Anyone here working in Flight Ops?

Lustrum

I've an interview coming up for a position as a flight planner, just want to get an overview of the role and see what I should be thinking about that I haven't thought about.

PM me if you can help, thanks!

omega man

I'm sure you'll get the necessary training if successful but if you were to have a very , very basic understanding of the ATC environment and the effects of weather etc that would score a few points. Good geography is important also! Like any interview study up on the company, particularly relevant items such as organisational structure, fleet and routes etc. skills wise they'll look for ability to multi task, work under pressure, decision making, initiative and an analytical approach to name but a few.

bluecode

What's a flight planner? Serious question. I've heard of despatcher which is a recognised qualification in the US and I was an Operations Officer. I filed flight plans and worked out the rosters. Not sure what a flight planner might be.

omega man

bluecode wrote: »

What's a flight planner? Serious question. I've heard of despatcher which is a recognised qualification in the US and I was an Operations Officer. I filed flight plans and worked out the rosters. Not sure what a flight planner might be.

Flight Operations Officer (FOO) is an FAA/US term really. It's kind of been adopted in Europe but with minimal regulation here and in Europe in general there is no one size fits all term but flight planner has been around a while. I think most if not all pilots will be familiar with flight planner. Same thing with dispatcher in the states, different job here in Europe. Flight planner is basically an FOO without the licence and dual authority.

bluecode

Same thing then. Guess the title has changed since my time. Filing a flight plan was but a minor aside from the general job. It's ironic that the US should formalise the job while here in Europe, it's hit and miss. In my time it was usually wannabee pilots who did the job, the training is pretty much compatible.

As ever the Americans get it right.

omega man

bluecode wrote: »

Same thing then. Guess the title has changed since my time. Filing a flight plan was but a minor aside from the general job. It's ironic that the US should formalise the job while here in Europe, it's hit and miss. In my time it was usually wannabee pilots who did the job, the training is pretty much compatible.

As ever the Americans get it right.

Like in Canada it took an accident to regulate. The Canadians are even more regulated regarding flight planners/FOOs.

Lustrum

bluecode wrote: »

....... In my time it was usually wannabee pilots who did the job.....

As ever the Americans get it right.

Maybe it's a good thing that the airlines here are hiring wanabee pilots to do the job rather than FAA licenced dispatchers who have no practical understanding of flight planning.

At least the wanabees have done their 6 months of ATPLs and so have a theoretical understanding of the requirements, but more importantly, know what it's like to fly around thunderstorms, be held up due to departing/arriving traffic etc

bluecode

Yes pilots are well trained for the job and it was very common for pilots to take it on while waiting for the big break. On the other hand that's not very useful to the employer who would prefer a long term employee. The non pilot is far more likely to stay long term. Having said that Cityjet advertised an Ops job once and actually specified that it would be suitable for pilot who was looking for an aviation job while waiting for a flying job.

Turbine

How did you guys get on with interviews today?

Strumms

Lustrum wrote: »

Maybe it's a good thing that the airlines here are hiring wanabee pilots to do the job rather than FAA licenced dispatchers who have no practical understanding of flight planning.

At least the wanabees have done their 6 months of ATPLs and so have a theoretical understanding of the requirements, but more importantly, know what it's like to fly around thunderstorms, be held up due to departing/arriving traffic etc

FAA licenced dispatchers have no practical understanding of flight planning ? that's in interesting if somewhat arogant standpoint which I'd probably leave out of your interview. Do you know what training goes into obtaining this qualification and have you worked with people who have ? I don't know who I'd rather hire when I will in fact have the opertunity to do so next week.. A jumped up arogant pilot who knows nothing about being a flight dispatcher yet thinks he knows it all by virtue of his pilots licence ? Or the guy who is really interested and passionate in becoming a flight dispatcher, meets the hiring criteria and who if successful will use all the training we provide (to FAA approved standards). No brainer.

Mitch Buchannon

Lustrum wrote: »

Maybe it's a good thing that the airlines here are hiring wanabee pilots to do the job rather than FAA licenced dispatchers who have no practical understanding of flight planning.

Try saying the above statement in an Ops Dept in the US or Canada and and you would be lucky to get away with just a verbal bashing.

Lustrum wrote: »

At least the wanabees have done their 6 months of ATPLs and so have a theoretical understanding of the requirements, but more importantly, know what it's like to fly around thunderstorms, be held up due to departing/arriving traffic etc

Ahh ye poor thing, getting held up due to departing or arriving traffic. Why is it that most pilots think its only themselves that are affected by these things ? You do realise that an airline has a WHOLE operation to run, not just "your" flight. Delays of any sort can cause problems for everyone involved not just the two bodies in the front.

paddychipmunk

Maybe FAS should run a course in this career choice or one of those training companies might set one up .
Do a 2 day course in a hotel and get your city and guilds degree in drivin aerplanes ,
much riches and sucess guaranteed.

andy_g

paddychipmunk wrote: »

Maybe FAS should run a course in this career choice or one of those training companies might set one up .
Do a 2 day course in a hotel and get your city and guilds degree in drivin aerplanes ,
much riches and sucess guaranteed.

I couldn't agree more. Other courses should include "Trolling one oh one.

And use of a ban hammer.

Lustrum

Strumms wrote: »

FAA licenced dispatchers have no practical understanding of flight planning ? that's in interesting if somewhat arogant standpoint which I'd probably leave out of your interview. Do you know what training goes into obtaining this qualification and have you worked with people who have ? I don't know who I'd rather hire when I will in fact have the opertunity to do so next week.. A jumped up arogant pilot who knows nothing about being a flight dispatcher yet thinks he knows it all by virtue of his pilots licence ? Or the guy who is really interested and passionate in becoming a flight dispatcher, meets the hiring criteria and who if successful will use all the training we provide (to FAA approved standards). No brainer.

Apologies that that came out the wrong way.

I merely meant to point out the benefit of having experience in different areas of the industry, where perhaps pilots can bring a different dimension to some part of flight ops, and similarly someone with experience in flight ops can bring a different dimension to being a pilot.

muppet01

andy_g wrote: »

I couldn't agree more. Other courses should include "Trolling one oh one.

And use of a ban hammer.

Followed by a swift Foxtrot Oscar

Strumms

The pilot background will most likely give you an advantage in the classroom when processing and understanding what you are being taught. Not so much on the job. The training to become a flight dispatcher will give you a certain attitude and mindset, obviously to understand the needs of flight crews while taking into account the many variables, while adhering to the legalities and company SOP for various scenarios which you will need to follow above all. My only advise is not to go in there with the attitude of "since im a pilot it should be a cruise". Experience is a huge thing in this profession, you WILL start with zero. Go with an open mind, always be listening, always be learning.

neaideabh

Turbine wrote: »

How did you guys get on with interviews today?

Meh... wasn't happy with my interview!The environment got the better of my nerves! Tiny room against three people. They weren't impressed that I had no questions... (I was told by a hr consultant to not ask questions for the sake of asking a question!)
Did good (I think) in the maths test! Knew all the answers to their quickfire questions about the company. Thought I gave a good answer for my understanding of the role! But Just lost it when I was trying to tell them what skills it takes to be successful in the role!

But anyway, I live in hope!

Turbine

Anyone hear anything back from Ryanair yet?

Lustrum

Nothing yet, sure maybe no news is good news!

I wasn't offered the opportunity to ask any questions at the end so I've no idea when they might let us know anything either I'm afraid

neaideabh

They HR girl when she was showing to the door said they should get back to me by the end of last week.

Turbine

I was told they wouldn't know for 2 weeks, and that was 2 weeks ago. They said as well though that there might be a second round, so wait and see I guess...

Lustrum

Just got an email to say I've been unsuccessful.

Best of luck to whoever did get the job, hopefully it's as interesting as it sounded

omega man

Lustrum wrote: »

Just got an email to say I've been unsuccessful.

Best of luck to whoever did get the job, hopefully it's as interesting as it sounded

Hard luck lustrum. Don't think their planners are even based at the airport which for me would take away from the feeling of working at an airport. Having done a similar job at a different airline I can tell you it gets very monotonous after a while but I guess that can be said for any job. Still will be great experience in the industry for the successful candidates.

Turbine

Didn't get it either, absolutely gutted.:(

omega man wrote: »

Hard luck lustrum. Don't think their planners are even based at the airport which for me would take away from the feeling of working at an airport. Having done a similar job at a different airline I can tell you it gets very monotonous after a while but I guess that can be said for any job. Still will be great experience in the industry for the successful candidates.

It's based in their Head Office at Dublin Airport. I'm sure it's like any job and the novelty wears off after a while and becomes just another day job, but still would've loved to have gotten the opportunity to do it.

omega man

Turbine wrote: »

Didn't get it either, absolutely gutted.:(



It's based in their Head Office at Dublin Airport. I'm sure it's like any job and the novelty wears off after a while and becomes just another day job, but still would've loved to have gotten the opportunity to do it.

Sorry to hear that turbine. My apologies, for some reason I thought they were off site. Do you guys have a cpl/atpl etc by any chance? Sometimes they won't go that route for fear they'll hire someone who'll be gone in no time. On the other hand some airlines would look at it from a different view, experience/knowledge base etc. its probably impossible these days to get feedback from unsuccessful applications so its tough not knowing why you didn't get it.

Turbine

omega man wrote: »

Do you guys have a cpl/atpl etc by any chance? Sometimes they won't go that route for fear they'll hire someone who'll be gone in no time. On the other hand some airlines would look at it from a different view, experience/knowledge base etc. its probably impossible these days to get feedback from unsuccessful applications so its tough not knowing why you didn't get it.

No I don't have any flying experience apart from a couple of flight lessons. I know the person that got it though, and they don't have a pilot background either.

Lustrum

Well pass on my best wishes to whoever got the job.

I have a CPL/IR, so just to make myself feel good I'll say that's why I didn't get it! Funnily enough, another pilot had said to me to not put anything on my CV about flying because all employers know that if a flying job comes up you'll be gone in a flash.

To be honest, I wasn't too confident after the interview - not because of the interview itself, but one of the Ops guys was intently focusing on my flying and if I still wanted to do it. I just got a sense I wasn't what they were looking for.

But life goes on, sure I might see you at an interview the next time there's an Ops job going Turbine!

Strumms

Too bad you guys didn't get the positions. Hopefully next time you will be successful and the experience of going through the process and the interview will certainly stand to you anyway. I wouldn't think twice of calling up their HR department and asking for some feedback they can only say no.

As regards the pilot / dispatcher thing... yes I am guessing the employeer would have a concern that somone could be using the position as a stepping stone or a CV booster for a potential flying career in the future. It's an expensive proposition for anyone hiring for this type of job as it will cost a lot of money and time to train the successful candidate and they don't want to loose that investment and experience if you did deciede to jump ship sooner or later.

KoolKid

My nephew got one of those jobs. He heard back on Thursday .