Flight Dispatch Course

Lesson 1 • Dispatch Office Environment

Describes the physical and digital tools used in a dispatch center. Students understand the workflow and communication channels dispatchers use daily.

Lesson 2 • Structure of Commercial Aviation

Covers airline types, operational certificates, and how carriers are organized. Provides context for where dispatch fits within the broader aviation system.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory Framework for Dispatch

Introduces the regulatory documents governing dispatch operations. Students identify key rules that define legal flight release and operational limits.

Lesson 1 • Hazardous Weather for Flight Operations

Focuses on thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, and low visibility conditions. Students evaluate hazard severity and determine appropriate dispatch responses.

Lesson 2 • Weather Systems and Frontal Analysis

Examines high and low pressure systems, fronts, and associated weather patterns. Students learn to identify system types and predict their effects on flight routes.

Lesson 3 • Aviation Weather Products and Reports

Teaches decoding of METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, SIGMETs, and AIRMETs. Students apply these products to assess current and forecast conditions along flight routes.

Lesson 4 • Atmospheric Science Fundamentals

Covers pressure, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric layers. Establishes the physical principles that drive all weather phenomena relevant to dispatch.

Lesson 1 • Weight, Balance, and Load Planning

Covers center of gravity limits, load manifest preparation, and fuel load effects. Students calculate and verify weight and balance for legal dispatch.

Lesson 2 • Performance Data and Charts

Teaches use of aircraft flight manuals and performance charts for takeoff, climb, and landing. Students extract limiting weights and speeds for dispatch release.

Lesson 3 • Airframe and Powerplant Overview

Introduces primary aircraft structures and engine types used in commercial operations. Students identify system components relevant to dispatch decisions.

Lesson 4 • Minimum Equipment List Application

Explains MEL structure, dispatch deviation procedures, and operational restrictions. Students apply MEL logic to determine legal dispatch with inoperative equipment.

Lesson 1 • Navigation Concepts and Systems

Covers dead reckoning, radio navigation, and satellite-based systems. Students understand how navigation methods affect route planning and fuel calculations.

Lesson 2 • Route Planning and Airways

Teaches low and high altitude airway structure, preferred routes, and NOTAM integration. Students construct valid routes using published navigation data.

Lesson 3 • Airspace Classification and Structure

Explains controlled and uncontrolled airspace classes, special use areas, and altitude limits. Students identify airspace constraints that affect route selection.

Lesson 1 • Alternate Airport Selection

Covers criteria for selecting legal alternates and calculating alternate fuel. Students evaluate weather, NOTAMs, and airport suitability for alternate designation.

Lesson 2 • Flight Release Document Preparation

Teaches the legal content requirements of a dispatch release and operational flight plan. Students assemble complete release packages meeting regulatory standards.

Lesson 3 • ETOPS and Extended Operations Planning

Covers extended operations authorization, critical fuel scenarios, and ETOPS alternates. Students apply ETOPS rules to twin-engine long-range dispatch planning.

Lesson 4 • Fuel Planning Fundamentals

Introduces fuel burn calculations, fuel types, and planning variables. Students understand the components that determine total fuel requirements for any flight.

Lesson 1 • Special Airport Operations

Addresses high-altitude, short-field, and remote airport dispatch considerations. Students apply specialized analysis techniques to challenging destination airports.

Lesson 2 • Airport Operational Restrictions

Examines noise curfews, slot controls, aircraft type restrictions, and customs requirements. Students identify restrictions that affect scheduling and dispatch planning.

Lesson 3 • Airport Data Sources and Publications

Introduces airport charts, airport facility directories, and NOTAMs as primary data sources. Students locate and interpret critical airport information for dispatch use.

Lesson 1 • Diversion Decision-Making

Covers triggers for diversion, alternate selection under pressure, and coordination with crew. Students practice rapid assessment and communication during in-flight diversions.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Communication Procedures

Teaches dispatcher roles during declared emergencies, distress, and urgency situations. Students practice structured communication with crew, ATC, and operations control.

Lesson 3 • Ground Stop and Flow Control Management

Explains traffic management initiatives, ground delay programs, and reroute strategies. Students manage flight schedules during airspace flow control events.

Lesson 4 • Irregular Operations Recovery Planning

Addresses aircraft swaps, crew legality, passenger rebooking, and schedule recovery. Students build recovery plans that restore operations efficiently after disruptions.

Lesson 1 • Risk Assessment in Dispatch

Introduces structured risk assessment models applied to dispatch decisions. Students identify, quantify, and mitigate operational risks before and during flight.

Lesson 2 • Multi-Flight Workload Management

Covers prioritization techniques when managing multiple simultaneous flights. Students develop strategies to maintain safety and compliance under high workload.

Lesson 3 • Integrated Dispatch Scenario Practice

Applies weather, performance, fuel, and regulatory knowledge to full dispatch scenarios. Students produce complete dispatch packages for complex, multi-leg operations.