Plain English Meaning

A trained ground-based professional at an airline who plans your flight with you, watches it the whole time you are in the air, and has equal say with the captain over whether the flight goes, where it goes, and when it turns back.

Full Definition

A certificated airline employee who shares operational control of a flight with the pilot in command. The dispatcher plans the flight, analyzes weather and route conditions, calculates fuel requirements, files the flight plan, monitors the flight in progress, and has joint authority with the captain to delay, divert, or cancel a flight.

Context Anchor

Seen in commercial airline operations, especially when deciding whether weather, alternate airports, and required minimums allow a flight to be released.