Stressful path to the career of a chief flight coordinator. But still...

Added: 11/21/2005

Are you looking for an exciting job? Do you like working around airplanes and do not intend to pursue a flying career? Apply for a position of a flight coordinator. Working under pressure in a demanding, highly stressful environment with frequent changes gives splendid opportunities to show your excellent phone skills, verbal and written communication skills, an ability to interact effectively as a team member and willingness to work any shift.

To begin with, let us define flight coordinator. It is an employee of an airline, responsible for arranging air travels for passengers, paying air-inclusive fares.

This is a challenging career position. Flight coordinators guarantee the planes are in the right place at the right time to deal with customers' needs, being partly strategists, partly problem-solvers. A round-the-clock flight coordination center is in the center of an airline activity, coordinating last-minute shipments, rerouting airplanes to make up for weather changes. Flight coordinators are in a frequent contact with pilots, providing them with the latest weather information, using computerized weather terminals, let alone a high level of a customer contact. They follow flights with the help of a state-of-the-art tracking system that updates flight locations every sixty seconds.

A forty hour workweek with a shift work and flexible hours is standard. A flight coordinator frequently works under pressure, especially when the weather is bad, or aircrafts have mechanical problems. He must take rapid decisions, concerning safety, regulations and an economy of operations; handle multiple customer requests simultaneously and accurately; respond quickly and effectively during a crisis, prioritizing time and resources; work independently with a limited assistance. This employee is surrounded by people, printers, telephones and intercom systems in a noisy, busy atmosphere.

All flight coordinators report to a chief fight coordinator. The position requires at least two years of work as a flight coordinator, an FAA dispatch license and an experience in System Operations Control and is still more stressful and demanding.

The chief flight coordinator makes sure flights are safely and efficiently planned and monitored in compliance with the Company Operations Manual and established standards. He analyzes the weather systems to ensure that the flights are efficiently planned, monitors alternate fuel considerations and establishes work schedules to provide an adequate manpower. An evaluation of flight coordinators, as it pertains to a job performance and ensures that all flight coordination personnel receive a proper training, is another duty of the Chief flight coordinator.

The chief flight coordinator is responsible for the maintenance of Flight Coordinators Operating Manual and for the direct contact with the manager and Systems Operations Control. The chief flight coordinator guarantees that the coordination center is equipped with appropriate technical systems.

Regarding all the above facts, the chief flight coordinator must possess a strong knowledge, concerning company policies and manuals. He must be able to handle multiple tasks and work in a fast-paced environment, as well as demonstrate a strong leadership, organizational and customer service skills. Good communication skills are vital for the position, let alone a problem solving and attention to every detail. The chief flight coordinator must be adept at managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

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