What does A Flight dispatcher do?

Question

What does A Flight dispatcher do?

Answer 1

A flight dispatcher is responsible for planning and monitoring the progress of a flight. Both the Pilot in Command and the dispatcher are responsible  for the flight.

He or She has the authority to cancel, change divert etc etc any flight, and a flight cannot be released without the signature of both the pilot in command and the dispatcher.

Answer 2

Not much when the weather is good.  But when the weather goes in the crapper, they earn their money.

Therefore, knowing weather is a major requirement for a good dispatcher.

Answer 3

Basically, the dispatchers run the airline.  Anything to do with organizing the flight schedule, diverting flights, checking the weather and handling maintenence problems and delays.  They have to make up a release, which is a legal document that shows the captain what route to take, how much fuel is needed, what alternates are required and such.  The captain has to agree with the release or the flight cannot depart.  I once heard a dispatch trainer say that a dispatchers first priority is to come up with a plan B.  I think that's pretty accurate.

As a job, it's a lot of work for very little pay.  You have to have a dispatcher's certificate, which requires some training and an oral and practical test, just like a pilot.  Hope that answers your question.