversion time and alternates are met.
  • Use flight planning and dispatch software (e.g., Jeppesen FliteDeck, Lido/Flight, ARINC, Sabre/FlightPlan, RocketRoute or equivalent) and integrated operational control systems to prepare, distribute and archive dispatch products.
  • Support crew pairing and scheduling teams with operational input (delays, expected turn times, crew duty limitations) and provide timely updates that affect legality of crew duty and rest.
  • Liaise with maintenance control regarding technical issues, deferred defects and return-to-service decisions that impact dispatchability and flight safety.
  • Initiate and manage operational contingency plans during airport disruptions, airspace closures or large-scale system outages; coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to restore normal operations promptly.
  • Conduct post-flight debrief and operational reporting to capture lessons learned, identify trends (weather impacts, delays, maintenance issues) and propose improvements to SOPs or dispatch tools.
  • Monitor fuel uplift and supplier coordination at origin/destination stations, confirm fuel quality and expected uplift volumes for planned fuel requirements.
  • Participate in regulatory audits and internal compliance reviews; prepare documentation and evidence demonstrating adherence to dispatch process, licensing and training requirements.
  • Maintain dispatch training currency, currency checks and FAA or authority-required records; support the training department by mentoring junior dispatchers and reviewing examiners’ materials.
  • Provide ad-hoc operational analysis for leadership (delay root cause, fuel consumption variances, routing efficiencies) and recommend actionable improvements to reduce cost and increase on-time performance.

Secondary Functions

  • Maintain and update company operational checklists, SOPs and dispatch manuals to reflect regulatory changes, manufacturer updates and industry best practices.
  • Support crew and station training needs by creating scenario-based exercises (weather diversions, MEL decisions, re-dispatch) and participate as an evaluator during competency checks.
  • Assist with implementation and testing of dispatch systems, datalink upgrades, flight tracking platforms and performance tools; provide business requirements and operational feedback.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with airports, FBOs, fuel suppliers, ground handlers and ATC liaison units to streamline operational coordination.
  • Participate in cross-functional incident reviews, safety boards and post-event analyses to enhance operational resilience and continuous improvement.
  • Provide operational support for special missions (VIP flights, ferry flights, repositioning, transoceanic or polar operations) including unique planning, overflight permits and diplomatic clearances where required.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate / Licensed Aircraft Dispatcher (or applicable national license) — required or demonstrable path to certification.
  • Deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks (FAA 14 CFR Part 121/135, ICAO standards, EASA/other national regs where applicable) and dispatch legalities.
  • Advanced flight planning skills — route selection, fuel planning, alternate selection, ETOPS/diversion planning and flight plan filing (ICAO/FAA formats).
  • Proficiency with industry dispatch & flight planning systems (e.g., Jeppesen Lido, RocketRoute, ARINC, Sabre, Navtech, LIDO/Flight or equivalent) and ACARS/CPDLC communications.
  • Weather interpretation and briefing expertise — METAR, TAF, SIGMETs/AIRMETs, convective and turbulence products, wind aloft and icing forecasts.
  • Aircraft performance and weight & balance calculation capabilities for multiple airframes; familiarity with manufacturer performance manuals and dispatch performance software.
  • NOTAM interpretation and operational application for route, airport and airspace constraints.
  • MEL/Deferral evaluation and coordination with maintenance control; ability to interpret minimum equipment lists and dispatch limitations.
  • Flight tracking, operational control center tools and situational awareness systems usage for continuous monitoring.
  • Strong record-keeping and documentation skills for regulatory audits and flight release archival.
  • Basic IT literacy — MS Office (Excel for performance tables/reports), experience with databases and familiarity with dispatch system integration/APIs is a plus.
  • Knowledge of fuel management processes, uplift coordination and fuel quality control procedures.
  • Emergency operations and contingency planning experience, including diversion decision-making and crew/pax handling considerations.

Soft Skills

  • Decisive operational judgment under pressure — make safe, compliant decisions in time-critical or ambiguous situations.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication — clear briefings to flight crews, maintenance and station staff.
  • Strong situational awareness and multi-tasking capability to monitor multiple flights and rapidly changing conditions.
  • Collaborative teamwork — coordinate effectively with pilots, ATC, maintenance, station ops and leadership.
  • Problem-solving and analytical mindset — root cause analysis for delays, re-routes and performance variances.
  • Customer-service orientation — balance operational needs with passenger/cargo impact and stakeholder expectations.
  • Attention to detail — ensure accuracy in performance calculations, flight plans and dispatch releases.
  • Adaptability to fast-paced, irregular operations (IROPS) and changing regulatory/operational environments.
  • Leadership and mentoring — coach junior dispatchers and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Risk management and safety-first mindset — proactive hazard identification and mitigation aligned with SMS principles.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED; completion of Aircraft Dispatcher training program and FAA (or national) dispatcher exam preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate or Bachelor's degree in Aviation, Aeronautical Science, Air Traffic Management, Meteorology, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aviation/Aeronautical Science
  • Meteorology or Atmospheric Science
  • Air Traffic Management / Air Navigation Services
  • Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering
  • Operations Management / Safety Management Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of flight operations, flight following or dispatch-related experience for entry-to-mid-level roles; 5+ years for senior or lead dispatcher positions.

Preferred: 3+ years of commercial airline or charter dispatch experience, experience in Part 121/135 operations (or equivalent), demonstrated use of industry flight planning and dispatch systems, and proven track record managing irregular operations and dispatch releases.

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