Date: 201511
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Dispatcher
Reporter qualification: Dispatch Dispatcher
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload; Distraction
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Dispatch
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Work Refused
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Staffing; Weather
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: I notified dispatch supervisor that I needed assistance with workload due to weather and air traffic delays. I never received any assistance. I was informed that they had asked all the dispatchers and no one else was able to take any additional flights. Shortly after notifying the managers of my workload issues; two additional maintenance ferry flights were assigned to my desk. When the Operations Coordinator walked over to notify me of the flights; I informed him I was not going to be able to get to them due to workload. When I was unable to get the release completed; the Captain began to call me; which added to my already busy desk. I explained the situation and sent the phone call up to the dispatch supervisors. The Captain continued to call asking questions as to when I would be able to get to it. When I explained it could be a couple of hours; he then proceeded to call the Chief Pilot. The Chief Pilot then called my desk directly and I was forced to explain my situation all over again. During this time; I had diversions and I ended up making a [computer] entry error. The incorrect entry also caused additional work/calls to my already saturated work load. I had to enlist the help of two other dispatchers to assist on unraveling the [computer] fiasco. In addition the pilots' continuous calling; I also had one of the maintenance managers come down to my desk to inquire about the flight.By managing my own workload and spacing releases out; I actually caused more unnecessary calls and work. To stop all the harassing phone calls and desk visits; I decided stop everything I was doing to accommodate [one of the maintenance ferry flights]. [Another] dispatcher had to take all of my calls while I was attending to this flight. Additionally; there was another maintenance ferry flight (for a total of 3) that had been assigned earlier in the day. I never completed this release. I delayed the flight and it was eventually cancelled. The dispatch supervisors never provided any further assistance during the shift other than to say 'get to it when you can'.These maintenance ferry flights should never have been assigned to already saturated dispatch desk; especially not after the dispatcher notified the supervisors.The event occurred because the dispatch supervisors were unable to find assistance for my desk.A number of things could have been done to help out with the workload.1. Call in over time2. Ask international dispatchers to help assist with flightsIn addition to addressing the workload problems; procedures need to be set for when no assistance can be provided.3. Do not assign maintenance ferry flights to already saturated desks4. Do not plan maintenance ferry flights during weather events5. When releases are not getting completed due to work load issues; Chief Pilots should be contacting [Shift] Managers instead of the dispatcher to help alleviate redundancy in phone calls.




Synopsis: An air carrier Dispatcher reported a severe workload condition when a request for assistance went unheeded; resulting in more distractions and additional impact to other departments and flights.