Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

When it comes to aircraft safety, the flight dispatcher plays a vital role. In fact, the pilot and flight controller work together, one in the air, the other on the ground, each performing their own duties. These responsibilities include coordinating flight plans, calculating the required amount of fuel for the flight, accounting for weather and wind, and ensuring the safe passage of the aircraft and its passengers in accordance with FAA regulations. Once you understand how to become a flight dispatcher, there are only a few steps left to be certified for a job that is critical to the safe and efficient operation of an aircraft.

Steps

1. 1 Understand the responsibilities of a flight dispatcher before deciding to start this career. The flight dispatcher is responsible for ensuring that safety rules are followed during the flight, knowing what kind of weather to expect and how to deal with it, determining how much fuel will be required for the flight, and much more. This is an important role with a lot of responsibility, so do some research and learn what it means to be a flight dispatcher.
2. 2 Find an FAA Approved Flight Dispatcher Training School. A complete list can be found on the FAA website.
   • Although only a high school diploma is required to enroll in FAA-approved flight controller certification courses, training in air travel or meteorology will set you apart from prospective students.
3. 3 Apply for your chosen program and enroll in courses where you will learn about flight planning, navigation systems, fuel requirements, charting, and other skills required for the job.
   • Be aware that the curriculum is rigorous and intense. They usually last 5 to 6 weeks and include 200 hours of training. Some programs require accommodation, while others are part-time. Night classes are generally not available, be aware of this if you plan on staying at your current job while studying.
   • Be aware that college tuition can be expensive, often in the $ 4,000 to $ 5,000 range. Some institutions provide financial assistance. Exams can cost several hundred dollars, but most schools include the cost of exams in their tuition. The exams are administered by your school at the end of a 5 to 6 week study program.
4. 4 Prepare hard for the FAA-required Flight Dispatcher Certification exam by studying and benefiting from any of the practice exams administered by the school you attend.
5. 5 Take the FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX) Certification Exam to qualify for work as a flight dispatcher.
   • The test consists of 80 questions, for which 3 hours are allotted.
   • The test includes an assessment of 6 main areas in the oral / practical part: flight planning, pre-flight procedures and take-off, flight procedures, landing procedures, post-flight procedures and emergency procedures.
6. 6 Apply to various airlines for jobs as a flight dispatcher.

Tips

• Consider tuition fees and research which schools offer financial assistance.
• If you fail the test the first time, you will have to wait 30 days to take the test again. Waiting periods can be excluded if you provide a written statement from a Certified Flight Dispatcher that he or she has given you additional training in areas you did not pass and that he or she believes you are ready to take the test again.
• Check flightinnovation.us. They will cover your tuition and exam costs up to $ 4000.

Warnings

• As a flight dispatcher, you must spend 5 hours in flight in the cockpit annually.
• Be aware that schooling can be expensive, but some institutions provide financial assistance.
• You must be at least 21 years old to take the ADX exam.
• The FAA requires flight dispatchers to complete an advanced training course every year. Topics include meteorology, aircraft systems, company operating policies, and more.