Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria, FLIDAN, has lamented their poor work conditions, and urged airlines to ensure fairness in salary structures.
They also demanded that flight dispatchers’ type-ratings be stamped on their licenses to enhance accountability and safety, reports Vanguard.
President of FLIDAN, Mr Daniel Ayuba, spoke at the FLIDAN Annual Conference, themed: ‘Flight Dispatchers – the Ground Crew Behind Safe and Successful Flights,’ held in Lagos.
Ayuba said there must be policies ensuring consistent job placements and on-the-job training opportunities for new graduates.
He said: “Airlines must foster transparency and fairness in salary structures, empowering flight dispatchers with the respect and compensation they deserve. Less than two months ago, we lost a dedicated flight dispatcher who collapsed and died on the tarmac, an avoidable tragedy that highlights the cost of neglect. Others remain hospitalised due to overwork and poor conditions. How many more must suffer before change is effected?
“Flight dispatchers are the unseen pilots, commanding operations from the ground to ensure safety in the skies. Yet, we are overworked, undervalued and underpaid. This cannot continue. We must foster a culture that values and protects the professionals who underpin the safety of every passenger flight. Together, let us advocate for change, align with international standards, and ensure that Flight Dispatchers receive the recognition, respect, and resources they deserve.
“In an industry where safety is paramount, the pivotal role of flight dispatchers often goes unnoticed, yet we stand at the very heart of aviation safety and efficiency. To understand our significance, let us reflect on the rigorous groundwork that ensures a safe flight. From pre-flight planning assessing airworthiness, ensuring that an aircraft is fit to fly, to crew management, weight and balance checks, airport evaluations, and, of course, weather analysis, every task demands precision.
“Weather, for instance, is like a signpost in the sky. Despite not stepping outside to observe it, dispatchers rely on advanced systems to predict and prepare for an 18-hour journey with unerring accuracy. Fuel management, what I term life in the tanks —requires detailed calculations to account for every phase of flight. These elements illustrate just how critical our work is. Dispatchers ensure that flights are ready to depart with optimal safety even before the flight crew arrives.
“Despite the indispensable nature of our work, there remain glaring safety and employment issues. Under NCAR 8.4.1.16, pilots are restricted to operating two types of aircraft to ensure safety. However, Flight Dispatchers, shockingly, can be tasked with dispatching multiple aircraft types not stamped on their licenses. This glaring inconsistency undermines safety, as familiarity with specific aircraft types is essential for both pilots and dispatchers alike. We implore regulatory bodies to rectify this disparity by reinstating type-ratings on dispatchers’ licenses.
“Furthermore, of the approximately 1,500 licensed Flight Dispatchers in Nigeria, fewer than 500 are employed. Alarmingly, many licenses have lapsed due to lack of opportunities within five years of issuance, rendering these individuals ineligible to work. Those fortunate enough to find employment face exploitative conditions.”
On salary disparity between pilots and flight dispatchers, he said: “while both roles demand high-level expertise and share significant safety responsibilities, the disparity in remuneration is staggering. Pilots, justifiably, earn substantial pay that reflects their role’s importance. Additionally, pilots often share salary information openly among themselves, which strengthens their bargaining power. They approach negotiations with unified expectations, knowing that their colleagues will not settle for less.
“In stark contrast, flight dispatchers are subjected to manipulation. Airlines deliberately discourage transparency, urging individual dispatchers to conceal their salaries from one another. This practice not only fosters disunity among dispatchers but also weakens their collective bargaining power. It is an exploitative tactic that must be condemned. We, too, deserve salaries that reflect our extensive training and critical responsibilities.”
