FO-01 · Flight Dispatch & Release · Airlines Process Wiki

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Process Flow Diagram (BPMN)

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L4 Process Steps

Step	Step Name	Role / Swim Lane	System	Input	Output	KPI	Dec?	Exc?
Phase 1 1.1	Retrieve active flight plan from flight planning system	Airline Dispatcher	NAVBLUE	Scheduled departure, route database, aircraft tail assignment	Draft Operational Flight Plan (OFP) with route, altitude, and estimated fuel	Flight plan available ≥60 min before STD; plan accuracy within ±2% of actual fuel burn	N	N
1.2	Pull METAR, TAF, SIGMET and PIREP weather data	Airline Dispatcher	Honeywell GoDirect Weather	Departure, destination, and alternate ICAO codes; planned departure time	Consolidated weather package including en-route SIGMET and PIREP overlays	Weather package delivered ≤45 min before STD; SIGMET currency ≤6 hrs	N	N
1.3	Assess weather at origin, destination and alternate	Airline Dispatcher	Honeywell GoDirect Weather	Weather package, airline published operating minima, alternate requirements	Weather go/no-go recommendation with alternate aerodrome confirmed	Destination forecast visibility and ceiling at or above published CAT I/II/III minima at ETA	Y	Y
1.4	Calculate fuel uplift including contingency and alternate	Airline Dispatcher	NAVBLUE	Route fuel burn, wind data, alternate distance, company fuel policy, EDCT delay estimate	Minimum regulatory fuel figure plus discretionary uplift recommendation	Planned fuel ≥ FAR 121.645 / ICAO Annex 6 minimum (trip + 5% contingency + alternate + 30 min final reserve); fuel overage ≤3% of trip fuel	Y	Y
Phase 2 2.1	File IFR flight plan with ATC via AFTN/SITA	Airline Dispatcher	NAVBLUE + SITA ACARS / Telex	Finalized OFP route, departure time, aircraft type and registration, SELCAL	Filed FPL message (ICAO format) acknowledged by ATC; filing receipt stored	Flight plan filed ≥30 min before EOBT; filing acknowledgment received ≤5 min	N	Y
2.2	Confirm ATC slot/EDCT and assess crew duty impact	Airline Dispatcher	NAVBLUE + FAA TFMS / EUROCONTROL NMOC	Filed FPL, GDP/AFP program data, crew duty time records from Jeppesen Crew Management	Confirmed CTOT/EDCT, updated STD, crew duty compliance confirmation	EDCT compliance rate ≥98%; crew duty limit breach rate <0.5% of dispatched flights	Y	Y
2.3	Select and file alternate aerodrome with fuel coverage	Airline Dispatcher	NAVBLUE	Destination TAF, alternate airport ops and NOTAM status, fuel range envelope	Filed alternate ICAO code with calculated alternate fuel and regulatory compliance confirmed	Alternate meets FAR 121.619 one-hour TAF forecast above alternate minima at ETA ±1 hr	Y	Y
Phase 3 3.1	Check aircraft airworthiness status in MRO system	Airline Dispatcher / Maintenance Controller	AMOS by Swiss AviationSoftware	Tail number, scheduled departure, inbound tech log entries	Airworthiness confirmation or open deferred defect list with MEL references	Aircraft status confirmed ≥90 min before STD; zero open airworthiness directives beyond MEL tolerance	Y	Y
3.2	Review MEL and CDL items for dispatch acceptability	Airline Dispatcher / Maintenance Controller	AMOS by Swiss AviationSoftware + Boeing Toolbox	Open deferred defects, current MEL/CDL revision, route and operating conditions	MEL dispatch determination (go/no-go) with any operational restrictions documented	MEL review completed ≤60 min before STD; zero dispatches with expired MEL interval items	Y	Y
3.3	Verify V-speeds and performance for current configuration	Airline Dispatcher	Jeppesen FliteDeck Performance	Aircraft weight, MEL-driven configuration restrictions, runway condition report (SNOWTAM/RCR)	Confirmed V1/VR/V2, flap setting, derate selection, and balanced field length	Performance calculations completed ≤45 min before STD; all V-speeds within aircraft flight manual limits	N	Y
Phase 4 4.1	Receive preliminary load figures from load control	Airline Dispatcher	Amadeus Altéa PSS (Load Control module)	Booked passenger count, checked baggage manifest, cargo booking, crew count	Preliminary Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW) and estimated Takeoff Weight (TOW)	Preliminary load sheet received ≥60 min before STD; ZFW variance from final ≤500 lbs	N	Y
4.2	Calculate final takeoff weight and CG envelope	Load Controller	Amadeus Altéa PSS (Load Control module)	Final passenger count, actual baggage weights by zone, hold cargo manifest, ballast	Final load sheet with confirmed TOW, ZFW, CG position as percentage of MAC	CG within ±2% MAC of certified envelope limits; TOW ≤ MTOW; load sheet issued ≤40 min before STD	Y	Y
4.3	Perform runway-limited weight and obstacle clearance check	Airline Dispatcher	Jeppesen FliteDeck Performance	Final TOW, runway conditions, OAT, pressure altitude, obstacle departure procedure	Confirmed Regulated Takeoff Weight (RTOW), required field length, net takeoff flight path	Net takeoff flight path clears obstacles by ≥35 ft per FAR 121.189; RTOW ≥ actual TOW	Y	Y
Phase 5 5.1	Generate Operational Flight Plan and dispatch release	Airline Dispatcher	NAVBLUE	Final fuel uplift, confirmed load sheet, MEL notes, weather package, NOTAM summary	Completed Operational Flight Plan (OFP) and unsigned Dispatch Release document	OFP issued ≥30 min before EOBT; NOTAM safety-critical items highlighted in release	N	N
5.2	Brief Captain on route, weather, NOTAMs and MEL status	Airline Dispatcher	SITA ACARS / Telex (or face-to-face at hub)	OFP, weather package, NOTAM summary, MEL items, EDCT/CTOT, fuel figure	Completed crew briefing record with dispatcher and captain acknowledgement	Crew briefing completed ≥20 min before EOBT; briefing acknowledgment logged in dispatch system	N	Y
5.3	Captain reviews and co-signs Dispatch Release (FAR 121.663)	Captain (PIC)	SITA ACARS (electronic signature) or paper release	Dispatch Release document, OFP, fuel order, weather and NOTAM briefing package	Dual-signed Dispatch Release (dispatcher + captain) confirming joint airworthiness decision	Release co-signed ≤15 min before EOBT; 100% of departures have dual-signed release on file	Y	Y
5.4	Issue final dispatch release and transmit to crew	Airline Dispatcher	NAVBLUE + SITA ACARS	Co-signed Dispatch Release, confirmed fuel order, updated departure time	Transmitted final release; flight authorized to depart; release archived in dispatch system	Release transmitted ≥10 min before EOBT; 100% compliance; ACARS delivery confirmation within 2 min	N	Y
Phase 6 6.1	Monitor departure, pushback and initial climb confirmation	Airline Dispatcher	SITA Airport Management System (AMS)	ATC off-blocks clearance, pushback notification from ramp, ACARS OUT message	Confirmed actual off-blocks time (AOBT); flight tracker status updated to airborne	AOBT recorded within 2 min of actual event; D0 (on-time departure) target ≥78%	N	N
6.2	Track flight en-route via ACARS position reports	Airline Dispatcher	SITA ACARS + NAVBLUE	Automatic ACARS position reports (15-min intervals), ATC radar handoff confirmations	Updated ETA, fuel-remaining trend, en-route deviation log, revised destination weather check	Position report gap ≤15 min; fuel remaining vs. plan within ±500 lbs at each waypoint	Y	Y
6.3	Initiate diversion or emergency response if required	Airline Dispatcher / SOC Controller	NAVBLUE + SITA AMS + Jeppesen FliteDeck	In-flight emergency notification, medical diversion request, fuel emergency, weather deterioration below minima	Diversion airport selected with fuel coverage confirmed; ATC coordination initiated; ground support activated at diversion airport	Diversion decision communicated to crew ≤5 min from trigger event; ground support activated ≤15 min before ETA at diversion	Y	Y

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Process Attributes

Identification

Process IDFO-01

L1 DomainFlight Operations

L2 ProcessFlight Dispatch & Control

L3 NameFlight Dispatch & Release

L4 Steps20 across 6 phases

Decision Gates11 (all with iteration loops)

Exceptions16 documented

Swim Lanes (Roles)

Airline Dispatcher

Airline Dispatcher / Maintenance Controller

Load Controller

Captain (PIC)

Airline Dispatcher / SOC Controller

Systems & Tools

NAVBLUEHoneywell GoDirect WeatherNAVBLUE + SITA ACARS / TelexNAVBLUE + FAA TFMS / EUROCONTROL NMOCAMOS by Swiss AviationSoftwareAMOS by Swiss AviationSoftware + Boeing ToolboxJeppesen FliteDeck PerformanceAmadeus Altéa PSS (Load Control module)SITA ACARS / Telex (or face-to-face at hub)SITA ACARS (electronic signature) or paper releaseNAVBLUE + SITA ACARSSITA Airport Management System (AMS)SITA ACARS + NAVBLUENAVBLUE + SITA AMS + Jeppesen FliteDeck

Key Performance Indicators

Retrieve active flight plan from flight planning systemFlight plan available ≥60 min before STD; plan accuracy within ±2% of actual fuel burn

Pull METAR, TAF, SIGMET and PIREP weather dataWeather package delivered ≤45 min before STD; SIGMET currency ≤6 hrs

Assess weather at origin, destination and alternateDestination forecast visibility and ceiling at or above published CAT I/II/III minima at ETA

Calculate fuel uplift including contingency and alternatePlanned fuel ≥ FAR 121.645 / ICAO Annex 6 minimum (trip + 5% contingency + alternate + 30 min final reserve); fuel overage ≤3% of trip fuel

File IFR flight plan with ATC via AFTN/SITAFlight plan filed ≥30 min before EOBT; filing acknowledgment received ≤5 min

Confirm ATC slot/EDCT and assess crew duty impactEDCT compliance rate ≥98%; crew duty limit breach rate <0.5% of dispatched flights

Select and file alternate aerodrome with fuel coverageAlternate meets FAR 121.619 one-hour TAF forecast above alternate minima at ETA ±1 hr

Check aircraft airworthiness status in MRO systemAircraft status confirmed ≥90 min before STD; zero open airworthiness directives beyond MEL tolerance

Airline-Specific Risks & Pain Points

NAVBLUE integration latency with ATC slot data can delay plan finalization for constrained airspace; manual re-route required for TFR-affected corridors

SIGMETs for en-route convection update every 4–6 hrs; late-breaking convective SIGMETs may not be captured before release window, requiring mid-dispatch reassessment

Rapid deterioration below CAT II minima at destination with simultaneous weather impact on primary alternate forces late alternate change, disrupting fuel calculation and ATC filing

EDCT ground delay burn estimates from FAA TFMS are systematically optimistic; dispatcher must manually add 10–15% buffer for GDP-affected departures, yet excess uplift increases fuel cost by ~$8/kg

EUROCONTROL NM slot allocation (CTOT) can force departure time change ≤2 hrs before departure, requiring immediate re-file and downstream fuel/crew duty recalculation

Ground Delay Programs (GDPs) can shift EDCT by 60–180 min, pushing ATD past crew rest trigger thresholds under FAR Part 117; late crew swap triggers cascading downstream cancellations

Inputs / Outputs

Primary InputScheduled departure, route database, aircraft tail assignment

Primary OutputDiversion airport selected with fuel coverage confirmed; ATC coordination initiated; ground support activated at diversion airport

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