Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Aircraft Dispatcher

🎯 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.