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Utah Valley University
AVSC 2070-X01
Working in a field such as aviation presents many communication challenges. For this essay I have selected to research the dispatch / operations area of aviation. I will be examining communication problems and challenges dispatchers face. I will also give suggestions on ways to improve the communication for the given challenges.
Effective communication is critical to ensure a smooth operation. The dispatch office is the brain for an airline and all activities are coordinated through that office. Dispatchers face many challenges on each and every shift. These problems are generally complicated and could impact the operation. Working in a dispatch office is like being a firefighter and putting out several brush fires to avoid a large fire. Effective communication is a critical weapon to combat the brush fires. Ineffective communication can potentially cause more brush fires, which can and does cause stress and frustration for affected parties. Some common communication problems have a serious impact on dispatch operations.
Stress in the dispatch office is both common and can have potentially negative effects if not dealt with properly. Stress breaks down effective communications in several ways. Stress can cause dispatchers to overlook operational details. These details when overlooked could cause a situation to get worse. Stress can also cause the dispatcher to become condescending and or emotionally unstable or irritable. This can cause communication barriers as it may trigger emotional defense mechanisms to occur on the receiving end. Knowing how to deal with stress in the dispatch environment is important and necessary. In order to cope with the stress the dispatcher must first recognize that they are stressed and begin to take steps to reduce the stress. Ways to reduce stress include, taking a deep breath, talking out the