FAA Aircraft Dispatch Certification

The new Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Program at the Prescott campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is off to a great start, with five students becoming the first from their campus to obtain FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificates. Certificated dispatchers are required by federal regulation and share joint authority with the captain of every domestic and international air carrier flight. They plan the route, determine fuel requirements, analyze weather, issue safety-of-flight information, and monitor the progress of each flight to provide operational control for an airline. To carry out these tasks properly, dispatchers must be knowledgeable in aircraft performance, meteorology, operating regulations, air traffic control, and instrument flight procedures. They must also be able to make sound decisions that incorporate the company’s economic and scheduling considerations. Embry-Riddle’s Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Program is offered in conjunction with the pursuit of a degree.