AGS offers a FAA approved Distance Learning Course (DLC) in addition to our standard 13 weekend program. The DLC is designed so that you may complete the first 10 weekends (152 hours) of our 13 weekend ground school at your own pace. You have 1 year to complete course requirements. 


Upon completion of the 9 AGS "open book" exams at our website; the PowerPoint presentations & quizzes; and the FAA Private Pilot & Aircraft Dispatcher Computer Knowledge exams, you will then attend a 6 day residency study program at our global campus located at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, OH; or you may attend the last 3 weekends of an on-going 13 weekend program, same location. 


COURSE FEES


The DLC fee is $2595 & includes books & materials. The two FAA computer exam fees are $150.00 each. The FAA examiner fee is $375.00 due at the time of your FAA checkride (final exam). You may register with a non-refundable $500 deposit at which time we will forward your study materials, user name, and password. The balance ($2095) is due 8 days prior to class & can be paid with cash, check, money order, wire transfer, Western Union, MasterCard, Visa, or Travelers Checks. You are responsible for travel expenses, meals, and hotel. 


*FedEx employees may attend DLC classes in Cincinnati at the same group rate arranged for classes in Memphis. A photocopy of your airline ID will be required. The classes in Memphis are open to the public and are 5 non-consecutive weekends over a period of 3 months.


CLASS SCHEDULE 


The 6-day DLC classes are held every 2 months. Be advised that our program is popular and classes fill quickly. 


FAA REQUIREMENTS 


There are several milestones in your training for which we provide all study materials:



  • 1st, the FAA Private Pilot multiple choice computer knowledge exam. The dispatcher must be knowledgeable on the same fundamentals as a pilot. We provide an AGS self-study manual for this exam. If you are a licensed pilot, you will not be required to take this exam again. The FAA computer exams are available nationwide and at our corporate office, Flamingo Air at Lunken Airport, is a LaserGrade testing site for the FAA.

  • 2nd, the FAA Aircraft Dispatcher multiple choice computer knowledge exam. We provide an AGS self-study manual for this exam.

  • 3rd, successful completion of the first 9 open-book AGS multiple choice exams at our website. A successful score on the FAA Private Pilot and Dispatcher exams combined with the AGS open-book exams is proof that you have studied and learned the basic concepts and are ready for the intense 6 days of residency study. Assistance with the Private Pilot exam is available through Aviation Seminars at 800-257-9444 if you need help, however most of our students successfully self-study for this exam. They teach weekend test prep courses nationwide for this exam. Be advised the FAA computer knowledge exams are the most difficult part of the course!

  • 4th, completion of the PowerPoint presentations and quizzes available on line.

  • 5th, completion of the mandatory six days of residency training.

  • 6th, completion of the final exam: an oral/practical exam with an FAA examiner within 90 days of graduation. Your instructor will schedule this exam at a time convenient to both you and the Examiner. 

FAA computer testing is available nationwide from LaserGrade at 800-211-2753, or CATS at 800-947-4228. The cost is $150 per exam. You are responsible for the cost of these exams. Practice exams are available on the internet at: www.faatest.com, www.webexams.com, www.freefaatestsprep.com, or http://sportys.com/faatest/. If you do not find a practice dispatcher exam, take the Airline Transport Pilot, Part 121 (ATP) exam for practice. 


WORKLOAD


Be advised that the materials provided will require many hours of reading & study. Dedication on your part will be needed to complete the requirements. Again, this is an intense course - procrastination is your worst enemy! You should enroll now to receive the study materials to get started with your career.


TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (TAP)


ASTAR, DHL, FedEx, ABX, UPS employees, etc applying via a TAP program must submit company forms to your supervisor prior to the start of class for reimbursement at the completion of the program.


PREREQUISITES


No prior aviation experience is required to enroll in our Distance Learning Course or our standard 13 weekend program, however if you have a private pilot license, you will have seen much of the material in previous training programs. 


The new materials will be turbojet systems, performance charts, airline Operations Specifications, approach & instrument charts, high altitude flight planning, and Federal Aviation Regulations Part 121. This is a Private and Instrument Pilot ground school with a Boeing 737-300 transport. A simple high school math level involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are required as well as basic typing/computer skills. You must be 21 years of age to enroll. 


HOUSING


The discounted lodging rates for our students $57 per night. Details when you register. 


BOOKS & MATERIALS


The following training materials are mailed to you as part of your training package (& are yours to keep for your personal library): Rod Machado Private Pilot Manual; Jeppesen flight computer; AGS Private Pilot test prep manual; AGS ATP/Dispatcher test prep manual; plotter; AGS Operations Manual (3-ring); and International Time Wheel. Bring a simple pocket calculator to class.


THE FAA ORAL / PRACTICAL EXAM


Following training, you are required to sit for a final exam consisting of a oral/practical flight plan exercise with a turbojet from city A to city B. You have approximately 4 hours to complete the flight planning exercise followed by a 2 hour oral examination with the FAA Examiner on staff. 


Priority for testing following completion of the residency program is given to those students the farthest. Local students are scheduled last. You may schedule your final exam with us when you register to help with your travel arrangements.


ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION


Starting salaries are approximately $25,000 - $30,000 per year in the following locations: Cincinnati & Columbus, OH; Livermore, CA; Long Island, NY; and Houston, TX. 


*Delta, United, FedEx, & Southwest Airlines currently top out at $100,000 per year for senior dispatchers. 2 years experience at a smaller air carrier is required before you can apply to a major airline. Delta and Southwest currently hire only from within the airline. 


*Comair, the Delta connection headquartered in Cincinnati, offered a Station Manager position at $30,000/yr to an AGS grad with prior aviation experience as a flight attendant & private pilot. Sunworld in Cincinnati promoted an AGS dispatcher grad to a B727 flight engineer position after 2 years in dispatch. He had 300 hours of flight time; a commercial, instrument, & multi-engine ticket. This is not the first time a dispatcher has moved into the cockpit at an air carrier! 


While we cannot guarantee you a job, we will make every effort to assist you in your job search!  We also provide you with a complete directory of over 600 aviation employers worldwide when you register and we update our Job Opportunities page for our grads nightly! In addition, grads will receive a complimentary copy of the "Airline Career and Interview Manual" to assist in preparing for the interview. Bring a resume with you to class as we frequently have airline personnel visit during class to conduct interviews.  


AIRLINE GROUND SCHOOLS (AGS)


AGS has been in the airline training business for 43 years & has graduated over 59,000 students in various programs. All of our instructors are active or retired airline dispatchers and pilots with "real world" experience. 


For more information on Dispatcher careers, visit www.dispatcher.org 


We are available to meet with you in our offices to discuss your career goals. Call for an appointment.