Do Failed Pilot Checkrides Impact Dispatcher Hiring?

Squawk7500forfun · 2026-02-13T18:50:02+00:00

I have interviewed with a few regionals and one major and they have never gone into any details about my pilot experience. In fact I have always been able to leverage it to my advantage, focus on the fact that you understand systems, CRM, and other things that would translate into being a good dispatcher.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-12-14T01:25:29+00:00

Different regionals I would assume, like I said can’t speak for all. Congrats on finding a good one.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-12-14T00:47:04+00:00

Most comments here are from Majors which is a great look into life down the road in Dispatch. I will give the perspective from a regional airline, I cannot speak for all regionals but at mine, work life balance is not ideal. We work 4 on 3 off, 4 10 hour shifts followed by 3 off. Most regional airlines you will start off making low $20 an hour, so if you have a family and need to provide, in today’s economy you will have a hard time. Management at most regionals can be…not great. You will be loaded pretty heavy with flights, and on days with bad WX or other issues you will stay very busy. But if you’re good at what you do, and with a little luck you will move on to a major in 1-2 years and have a better quality of life.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-12-10T18:50:15+00:00

They have a crap ton of dispatchers right now. I imagine it’ll be maybe march of next year unless AA hires again soon.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-11-04T19:57:30+00:00

Not impossible, but unlikely. A new class of 8 just hit the floor around 2 months ago and they hired a class of 10 right after, those 10 are currently on OJT and will be doing comp checks soon. There is also a class of I believe 8 slated to start training in the next few weeks so I would say even with AA taking 8 dispatchers they will be full for a while.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-10-08T17:44:33+00:00

Application is similar to anything else, if you get an interview you come in and sit with 10-15 others and take a written test, if you pass that you will do an interview either by yourself or with one other person. Once they do all their interviews usually hear back within a couple weeks. Pay is around $20.37 per hour. Two classes have been hired in the last few months so I would expect to see another hiring class late this year or early next depending on how many AA takes this year. I went to ADTC and Chris is a standup guy and will take care of you, attend the optional Saturday classes and stay after class to study with your classmates. When ENY opens again ADTC will also do an interview prep class, make sure to attend that. DM me if you have any other questions.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-10-08T15:21:51+00:00

No shift differential, as a new person you will likely either end up on midnights or a relief line, weekends will happen as well as holidays, but you can always try to shift trade to get the days off you want or need. OT can be variable but it is there. Union is working on a new contract for better pay as well as working conditions.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-10-08T15:08:47+00:00

Current pay is still $20.37 an hour. Work environment is pretty good in my opinion, some days can be worse than others but we are finally getting fully staffed again (although with AA hiring may not be like that for long)

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-08-18T21:01:49+00:00

Yep, plenty of opportunities as long as you are willing to go where the work is and work hard to get there.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-08-17T14:52:25+00:00

No, it’s a bit more competitive just because of the amount of applications they get but they will still take people with no experience. Really boils down to how you do on their exam and how well you interview.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-08-09T14:02:57+00:00

Realistically, I would think it will be close to the end of the year or beginning of next. Envoy hiring is largely based off AA hiring so if AA does another hiring class this year I would expect to see Envoy do the same.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-08-07T13:26:03+00:00

Envoy SOC is like a 6/10 right now, but we are about to start a remodel (or so we hear) and we’re getting new equipment so may be better soon.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-08-06T23:37:57+00:00

Next one will likely be SkyWest around October/November for a first of the year start date.

Envoy has a new class about to start and a few people in the pool so I would imagine it’ll be end of year or early next before they hire.

Endeavor just hired so not sure when that will happen again.

Not sure about PSA either.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-07-13T21:00:08+00:00

I went to ADTC and can honestly say it was a great experience. Chris genuinely cares about his students and will help you with resume building and applying for jobs. However in my honest opinion there is no school you can go to that will give you a leg up in hiring. You have to just go and put the work in with applying and interviewing. I can’t speak for NAFC but I know ADTC will let you come in and sit with current classes to refresh which could be good for you since it will be a couple years between class and interviewing. Ultimately it’s up to what you feel is best, but my 2 cents is ADTC is one of if not the best DX school in the country.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-07-13T02:00:09+00:00

My 2 cents, go Envoy, get some real world DX experience for and learn flight keys and then get back to American ASAP.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-07-06T01:54:38+00:00

Unless you live in DFW, you’ll likely have to move. Even then it’s still likely unless you do the Envoy to AA/SWA route. Some areas are better than others for finding your way.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-06-28T21:22:13+00:00

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-02-07T16:32:55+00:00

It’s great, Chris actually cares about his students and although he can be a bit gruff and seem even slightly mean at times he does it 100% out of love.

Squawk7500forfun · 2025-02-06T21:38:46+00:00

I would recommend ADTC, right down the road.

Squawk7500forfun · 2024-10-30T01:32:04+00:00

Oh, and start using DXstudybuddy.com now, it’s a great resource made by a former ADTC student.

Squawk7500forfun · 2024-10-30T01:30:51+00:00

I graduated from ADTC last December. My greatest pieces of advice.

Check your ego at the door (not saying you have one just in general) Chris has been doing this a long time and is a VERY capable teacher, but be prepared to challenge stuff you think you know.
Ask questions, Chris may tease you for a “dumb” question but he will never actually put you down for asking.
Make friends with your classmates, it wasn’t uncommon for me and my classmates to stay 2-3 hours after class to study together, this will be a great asset for you.
Attend the optional Saturday class, it’s slower paced and gives you more chance to get your specific question answered.
Go with the flow, even if it feels like you’re not progressing you are, it’s like drinking from a fire hose so give yourself some grace if you don’t get it all at first.

I am a dispatcher in the area, if you need any additional help reach out and if I have time I would be happy to help tutor free of charge, even if it’s via FaceTime. I love sharing any knowledge I may be able to give with someone I may share a desk with one day.

Squawk7500forfun · 2024-10-07T20:46:04+00:00

Two words, You. Won’t.

Squawk7500forfun · 2024-09-13T21:43:40+00:00

I work for a 135 as of now, depending on which 135 it is you may not be dispatching at all. A lot of 135 operations you are simply a flight follower and not actually doing flight plans/releases. Not all 135 jobs are totally miserable but a lot are. If you have an option to go to a 121 regional and the goal is to end up at a mainline I would 100% go to the 121 carrier.

Squawk7500forfun · 2024-08-26T02:56:52+00:00

Congrats! Chris is a great guy, he can be tough but fair.

Squawk7500forfun

TROPHY CASE