How Does a Flight Dispatcher Spend a Workday?
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Monitoring
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Flight dispatchers monitor airplane flights, usually from a desk console with radio equipment, computers and flight monitoring display screens. A typical day will include receiving communications from the pilot or crew. All communications between the airport and the pilot are monitored by the flight dispatcher. Flight dispatchers also monitor geographic areas, including communications that take place with other dispatchers and other airports. All emergency communications are received at the flight dispatcher's desk. If the airplane is in trouble, the flight dispatcher and the piloting captain are equally responsible for the safety of the airplane. All traffic around the plane is monitored by the dispatcher via video cams stationed around the airport.
Documentation
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Flight dispatchers don't get away from paperwork. Documented communications are noted by the flight dispatcher, who also keeps a tidy log of all communications. Personnel are monitored on a daily basis by the flight dispatcher. The flight dispatcher maintains a log of all personnel activities. Most paperwork is done within a centralized communication center where the flight dispatcher is stationed. The flight dispatcher may also be in charge of other ranking dispatchers, including emergency personnel. All personnel keep a log or record of their activities, which is compared with the flight dispatcher's notes for consistency.
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Regulations
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An airplane cannot take off the ground without a signature from the pilot captain and the flight dispatcher. The dispatcher must approve of the safety of the plane. For example, a flight dispatcher may receive a call from maintenance regarding an airplane wing that hadn't been properly fueled. The flight dispatcher will call the pilot and order the plane return back to docking for the necessary maintenance. During such a situation, other areas of the plane will be double checked in a mandatory inspection of maintenance. Any mistake in communication or maintenance of the plane could result in death of the passengers and destruction of the airplane.
Job requirements
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Being a flight dispatcher requires long periods of sitting at a desk in front of a computer monitor. The flight dispatcher will work with radio equipment, phones, video cameras and surveillance equipment, and traffic monitoring programs. Long hours are an exhausting job requirement for the flight dispatcher. Emergencies or shortage of personnel can lead to twenty-four hour shifts as required. Eye strain, back disorders, and fatigue are common among flight dispatchers.
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