Aircraft Dispatcher Training Program

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct an Aircraft Dispatcher Training Course, under FAR Part 65. This program is an integral part of the Aeronautical Science degree normally completed over a four-year time span. Embry-Riddle is not currently offering the more traditional dispatcher training programs typically completed within six weeks.

Flight Operations Management

For the student interested in airline flight operations management, Embry-Riddle offers a program to prepare for aircraft dispatcher certification testing. The FAA awards the Aircraft Dispatcher Airman Certificate to graduates of the approved program after the successful completion of a standardized written examination and a practical test.

Licensed Dispatchers

Licensed dispatchers are employed by airlines to manage the ground-based tasks vital to a successful airline flight. Dispatchers share responsibility with the captain for pre-flight planning and preparation of the dispatch release, and they are included in the decision loop on equipment failures, weather variations or traffic delays for monitoring the progress of the flight, issuing safety-of-flight information to the crew and canceling or re-dispatching the flight.

To carry out these tasks properly, dispatchers must be knowledgeable in aircraft performance capabilities, meteorology, operating regulations, air traffic control and instrument flight procedures. They must also be able to make sound decisions which incorporate the company's economic and scheduling considerations.

Program Requirements

This program is offered in the pursuit of a degree and not as separate training. To receive credit for any of the courses listed above toward the Aircraft Dispatcher certification program, the student must sign up in each required course, maintain a record of 100 percent attendance throughout each course and obtain a grade of at least 70 percent.

Certification Requirements
The aircraft dispatcher certification program is available at both the Daytona Beach campus and the Prescott campus. Dispatcher preparation is based on the successful completion of the following Aeronautical Science courses and the applicable prerequisites:

Aircraft Dispatch Certification

*AS 410 serves as the capstone course to the Aircraft Dispatcher program. Students cannot enroll in this class until they have completed and passed all other required Aeronautical Science courses for the Aircraft Dispatcher program. Students must be 21 years of age to take this examination.

Credits

• Instrumental Pilot Operations, AS 221,3
• Commercial Pilot Operations, AS 321, 3 (Or AS-350)
• Domestic and International Navigation, AS 350, 3 (Or AS-321)
• Aircraft Performance, AS 310, 3
• Airline Dispatch Operations*, AS 410, 3
• Air Traffic Management I, AT 200, 3
• Survey of Meteorology, WX 201, 3
• Aviation Weather, WX 301, 3

This program is offered in the pursuit of a degree and not as separate training. Qualification for FAA testing normally requires a minimum of six semesters of instruction.

To receive credit for any of the courses toward the aircraft dispatcher certification program, the student must sign-up in each required course, maintain satisfactory attendance and earn a grade of at least 70 percent in each course.