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VOLUME 3 GENERAL TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 63 TITLE 14 CFR PART 65 AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER CERTIFICATION 

COURSES

Section 1 General Regulatory Requirements

3-4974 BACKGROUND. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 65 

contains requirements for certification of airmen other than pilots. Specifically, part 65 

subpart C, Aircraft Dispatchers, contains requirements for Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA)-approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses. These certification courses provide 

the training that satisfies the training requirements of part 65, § 65.57(b). Aircraft Dispatcher 

Certification Courses must meet the applicable requirements of part 65 subpart A (General) and

part 65 subpart C (Aircraft Dispatchers) and must provide certification training on the topics and 

subtopics required by part 65 appendix A. Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses are not 

certificated by the FAA. The FAA approves Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses on an 

individual basis. A list of FAA-approved part 65, Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses can 

be found on the FAA public Web site at:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs200/branches/afs22

0/courses/media/part65.pdf.

3-4975 GENERAL. For the purposes of this chapter, an FAA Flight Standards (AFS) field 

office, including a certificate-holding district office (CHDO), certificate management office 

(CMO), and Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), with approval and oversight responsibility 

of an FAA-approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course, will be referred to as the FAA 

approving office.

3-4976 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE.

A. FAA Resources. Guidance regarding the necessary FAA resources to approve, 

renew, and maintain oversight of an FAA-approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course is 

contained in Volume 3, Chapter 63, Section 2.

B. Approval, Renewal, and Oversight. Guidance specific to approval, renewal, and 

oversight of part 65, Aircraft Dispatcher Certifications Courses is contained in Volume 3, 

Chapter 63, Section 3.

C. Certification of Aircraft Dispatchers. Guidance specific to the certification of 

aircraft dispatchers is contained in Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10.

D. Designated Aircraft Dispatcher Examiners (DADE). Guidance specific to 

managing DADEs, and the duties and responsibilities of DADEs, is contained in Volume 13, 

Chapter 3.

E. English Language Requirements. The current edition of Advisory Circular 

(AC) 60-28, English Language Skill Standards Required by 14 CFR Parts 61, 63, and 65, 

contains requirements and guidelines related to English language skills for aircraft dispatchers 

certificated under part 65.

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F. Information for Course Operators. The current edition of AC 65-XX contains 

information for potential and existing Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operators.

3-4977 PART 65 SUBPART C REQUIREMENTS.

A. Requirement to Carry an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. In accordance with 

§ 65.51, a person acting as an aircraft dispatcher by exercising responsibility with the 

pilot in command (PIC) in the operational control of a civil aircraft involved in air commerce 

must carry on his or her person an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate issued by the FAA.

Certificated aircraft dispatchers are required for all air carriers who conduct 14 CFR part 121 

domestic and/or flag operations. Air carriers who conduct solely part 121 supplemental 

operations may also employ certificated aircraft dispatchers as flight followers with operational 

control authority. Each person who holds an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate must present it for 

inspection upon request of the Administrator, an authorized representative of the National 

Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), or of any Federal, State, or local Law Enforcement

Agency (LEA).

B. Eligibility for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. To be eligible for an Aircraft 

Dispatcher Certificate, an applicant must be at least 23 years of age and must be able to read, 

speak, write, and understand the English language. Applicants must meet all of the requirements 

of § 65.53.

C. Knowledge Requirements. An applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate must 

meet the knowledge requirements of § 65.55 and must pass the Aircraft Dispatcher Knowledge 

Test (ADX Knowledge Test).

D. Experience or Training Requirements. An applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher 

Certificate must meet the experience or training requirements of § 65.57. Details on these 

requirements are contained in Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10.

E. Skill Requirements. An applicant for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate must pass an 

Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Test given by the Administrator (or his/her designee). The Aircraft 

Dispatcher Practical Test must be based on any one type of large aircraft used in air carrier 

operations. The practical test must be based on the current edition of the Aircraft Dispatcher 

Practical Test Standards (PTS). The FAA publishes the Aircraft Dispatcher PTS, which is based

on the requirements of part 65 appendix A.

3-4978 AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER CERTIFICATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS.

A. Content and Minimum Hours. In accordance with § 65.61, an FAA-approved 

part 65, Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course must provide instruction in the areas of 

knowledge and topics listed in part 65 appendix A and provide a minimum of 200 hours of 

instruction.

1) Course Outline. An applicant for approval or renewal of an Aircraft Dispatcher 

Certification Course must submit an outline that describes the major topics and subtopics to be 

covered and the number of hours proposed for each. Subject requirements for an Aircraft 

Dispatcher Certification Course are contained in part 65 appendix A.

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2) Additional Subjects to Those Contained in Part 65 Appendix A. An Aircraft 

Dispatcher Certification Course operator may include additional subjects to those required by

part 65 appendix A. However, those additional subjects may not be included in the minimum of 

200 hours of instruction. Any hours of instruction devoted to subjects/topics not listed in part 65 

appendix A must be in addition to the minimum required 200 hours.

3) Student Credit for Previous Experience or Training. Section 65.61(d) contains 

a provision that allows a student of a part 65 Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course to 

substitute previous experience or training towards the minimum 200 hours of instruction.

A course operator may develop criteria as a means to grant a student credit based on the previous 

experience or training. The course operator may determine the number of hours of credit to grant 

a student based on an evaluation of the student’s particular previous experience and/or training. 

The basis for the credit and substitution criteria must be approved by the FAA as part of the

FAA-approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course outline describing the major topics and 

subtopics to be covered and the number of hours proposed for each (refer to § 65.61(b)). More 

detailed information about the student credit criteria is contained in Volume 3, Chapter 63, 

Section 3, and AC 65-XX.

B. Application, Duration, and Other General Requirements. In accordance with 

§ 65.63, application for original (initial) approval or for renewal of an FAA-approved Aircraft 

Dispatcher Certification Course must be:

• Made in writing to the FAA AFS field office responsible for approving the 

course,

• Accompanied by a description of the equipment and facilities to be used,

• Accompanied by a list of the instructors and their qualifications, and

• Made 30 days prior to the month in which the course approval expires (for an 

application for renewal only).

1) Duration. FAA approval of an Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course lasts until 

the last day of the 24th month from the month the approval was issued.

2) Cancellation or Withdrawal.

a) An FAA-approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator may 

request cancellation of its course approval. The request must be made in writing to the FAA 

approving office. FAA approval will be cancelled immediately upon request by the operator.

b) If the FAA withdraws approval of a course, the FAA approving office will 

notify the course operator in writing and provide the reason(s) for withdrawal, along with the 

date on which the withdrawal becomes effective. See Volume 3, Chapter 63, Section 3, for 

information regarding cancellation or withdrawal of a course approval.

3) Change in Ownership. If any change in ownership of the part 65, Aircraft 

Dispatcher Certification Course occurs, continued approval of the course is contingent upon the 

following:

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a) Within 10 days after the date that any change in ownership occurs, the course 

operator must apply for an appropriate amendment to the original approval or renewal that was 

based on the previous owner.

b) There is no change in facilities, personnel, or content of the approved Aircraft 

Dispatcher Certification Course involved.

4) Change in Name or Location. If any change in name or location of an Aircraft 

Dispatcher Certification Course occurs, continued approval is contingent upon the course 

operator notifying the FAA approving office in writing within 10 days after the date of the 

change. Detailed information regarding a change in course location is contained in Volume 3, 

Chapter 63, Sections 2 and 3, and AC 65-XX.

C. Training Facilities. In accordance with § 65.65, this order, and AC 65-XX, each

FAA-approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator or course applicant must have 

facilities, equipment, and materials adequate to provide each student the theoretical and practical 

aspects of aircraft dispatching. Students must be provided with adequate workspace, equipment,

and materials to complete intricate calculations related to aircraft performance and flight 

planning. The work space must provide each student with enough room to properly use all 

necessary aeronautical charts and reference materials. An Aircraft Dispatcher Certification 

Course training facility must be available for inspection by the Administrator at any time. In 

addition, each Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course training facility, including all training 

rooms and spaces used must:

• Be temperature controlled,

• Be lighted,

• Be ventilated,

• Be free from distraction, and

• Conform to all local building, sanitation, and health codes.

D. Personnel. In accordance with § 65.67, each Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course 

operator or applicant must meet the following personnel requirements:

1) Qualified Instructors. An Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator or 

applicant must have adequate qualified instructors to ensure that the student-to-instructor ratio 

does not exceed 25 to 1. At least one instructor must hold an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate and 

must be available to coordinate all training course instruction. The adequacy and suitability of an 

instructor’s qualifications is determined by the Dispatch Course Program Manager (DCPM).

2) Practical Dispatch Applications. The instructor who teaches the Practical 

Dispatch Applications area required by part 65 appendix A must hold an Aircraft Dispatcher 

Certificate.

E. Records. An Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator must maintain a 

record for each student. These records must be made available for inspection by the 

Administrator at any time.

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1) Student Log. Each student record must maintain a chronological log for each 

student that lists all instructors who provided the student with training, subjects covered, course 

examinations, and results.

2) Hours of Instruction. Each student record must include the total number of hours 

of instruction provided. Any credit for previous experience or training allowable by § 65.61(d) 

must be included in the record, along with the basis for the credit, and the number of hours 

credited.

3) Record Retention. Each Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator must 

maintain each student record for at least 3 years after each student’s graduation.

4) Annual Report. An Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Course operator must 

prepare an annual report for its records and for transmission to the FAA approving office. The 

course operator must transmit the annual report no later than January 31 of each year. Each 

annual report must contain the following information from the previous year:

• The names of all students who graduated, along with the results of their

Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses.

• The names of all of the students who failed or withdrew, along with the results 

of their Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses or the reasons for their 

withdrawal.

5) Written Statement of Graduation. An FAA-approved Aircraft Dispatcher 

Certification Course operator must provide each student who successfully completes the course 

with a written statement of graduation, which is valid for 90 days. The course operator may 

revalidate the statement of graduation for an additional 90 days in accordance with § 65.70(b).

Required contents of a statement of graduation are contained in Volume 3, Chapter 63, Section 3,

and AC 65-XX.

RESERVED. Paragraphs 3-4979 through 3-4998.

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