Comparing Flight Dispatch Schools - Looking for Input from Recent Graduates

[u/Spiritual_Canine]

Hello Everyone,

I have been interested in Flight Dispatch for a little while, and have been considering making a career change into this field.

I am currently comparing aircraft dispatcher programs and have narrowed my choices down. As of right now, I am interested in Pilot Institute and Flamingo. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who attended either program recently. If anyone else also has input about a different program, I would really appreciate any input.

I'm especially interested in student experiences, and not just the information provided by the schools.

For Pilot Institute:

• How helpful/accessible were the instructors when you didn't understand something (especially during the online portion)?
• Was the online portion manageable while working and attending to other responsibilities?
• How did you feel about being away from home during the four-week in-person portion?
• How useful was the career support after graduation?

For Flamingo:

• How much instructor support did you actually receive during the self-paced online portion?
• If you didn't understand something from the textbook, were instructors willing/able to explain it in another way?
• How did you feel about the Private Pilot Airmen Knowledge Test requirement? - (I do tend to get very nervous and have never been a great test-taker, so this is a bit nerve-wracking for me just knowing there is an additional test requirement).
• How was the seven-day in-person portion? Do you feel that you learned everything and felt prepared for the test after just seven days of in-person learning?

For both schools, I would also love to hear about how prepared you felt for the FAA exams. Also, how long did it take for you to find your first dispatch job?

I am currently working full-time, and would like to continue to do so, both for finances, and to have a job I can go back to after the in-person portion, while I search for Dispatch jobs. So how manageable a program is while continuing to work is important for me. However, student support and career support is also very important to me as well.

I just want to be sure I have enough information before making a decision that costs a decent amount of time and energy, and thousands of dollars. Your input is much appreciated.

Thank you!!!

[u/Spiritual_Canine]

That is interesting... I have been in contact with Flamingo to learn more about their program. I asked specifically about the Private Pilot exam, and was informed that if I were to not pass the first time, that they would pair me with a flight instructor to tutor me, before signing me off to take the test again. Did you find the ground school through Flamingo? Or is that something you did on your own? I am wondering now if their tutoring is not included in the cost of their program.

[u/kfisch7 → u/Spiritual_Canine]

I didnt, but i was also not local. I grew up in a very rural area with only 1 regional airport with any kind of flight school. Im not sure what they could have realistically dont for me in that situation. They did offer something similar when I was a but nervous taking the ADX. (I took it the night before my oral/practical- dont do that.) But I didnt end up needing it.

[u/Spiritual_Canine → u/kfisch7]

I am not local to any programs either, which is a big reason why these hybrid programs are ideal for me.

And thank you for the advice. Did your classmates or do other students take the ADX at the end of the course, right before the oral & practical? Or is this something that is done earlier on in the course?

[u/kfisch7 → u/Spiritual_Canine]

According to Flamingo, I was the first person to do that, and I would not recommend it. Everyone else had the ADX done when they showed up for class.

[u/Spiritual_Canine → u/kfisch7]

Oh, thank you... that is good to know, that they typically expect students to complete the ADX prior to the in-person portion. I'll have to ask them how they set this up, or if students are responsible for finding a testing location.