Flight dispatcher training in Germany/Europe
Should you get your flight dispatch training done in Germany (Europe)? How are the credentials different from being an Airline Dispatcher in the United States?
Aircraft dispatchers work for airlines to ensure the safety of flight and maintain safe and efficient operations for the carrier. It takes only about four weeks of training to obtain your Initial Dispatch Training in ASISTIM (Dispatch Academy in Germany).
What is the (regulatory) difference in becoming a Flight Dispatcher between the EU and the US?
In the United States, the Aircraft Dispatcher is licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Commercial Airlines (Part 121 or some Part 135) are required to use an FAA aircraft dispatcher. In other words, you would need to have the Aircraft Dispatch license issued from the FAA in order to work as a Flight dispatcher.
In Europe (Germany), however, the regulatory system is a bit different. Equivalent to the FAA in the US, there is a EUROPEAN AVIATION SAFETY AGENCY (EASA) which is generally responsible for the standardization of all aviation safety certification activities of the 27 European Member states.
According to the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), the Flight dispatch license is not mandatory in Germany/Europe and therefore not many companies or individuals are attaining the flight dispatch license in Europe.
Of course, this can differ from certain European countries, such as Portugal, where the Flight Dispatch License is still mandatory. Therefore, it is advisable to foremost check the local Aviation authorities and regulations of the country that may be of an interest to you.
In Germany and most other countries in Europe, instead of the license, the quality of the dispatchers is controlled by the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) for IATA (International Air Transport Association) members.
Given the fact that IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 290 airlines in 120 countries, carrying 83% of the world’s air traffic, it is not a surprise that many airline companies worldwide are trying to get their training done in accordance to the IOSA audit to be qualified as a member of IATA (International Air Transport Association).
Airline companies who are a member of the IATA, needs to have their flight dispatchers trained with the sufficient number of hours, according to the updated syllabus in the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) 10106 doc.
The need of External training centers
Due to the IOSA audit requirements, many companies are looking to train their flight dispatchers according to the EASA (EUROPEAN AVIATION SAFETY AGENCY) requirements.
The following trainings for flight dispatchers are requested from the EASA guideline:
Established for beginners who wish to qualify themselves to enter or get into a better position in aviation.
The initial training offered by ASISTIM Academy consists of 160 hours over the period of 4 weeks.
Designed for experienced dispatchers who need to refresh their qualifications according to the ICAO 10106 doc, which satisfies the IOSA audit.
The refresher training in ASISTIM consists of 120 hours. Since this course is for flight dispatchers who are already working in the field, we provide 3 blocks of training, a week each, done within 3 years.
Couple of Questions you should ask before you decide for training in Europe
- Which country do I want to get a certificate from?
- If I want to potentially work in that country, what are the chances to get a work permit?
- Which school offers classes in-house and on-line?
- During virtual trainings, how well can my questions be communicated?
- Is the training center familiar with the IOSA audit?
- How much does the course cost?
- How long was the training center been around and how many students did they train until now?
ASISTIM is one of the best training centers in Europe, training over 1700 students around the world for the last 15 years. Our certificate represents a high standard of quality in the industry, and have many years of experience offering custom tailored courses for companies satisfying the IOSA audit. We also offer excellent courses for individuals who wish to become a Flight Dispatcher.
Do you have questions regarding what kind of training we can provide?
Don’t hesitate to talk to us today.