Dispatch Release Sheet -- EXPLAINED

[David Vega]

Heard that it would be nice if we took the time to explain the various lines in our dispatch release. So here it goes... feel free to ask and contribute.

Per US Federal Aviation Agency regulations, while there's no prescribe format for a dispatch release, it must at least have:
Identification number of the aircraft.

Trip number.
Departure airport, intermediate stops, destination airports, and alternate airports.
A statement of the type of operation (e.g., IFR, VFR).
Minimum fuel supply.

To cover each line, I'm using the following dispatch release of one of my latest flights.

dispatch.JPG

Let's go line by line. The first line,

SUNAIR EXPRESS DISPATCH IFR 2041 KLGA-KDCA 16Mar13 1401z

identifies the airline, that this is a flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), the flight number, the code for the origin and destination airports, the date and GMT time when it generates the form. Should the GMT time be sometime around the published flight time?

dispatch1.jpg

This section also shows the flight number, the departure airport code, published departure time, the arrival airport code, the published arrival time, the alternate airport code (this is the airport you would be expected to divert if there were any problems landing at your destination airport), the published block time (gate-to-gate time), the average block time, and the published flight distance.

dispatch2.jpg

This section shows the route number (an internal number the POC uses to track routes, not the published flight number). Clicking on the globe icon will show you a map with the route. Clicking on the next icon will download the MS Flight Simulator flight plan file. You don't have to use this file, it's only there for folks that prefer to not create their own. The next line shows the text for the route of flight.

REG: N216SX TYPE: B737

This shows the aircraft registration number followed by its type.

CA-Dave Vega / FO-Jesse Kraft

This shows the flight Captain and the First Officer (a random name from an internal list of made up names).

DISP-Clayton Glazer D5

The dispatcher name and number. All made up, all for simulation purposes.

KLGA 161251Z 34004KT 10SM BKN095 OVC200 03/M08 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP113 T00281083
KDCA 161252Z 00000KT 10SM OVC060 09/01 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP103 T00890006

Weather reports for departure and destination airports.

Complete Weather for: KLGA KDCA KIAD

Links for detailed weather information for origin, destination, and alternate airports.

EET ZFW DIST EFOB FL AVGWND AIR
00:42 _______ 190 8574 _______ _______ _______

This shows estimated enroute time (estimated flight time), a blank for you to add your Zero Fuel Weight (the weight of the aircraft plus passengers, bags and cargo, but no fuel), published flight distance, estimated fuel on board (a suggested amount of fuel to load based on previous flights with this airplane type between these two airports), followed by blanks for your planned flight level, average wind direction and speed at flight level, and airspeed.

PAX CRGO T/O L/W
117 5910 _______ _______

Number of passengers, cargo on board (this is extra cargo, not the passengers bags), estimated take off and landing weights.

The next section is about fuel. Next to FUEL SUMMARY: you see an icon that will take you to an optional location for fuel planning. Below that, you see a form showing how the final fuel on board figures was estimated. Note that this information is based on averages from previous flights. Note that you can change the numbers affecting the final figure. The figures are: fuel amount for the actual trip plus amount needed to divert to alternate airport (here's an example where you should change the zero to something else), the fuel amount needed to fly for 45 more minutes after arriving at your destination (this is an FAA mandate), any extra fuel you may want to add, and total takeoff takeoff fuel. Next line has fuel for taxi, again fuel at takeoff, and the final block fuel.

Next line is the traditional line to record your times. You would have to print the form to pencil in these figures. Below that there are some useful links.

This format came from the same format used by JetBlue, but we can change at will, so let me know what you think.

Dave
sax702

[Jim Tilley]

Nice explanation Dave...Thanks. Is there somewhere one can look to decipher the weather algebra equations posted on the flight sheets? jt

[David Vega]

Yes. Just click on the airport code following "Complete Weather for:" and you will see it all deciphered. There are various places on the Internet where you can also find guides for deciphering METARs. Here is is one, for example. You can find all about METARs in Wikipedia.

Dave
sax702

[Jim Tilley]

Fantastic...thanks Dave

[David Vega]

We only have one page! Check this video.

Dave
sax702