FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I have no experience in aviation or dispatch. Can I still join the course?
Of course! This course is all you need to get started on your Flight Dispatcher career. We teach the course as if you are completely new to aviation.
I am an international student who does not possess a Canadian visa and I am not from a country that allows visa on arrival. Can I still attend the course?
Yes, you are more than welcome to attend the course. However, it is quite challenging for international students to attend our course since we are a short-term private course. For more details, please read here => International Students
Is a Flight Dispatcher the same as an Air Traffic Controller?
A Flight Dispatcher and an Air Traffic Controller are both occupations in the aviation industry but they are very different roles.
Dispatchers specifically work for an airline and support pilots in all aspects of their flight from A to B. They plan the flight with regards to routing, fuel, weight and balance, weather etc. If there are any issues with maintenance, passengers, security, ground support staff; dispatchers assist pilots with that.
An Air Traffic Controller works for a government agency (Nav Canada) and simply makes sure that aircraft are separated from each other. An Air Traffic Controller does not work for any airline specifically. While flying, aircraft talk to different Air Traffic Controllers, who manage different airspaces. ATC make sure each aircraft is kept away from other aircraft in their vicinity. Think of them like a police officer at an intersection who guides you through. You have to apply to Nav Canada to become an Air Traffic Controller.
I am attending from out of town. How long should I arrange my stay for?
We typically recommend that you arrive here 1-2 days prior to the course. After the course, you can leave at your own convenience. If you plan on writing the exams in Toronto, you can give yourself a few days to prepare and attempt the exams.
Read here for more details on Accommodation.
I have some of the textbooks already. Can I bring them and only purchase part of the supplies?
Yes, that is perfectly fine.
We can offer you a refund if you have any of the following textbooks or supplies. The refund will be at the cost at which we purchase them, which is at a discounted rate since we buy them in bulk.
The Course manuals and Exams are built in-house by us and are tailored to the course structure; you cannot purchase them elsewhere.
Only the following books or supplies are eligible for a refund, at the rates listed below:
From The Ground Up – $65
Canadian Aviation Weather – $35
Aeronautical Information Manual – $10
E6B Calculator – $15
For accounting purposes, you will need to pay the full supplies fee and we will then reimburse you back the appropriate amount. Please inform us when you register.
Will your 7 day course really be enough to become a Flight Dispatcher?
This 7-day course is all you need to get started on your Flight Dispatcher career and get qualified to apply to an airline. However, there is still a fair amount of learning that you will do after the course.
Our course is meant to get you through Part 1 – Generic portion of the Dispatcher Licence. This means the basic knowledge you need to become a Flight Dispatcher. This is tested through the 2 Transport Canada Examinations.
After you finish the Generic portion, you will be trained for Part 2 – Specific training, which is done by the Canadian airline that hires you. This can be anywhere from 4-12 weeks, depending on the airline.
That is when your complete training will be done. Please read here for more details about the Canadian Flight Dispatcher Licencing Process.
Will I be ready to attempt the Transport Canada Examinations immediately after your 7-day course?
Unless you have some previous experience in aviation, we suggest you do some review of the course material and practice exams prior to attempting the TC exam. You do learn a fair amount of material during the 7-day course, so it is important that you do some self-study to solidify your knowledge
Most of our students attempt the exam within 1-2 weeks after completing the course. This is sufficient to review the material, while at the same time having the fresh knowledge gained during the course.
Of course, every student is different, so we ask you to use your own discretion. Our best advice is to not wait too long!
What is the TC Exam pass rate of your students?
The pass rate is nearly always 100%. We have been teaching this course for 20+ years, we so we prepare you quite well for the Transport Canada Examinations. Students do fail occasionally, and that’s usually because they write the exams in a rush or make a few silly mistakes. They pass the next time around easily, after we do some review, if needed.
I have heard of other courses in Canada and other countries (United Arab Emirates, USA) being much longer.
How is it that your Canadian course is so short?
For Foreign Dispatch Licences, the licencing process is quite different. Many other countries require your training institute to complete most of your licencing. In Canada, however, most of your training is done by the airline that hires you. You simply need to possess Generic (basic) knowledge prior to applying to the airline. This is done through the Transport Canada Flight Dispatcher Examinations – Meteorology and Flight Operations respectively. Read more about the Canadian Flight Dispatcher Licencing Process.
When comparing us to other longer Canadian courses, keep in mind that their material and classes are spread out. The also teach some material that is not directly related to Flight Dispatch, but gives you information about other operations and business-related material. While this may be helpful, a lot of that can be learnt in the job environment anyway and it doesn’t offer much advantage if it means sacrificing a longer time vs 1 week for our course. Note that our course cost is much more economical as well.
Ultimately, in Canada, your only qualification to apply to a Canadian airline as a Flight dispatcher is to have successfully passed the Transport Canada Examinations and possess a Radio Operator’s Certificate. We keep it simple and focus on that, teaching you the basics. The airline where you work after will provide the remainder of your airline-specific-oriented training, which can last anywhere from 1-3 months.
While we are a shorter course, we do spend a lot of time each day in class and you will have some homework as well, so it is fairly condensed.
Our course is also meant for people who might not be able to commit to a longer course, due to time constraints such as travel or work. Often, students attend from out of town, so this makes it somewhat easier on their schedule too. Our instructors are also working professionals with other full-time jobs, so this suits their schedule as well.
We have been teaching this course for over 20 years and have had hundreds of students go through our program successfully. Our goal is to keep things simple and organized. We know what works and what doesn’t and this has sealed a stellar reputation for us across the Canadian aviation industry.
To be completely honest, once you get the basic qualifications, what sets you apart from others is your personality, how you can sell yourself and any kind of experience in the field.
I have a Dispatcher Licence from a foreign country. Is there a conversion process to obtain the Canadian Flight Dispatcher Licence?
Unfortunately, there is no such conversion process. You will have to do the Transport Canada Examinations just like everyone else.
The good news is that you will be familiar with most of the knowledge anyway, with a few Canadian aviation differences. Thus, it will be much easier for you to grasp the knowledge.
Think of it like a Driver’s Licence. Usually if you move to a new country, you will need to do the Driving Licence test of that country. However, you still know how to drive, so the learning process will be much easier.
Can I use this licence to work in other countries?
No, this course and licence is for Canadian airlines only.
However, the knowledge that you gain from this course will still apply to other countries and licences, as aviation is similar across the world.
Think of it like a Driver’s Licence. You need a different one for different countries, but you still know how to drive.
Are you a “certified” or “accredited” course?
There is no certification requirement for Canadian Dispatch courses. You can actually self-study and go write the TC Exams directly.
However, they material is quite hard to study by yourself, which is why we organize and simplify it for you.
We’ve been teaching this course for over 25 years, so we know what works in order to help you pass the TC Exams and become knowledgeable and competent flight dispatchers.
What is the average salary and benefits of a Flight Dispatcher?
The average salary at most Canadian regional airlines is $45000 per year and increases by 2-5% each year. You are also given extensive travel and medical benefits.
The salary tops out at $120000 annually, once you are well established at a major airline.
Am I eligible for OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Plan)? Do I get a T2202A Tuition Receipt for my tuition tax credits?
Neither is an option, since we are not an Ontario college or university.
Even though you can’t claim a tax credit, you do end up saving a lot more because we avoid a lot of the administration costs associated with a college/university program. For example, our course fee used to be $2500 + tax, when this course was offered at York University until 2016.
You will be provided a normal course receipt prior to the course, once your complete fee is paid.
I have taken the course already. Can I re-attend in the future?
We rarely get the request of having someone re-attend the course.
You are welcome to join the subsequent course (within 6 months of your original course) if you have given the Transport Canada exams an earnest attempt and are still having trouble. We do require you to give us early notice of your intentions to ensure that there is space available. Note that this is on a case-by-case basis and is subject to approval. There may be an administrative cost for reattending.
If you would simply want to attend further in the future as a refresher, we can offer you a seat at a 50% discount, again on a space available basis.
FLIGHT DISPATCH TRAINING - CANADA 