The first thing that you must do is be 23 years old, have achieved a high school diploma, be able to read and write fluent English, and have outstanding hearing and sight. These requirements are necessary in order quality for the school, as passengers would not like someone directing a flight to anywhere if that person could not reach these rather easy standards. Simply put, the FAA does not want anyone who cannot read or write to have access to flights at any point because there is too much that can go wrong if a mistake is made.
The second stage of becoming an aircraft dispatcher is the completion of a multiple choice test. This might seem very simple, but there will be many complex questions found on this test. The purpose of the test is to measure a person's aptitude for the job before that person enrolls in school. There is a lot to remember before this test, but a preparation guide will be supplied to anyone who is interested. The questions will ask a lot about flight to your areas, which means that you must be ready to handle some rather complex questions before you go to school.
Thirdly, you must attend an accredited school in order to be hired for one of these jobs. Some schools offer an online version which will allow you to complete the course from the comfort of your own home in your spare time, so you will have a number of different options for receiving this accreditation. Make sure that you choose the option that is right for you because if you are not placed in an environment that you can succeed in, you will find it much more difficult to pass this course. Basically, if you want more hands on training of how to respond to flights, it is best if you go to a classroom to learn.
Once you have finished school, you will have to attend a 5-day program where you will work hands on with a certified instructor. This is where your knowledge will be put into action, as you will have to show that you can direct some flights to where they need to go. Once you have undergone this training, you will have to complete an exam, which will be the determining factor of whether or not you will receive the certification that you need. If you pass this exam, you stand a great chance of getting the job that you want in this industry.
Finally, you will be able to take the oral exam and also complete the flight plan portion. This must be done within 90 days of completing the course and graduating from school. If you achieve a passing grade in school, you will be able to sign up for this final step, which will definitely help you to get your job. You must pass these final two steps and then prove that you have the correct computer knowledge as well. If you are able to show the proper knowledge, you will be given your license and you can begin applying for jobs as a flight dispatcher.
This process is rather easy if you work hard enough at it because you will be taught everything that you need to know to succeed. If this is something that you feel as though you would be interested in, you can begin by taking the aptitude test and then going from there. If you score high enough on this initial test, you will likely be accepted into the program and you will be directing flights to and from your home airport in no time at all.
