Mesa Airlines Rory Salisbury – Dispatcher/Dispatch Trainer

Mesa AirlinesMesa AirlinesRory Salisbury – Rory Salisbury –

Dispatcher/Dispatch TrainerDispatcher/Dispatch Trainer

Mesa AirlinesMesa Airlines

First of all, we at Mesa Airlines would like to First of all, we at Mesa Airlines would like to extend a warm thank you to the National extend a warm thank you to the National Weather Service.Weather Service.


Approx. 200 aircraft in our fleetApprox. 200 aircraft in our fleet

Category one airlineCategory one airline

Group 1 and group 2 aircraftGroup 1 and group 2 aircraft


Approx. 80 % of a dispatchers job is Approx. 80 % of a dispatchers job is centered around weather and weather centered around weather and weather products.products.


The FAA towers / centers along with other The FAA towers / centers along with other FAA programs will try to follow the NWS FAA programs will try to follow the NWS forecasts. forecasts.

The AADC are based on forecast and traffic.The AADC are based on forecast and traffic.


FAR 121.619 – Alternate airport for FAR 121.619 – Alternate airport for destinationdestination

(1) The ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet (1) The ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation; andabove the airport elevation; and

(2) Visibility will be at least 3 miles.(2) Visibility will be at least 3 miles.


121.617 – Alternate Airport for Departure121.617 – Alternate Airport for Departure

Must meet alternate weather minimumsMust meet alternate weather minimums


FAR 121.625 – Alternate Airport weather FAR 121.625 – Alternate Airport weather MinimumsMinimums

FAA mandates that all part 121 carriers FAA mandates that all part 121 carriers create alternate weather minimums based create alternate weather minimums based on a method that is approved in the on a method that is approved in the certificate holders Operations Specifications certificate holders Operations Specifications (Ops. Specs)(Ops. Specs)


Mesa Airlines is authorized to derive Mesa Airlines is authorized to derive alternate weather minimums via the 1 alternate weather minimums via the 1 navaid, 2 navaid rule. navaid, 2 navaid rule.


One navaid rules state that for airports with One navaid rules state that for airports with only one navigational aid and or one runway only one navigational aid and or one runway authorized for our operations, Mesa Airlines authorized for our operations, Mesa Airlines will add 400’ to the HAT and 1sm to the will add 400’ to the HAT and 1sm to the lowest authorized category 1 landing lowest authorized category 1 landing minimums for the airport in use. minimums for the airport in use.


The two navaid rule states that if there are The two navaid rule states that if there are two separate operational navaids with two two separate operational navaids with two different frequencies and two separate different frequencies and two separate runways suitable for our type operations, runways suitable for our type operations, then we will add 200’ to the HAT and ½ sm then we will add 200’ to the HAT and ½ sm to the lowest suitable category one landing to the lowest suitable category one landing minimums for the airport in use.minimums for the airport in use.


Whenever a circling maneuver is required one Whenever a circling maneuver is required one navaid rule will be used.navaid rule will be used.


For example KPSP minimums for speed For example KPSP minimums for speed category C and D is 1936’ & 3sm. So for the category C and D is 1936’ & 3sm. So for the sake of an alternate with only a circle to land sake of an alternate with only a circle to land approach the weather min’s would be 2400’ approach the weather min’s would be 2400’ and 4smand 4sm


FAR 121.599 – States that no aircraft will be FAR 121.599 – States that no aircraft will be dispatched unless the dispatcher for that dispatched unless the dispatcher for that flight is thoroughly familiar with all weather flight is thoroughly familiar with all weather conditions that are being reported or conditions that are being reported or forecasted for the entire route of flight to be forecasted for the entire route of flight to be dispatched. dispatched.


Mesa Airlines lowest category one landing Mesa Airlines lowest category one landing minimums are ½ sm and 200’ HAT minimums are ½ sm and 200’ HAT


Examples of go or no go decisions based on Examples of go or no go decisions based on weather forecast aloneweather forecast alone


Exemption 3585Exemption 3585

100% landing minimums must be forecast 100% landing minimums must be forecast for the time of arrival in the main body of the for the time of arrival in the main body of the forecast. If 50% of landing minimums are forecast. If 50% of landing minimums are forecasted in a tempo or conditional forecasted in a tempo or conditional statement then we may depart for statement then we may depart for destination under exemption 3585destination under exemption 3585


Below is an example of a “go” situation with Below is an example of a “go” situation with standard alternate arrival time of 2120z;standard alternate arrival time of 2120z;

TAF KDFW 051125Z 051212 18007KT P6SMTAF KDFW 051125Z 051212 18007KT P6SM

FM1700 18015KT 1SM OVC020 FM1700 18015KT 1SM OVC020

FM0100 18009KT P6SM SCT300FM0100 18009KT P6SM SCT300


Below is an example of a “no” go forecast Below is an example of a “no” go forecast with arrival time of 0801zwith arrival time of 0801z

Updated 1355 UTC 05 Dec Updated 1355 UTC 05 Dec

TAF KEUG 050555Z 050606 VRB03KT P6SMTAF KEUG 050555Z 050606 VRB03KT P6SM

FM0800 00000KT 1/4SM FG BKN001 FM0800 00000KT 1/4SM FG BKN001


Below is an example of a “go” situation Below is an example of a “go” situation based on exemption 3585 arrival time1830z;based on exemption 3585 arrival time1830z;

TAF KBWI 061724Z 161818 15014G20KT 3SM -TAF KBWI 061724Z 161818 15014G20KT 3SM -SHRA BR SCT012 OVC025 SHRA BR SCT012 OVC025

TEMPO 1821 VRB03KT 1/4SM -RA BR BKN012 TEMPO 1821 VRB03KT 1/4SM -RA BR BKN012

FM2100 17014G28KT 4SM -SHRA BKN025 FM2100 17014G28KT 4SM -SHRA BKN025 OVC035OVC035


Under exemption 3585 two alternates will be Under exemption 3585 two alternates will be given. Both alternates must meet alternate given. Both alternates must meet alternate weather minimums.weather minimums.


Area forecastsArea forecasts

It is common for a dispatcher to have an It is common for a dispatcher to have an aircraft with inoperative de-ice or anti-ice aircraft with inoperative de-ice or anti-ice equipment, area forecasts help determine equipment, area forecasts help determine “go” or “no-go” situations“go” or “no-go” situations


We at Mesa Airlines would like to, again We at Mesa Airlines would like to, again thank the National Weather Service for thank the National Weather Service for allowing us the time to speak here today.allowing us the time to speak here today.


Rory SalisburyRory Salisbury

[email protected]@mesa-air.com

623-326-6865623-326-6865

mailto:[email protected]

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Mesa Airlines Rory Salisbury – Dispatcher/Dispatch Trainer