Flight Dispatch Learning Lab

As an Aircraft Dispatcher, it's important for you to have a basic understanding of how earths climate works.  This understanding becomes the foundation for all other meteorological events that occur across our planet.

Thunderstorms, also known as "convective activity" in meteorological terms can be a significant barrier to the safe and effective air transport industry.  Understanding how, why and when convective activity will form are essential for the safe dispatch of any flight.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is the default aviation weather resources for US based airlines.  This video explains the basics of the surface prognastic chart, this chart explains to FAA Aircraft Dispatchers and pilots where the various air masses are located in North American, such as the location of areas of high pressures, low pressure and fronts.  Fronts are the boundary between air masses and tracking their location is important as they play a role in the weather formation in the regions they are moving through.

FAA Aircraft Dispatchers usually work in the office environment, however, because of the role they play in creating safe and efficient flight plans, Aircraft Dispatchers do need to have a basic understanding of how aircraft fly.  In this video, you'll learn some basics about wing design and how lift is created when an airplane flies.

Much like the last video, aircraft dispatchers need to have a basic understanding of how an aircraft is designed and some of its more basic components such as  Ailerons, Elevators and the rudder.  Other systems knowledge is important because of its impact on aircraft performance, such as hydraulics, pressurization and electrical.

In some instances, a component of an aircraft may be inoperative and would be considered as on "deferral".  This means in some instances that something is not functioning correctly, however the aircraft could still be used for regular operations.

As an Aircraft Dispatcher, you'll need to be familiar with different types of approaches to airports.  Part of this is because we need to establish if the weather is legal for us to fly a particular approach at an airport, another important aspect is if we need to list an alternate or "backup" airport if the weather at our destination is poor.

A good chunk of our FAA Aircraft Dispatcher training program is dedicated to building your skills in learning and understanding these charts as you'll be using them everyday as an aircraft dispatcher.

An instrument landing system , also known as an "ILS" is a precision approach to provides pilots with vertical and horizontal guidance down to the runway.