Airline dispatchers are vital to keeping aviation safe

What role do airline dispatchers play?

– Fly Guy John, Anchorage, Alaska Dispatchers, who work from the airline's operations center, are trained in similar skills as pilots but without the flight training.

They carefully monitor weather or other conditions that could affect the flight. Weather, air traffic delays and irregular operations are just some of the important information dispatcher provide to the flight crew.

Before a flight, the dispatcher reviews the weather, planned payload (passengers and cargo), estimated flight time and orders a proposed fuel load. The captain and dispatcher must be in agreement on fuel, route and conditions before the flight is released.

Once the flight takes off, the dispatcher monitors its progress and maintains contact with the flight crew. Should the plane run into mechanical problems or other issues en route, the dispatcher is the pilot's first point of contact.

Aviation’s extraordinary safety record is due to the team of safety professionals, which include pilots, dispatchers, flight attendants, maintenance technicians and many others.

Why do the co-pilots on international flights tend to be older than on domestic flights?

– Ernie Gann, Washington state International flights are desirable, therefore they go to senior pilots. Some pilots conclude that they would rather be a senior first officer on international flights than a captain on domestic flights.

I know several pilots who never flew as a captain in order to fly the larger airplanes internationally.

DELTA AIR LINES Latasha Coward-Bradbury is a dispatcher for Delta Air Lines. Before the flight, she and the pilot ascertain that the fuel, weight and route are correct. After the plane takes off, she monitors its progress.