Dispatch Agent

Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) has a fantastic opportunity for skilled and unskilled Dispatch Agents, within our Aviation Services department. The role requires candidates who can demonstrate excellent customer service, communication skills, strong attention to detail, basic computer skills and hold a full UK driving licence. The hours of work are 40 per week, Monday to Sunday, on a rotational shift basis i.e. including weekend and night working.

Please note that in accordance with regulations, this role requires you to meet DVLA Group 2 medical standards so that you can drive on our airfield (including on runways / taxiways). Therefore, please only apply for this role if you can meet the following standards:

• Vision - applicants must have a visual acuity (using corrective lenses if necessary) of at least 6/7.5 in the better eye and 6/60 in the other. Visual fields will be checked by confrontation method and If there is any doubt then an optician report is required.
• Colour perception - applicants are required to distinguish the colours red, green and white using the Ishihara test plates (24) - 15 plates, presented in a random order, which must be identified without error or via an approved advanced colour vision test. The use of colour correcting lenses are not acceptable.
• Hearing - applicants must have the ability to hear a forced whisper in either ear at a distance of 2 metres. In case of doubt an audiometric examination will be necessary.
• General Health - applicants must disclose any medical condition, which might affect the ability to operate / drive safely. On disclosure of a medical condition which may affect the ability to operate / drive safely, reference is made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) “Assessing-fitness-to-drive-a-guide-for-medical-professionals”.

The above will be assessed via our occupational health partner during the recruitment process and does not affect your statutory rights associated with the Equality Act 2010.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) is situated on the beautiful coastline of South Ayrshire in the West of Scotland about 30 miles South West of Glasgow. Owned by the Scottish Government, GPA directly employs more than 250 people and supports over 4,000 jobs across the aerospace cluster. Situated in the heart of Scotland’s aerospace industry we offer a diverse range of in-house aviation services providing vital connections to the rest of the world.

Job scope:

The role of a Dispatch Agent is primarily to be a Turnaround Coordinator (dispatcher / handler), who is responsible for the coordination and safety of all applicable aircraft handling activities relating to a turnaround. This includes completion of mandatory documentation to account for what has been loaded and secured in an aircraft.

The initial focus will be aircraft turnaround training on passenger flights. Training will then progress to Fixed Based Operations (FBO) and cargo flights. Fuel bowser training may also be a requirement further down the line.

Responsibilities will include:

• To perform the daily dispatch, load control and FBO operation.
• To ensure a high level of customer service is provided to all passengers and crew.
• To ensure aircraft are handled and dispatched in compliance with all Regulatory, Airline, Company and Departmental policies and procedures.
• To co-ordinate all dispatch and ramp activities during the turnaround of passenger, freight and FBO aircraft ensuring this is done in accordance with all operator and local procedures (Turnaround Plan).
• To prepare load distribution and loading instruction reports for passenger and freight aircraft ensuring all parameters are adhered to.
• To perform or delegate passenger guidance ensuring safe movement on the apron.
• To keep all relevant parties fully informed of all aircraft movements via a flight schedule, FIDS, SITA, phone and email.
• To be competent in RT communication processes including the ground-to-air radio.
• To process handling requests and ensure the booking database is updated.
• To liaise with Airfield Operations to ensure efficient use of parking stands.
• Allocate the flights according to Dispatcher and FBO skill levels.
• To maintain an accurate log of aircraft movements and associated data.
• A basic knowledge of the Air Traffic Control system is required. For example, CFMU, slots and re-routes.
• A basic knowledge of weather is required. For example, decoding METARS and TAFS.
• To ensure appropriate crew briefings are available for all flight movements.
• To carry out the headset function during the push back process.
• To ensure accurate records are being kept. For example, station flight files and flight reports.
• To complete delay reports.
• To comply with company and Departmental uniform Regulations.
• To carry out Ground Services Band 1 skills.
• To ensure maximum efficiencies within the operation, flexibility is essential. You will be required to assist in any area of Prestwick Aviation Services by multi-skilling to meet the needs of the business.

Please note that to work at GPA you are required to:

• Comply with UK Right to Work checks and provide associated relevant documentation at interview.
• Confirm your identity by providing a copy of your passport or driving licence.
• Provide GPA with a complete five-year referencing history inclusive of all employment, self-employment and education. Any gap period of 28 days or more must be covered by a personal reference to which you must also provide contact details.
• Upon request, provide a Criminal Record Check Certificate (Basic Disclosure) from Disclosure Scotland. This must not display any disqualifying convictions as detailed on the Civil Aviation Authority website.
• Where applicable, undertake a Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) and understand that deployment to any security related activities is conditional upon the satisfactory result of such a check.

To ensure maximum efficiencies within the operation, flexibility is essential. You will be required to assist in any area by multi-skilling to meet the needs of the business, which will also prove to be excellent experience and development.

In addition to fully funded training, you will benefit from:

• Free onsite parking.
• A company provided uniform.
• Being auto enrolled into a pension scheme (after 3 months) - enhanced upon request.
• Access to our health cash plan (after 6 months).
• Staff discounts in partnership with Dufry World Duty Free.
• Bike2Work scheme (after 6 months).
• Learning and developing within a fast-paced aviation environment.
• Being part of a dedicated and friendly team.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £22,672.00-£27,096.99 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Wellness programme

Work Location: In person