FAA ADX study guide
FAA ADX · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The FAA Aircraft Dispatcher certificate is a Federal Aviation Administration airman credential that authorizes its holder to share operational control of a flight with the pilot in command. It is aimed at people preparing to work in airline or charter flight operations - often called dispatch, operational control, or flight control - where the dispatcher reviews weather and NOTAMs, selects routes and altitudes, computes fuel and performance, and issues the dispatch release. The FAA ADX study guide has 5 sections and about 1,967 words.
01Regulations and Dispatcher Certification Requirements
Under 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart C, the aircraft dispatcher certificate is issued without ratings or classes and carries no expiration date . "Currency" for a working dispatcher comes from the employer's FAA-approved training program under Part 121, not from the paper certificate.
342 words, about 2 min02Flight Planning, Dispatch Release, and Performance
Section 121.687 lists what the release must contain: aircraft identification, trip number, departure/intermediate/destination/alternate airports, type of operation (IFR or VFR), minimum fuel supply, and a statement of current weather (or that no unfavorable weather exists), signed by the dispatcher and the PIC. A release without these elements is defective.
352 words, about 2 min03Meteorology and Weather Products
A dispatcher assembles a picture from observations (METAR/SPECI), forecasts (TAF), and remote or supplemental data: PIREPs, radar, satellite, winds and temperatures aloft, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and convective outlooks. Memorize the METAR/TAF syntax cold, because exam questions hinge on decoding rather than interpretation.
295 words, about 1 min04Air Traffic Control, Navigation, and Airspace
Control flows through ARTCC (Center) for en route, TRACON for terminal airspace, tower for the surface, and FSS for flight planning and weather services. Know the clearance language: "cleared to descend" is an altitude clearance, while "cleared for the approach" authorizes the approach procedure but not a descent below any published segment altitude until established.
290 words, about 1 min05Aircraft Systems, Emergency Procedures, and Human Factors
You will not repair the airplane, but you must know what a system failure does to the release. Engines: N1/N2, EGT, and EPR as thrust references; bleed-air anti-ice costs both thrust and fuel and must be in the performance plan.
688 words, about 3 min