aviation
Airlines hungry for aircraft dispatchers, pilots
'This is an excellent time, if you want a job in aviation,' says Sinclair aviation faculty member.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
DAYTON — The demand for aircraft dispatchers from regional airlines is outstripping Sinclair Community College's ability to get student trainees through the courses to earn the occupational certificates.
It's the same situation for pilots in training. A year ago, Sinclair's department of aviation technology had eight flight instructors, students who were working their way through pilot training. Today, the department is down to two because airlines have hired them away, said Walt Davis, chairman of the aviation department.
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"This is an excellent time, if you want a job in aviation," said Donna Hanshew, a Sinclair aviation faculty member who previously worked 14 years as an aircraft dispatcher. "I've been doing this since 1985, and I don't think I've ever seen it like this."
Students can qualify for their aircraft dispatcher certificates at Sinclair in two academic quarters, or 22 weeks. It can be done in less time at some airline ground training schools. Sinclair's pilot students can reach the level of flight instructors in 18 months.
Business is booming for regional carriers including PSA Airlines, Comair and others as they fly more routes for the major airlines including US Airways, Delta Air Lines and others which are beefing up service on international and popular U.S. routes that are more lucrative. As a result, the regional airlines are hungry for pilots and aircraft dispatchers.
The shortage of aircraft dispatchers is most acute, in part because much of the public isn't familiar with that occupation.
Aircraft dispatchers, invisible to air travelers, work closely with pilots to examine weather forecasts and routing plans, check the flying readiness of airplanes and review plans for alternate routes if bad weather is expected. Like pilots, they must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Starting salaries can be $20,000 to $25,000 annually, and can eventually rise to triple that level for experienced dispatchers who move on to work for major airlines.
PSA Airlines, which is based at Dayton International Airport and flies from there under the banner of US Airways Express, recently had five vacancies for aircraft dispatchers, said Andy Heins, the company's manager of dispatch. It took PSA almost a month to hire to fill three of the vacancies, Heins said. Sinclair student Ashanti Taltoan, 29, of Miami Twp., hired on last summer as a PSA Airlines dispatcher. Late in the year, he switched to a dispatcher's job at a higher salary (he declined to reveal it) with NetJets Aviation Inc., a private aviation company in Columbus. He is commuting to Columbus while he completes his two-year degree at Sinclair.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or
jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
