Talene
Military/Civilian Dispatcher, Pilot, Air Traffic Controller
Hello All! My Name is Talene Scherer and I currently live near
Cleveland, OH. My hometown is Freedom, PA, near Pittsburgh.
I’m 28, and I unfortunately do not have any pets at this time,
but hope to get a doggie in the years to come.
Growing up, I was a tomboy who liked the outdoors, history,
and the military. I credit my father for unintentionally peaking
my interest in aviation. Every time an older aircraft would fly
over our house, he would always yell “Talene, get out here! Do
you know what that is?” My answer usually was “No”. I didn’t
know what I was looking at other than an airplane, helicopter,
or balloon. My dad would then go on to explain what the
airplane was and its use in our history. My dad still does this
to me!
It wasn’t until high school that I thought about joining the
military and majoring in aviation at college. Actually, it came
down to majoring in aviation or biology. What’s more fun,
flying a plane or looking into a microscope? So I decided to
give aviation a shot. A decade later, I’m still in aviation.
I joined the Army National Guard as a way to help pay for
college and more importantly as a way to serve my country. I
would encourage any young girls who want to join the military
to do so. When joining the military you must be aware of the
risks, work hard, and have the determination to get the best
experience out of it. I was an Aviation Operations Specialist (a
dispatcher) for the National Guard. My job duties were to
flight follow (to keep track) all aircraft flying and serve as an
information relay to the rest of the company.
I went to college at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud,
MN. I majored in Aviation Operations, which focuses on how
airports, airlines, and fixed based operators (people/facilities
that provide aircraft sales, services, & support) are operated.
St. Cloud’s aviation program is small, which I liked. I always
had access to my professors whenever I needed their help.
I received my aircraft dispatcher’s license while living in MN. An
aircraft dispatcher is basically a pilot on the ground. Have you
ever wondered how airline pilots show up to a boarding gate
at an airport with their bags and moments later your aircraft is
backing off the gate? Well that’s where an aircraft dispatcher
comes in. Before a pilot even shows up for her flight, the
airline’s operational support staff has completed everything. A
dispatcher does all the preflight planning for a flight including
looking at forecast weather, deciding a flight path, and
generating aircraft performance data (how good will the
airplane perform today). An airline captain then looks at all the
information provided by the dispatcher and then decides if the
flight will occur. If the captain has any concern with the
information provided by the airline dispatcher they work
together to resolve the issue. An aircraft dispatcher is a check
and balance for an airline captain to ensure that a flight is
conducted in a safe manner.
After graduating from college, I wanted to pursue a career as
an aircraft dispatcher. But then Sep. 11th hit and postponed
this goal. I moved back home to Pennsylvania and began
working at USAirways Express as a gate agent at Pittsburgh
International Airport. I really think that Customer Service
Agents (the men and women who print your ticket, check in
your bags, and load up the planes) have the hardest and most
undervalued jobs in the aviation industry. It was at this time
that I decided to go back to school. I then went to the
Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) to pursue a
degree in Air Traffic Control. This was such an interesting and
challenging time for me.
I was a full time employee for USAirways Express, a full time
college student, and also a member of the Army National
Guard. I was kept busy! As part of CCBC’s air traffic control
program, you have to control aircraft in the tower and also
earn your private pilot’s license.
Military/Civilian Dispatcher, Pilot, Air Traffic Controller
Hello All! My Name is Talene Scherer and I currently live near
Cleveland, OH. My hometown is Freedom, PA, near Pittsburgh.
I’m 28, and I unfortunately do not have any pets at this time,
but hope to get a doggie in the years to come.
Growing up, I was a tomboy who liked the outdoors, history,
and the military. I credit my father for unintentionally peaking
my interest in aviation. Every time an older aircraft would fly
over our house, he would always yell “Talene, get out here! Do
you know what that is?” My answer usually was “No”. I didn’t
know what I was looking at other than an airplane, helicopter,
or balloon. My dad would then go on to explain what the
airplane was and its use in our history. My dad still does this
to me!
It wasn’t until high school that I thought about joining the
military and majoring in aviation at college. Actually, it came
down to majoring in aviation or biology. What’s more fun,
flying a plane or looking into a microscope? So I decided to
give aviation a shot. A decade later, I’m still in aviation.
I joined the Army National Guard as a way to help pay for
college and more importantly as a way to serve my country. I
would encourage any young girls who want to join the military
to do so. When joining the military you must be aware of the
risks, work hard, and have the determination to get the best
experience out of it. I was an Aviation Operations Specialist (a
dispatcher) for the National Guard. My job duties were to
flight follow (to keep track) all aircraft flying and serve as an
information relay to the rest of the company.
I went to college at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud,
MN. I majored in Aviation Operations, which focuses on how
airports, airlines, and fixed based operators (people/facilities
that provide aircraft sales, services, & support) are operated.
St. Cloud’s aviation program is small, which I liked. I always
had access to my professors whenever I needed their help.
I received my aircraft dispatcher’s license while living in MN. An
aircraft dispatcher is basically a pilot on the ground. Have you
ever wondered how airline pilots show up to a boarding gate
at an airport with their bags and moments later your aircraft is
backing off the gate? Well that’s where an aircraft dispatcher
comes in. Before a pilot even shows up for her flight, the
airline’s operational support staff has completed everything. A
dispatcher does all the preflight planning for a flight including
looking at forecast weather, deciding a flight path, and
generating aircraft performance data (how good will the
airplane perform today). An airline captain then looks at all the
information provided by the dispatcher and then decides if the
flight will occur. If the captain has any concern with the
information provided by the airline dispatcher they work
together to resolve the issue. An aircraft dispatcher is a check
and balance for an airline captain to ensure that a flight is
conducted in a safe manner.
After graduating from college, I wanted to pursue a career as
an aircraft dispatcher. But then Sep. 11th hit and postponed
this goal. I moved back home to Pennsylvania and began
working at USAirways Express as a gate agent at Pittsburgh
International Airport. I really think that Customer Service
Agents (the men and women who print your ticket, check in
your bags, and load up the planes) have the hardest and most
undervalued jobs in the aviation industry. It was at this time
that I decided to go back to school. I then went to the
Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) to pursue a
degree in Air Traffic Control. This was such an interesting and
challenging time for me.
I was a full time employee for USAirways Express, a full time
college student, and also a member of the Army National
Guard. I was kept busy! As part of CCBC’s air traffic control
program, you have to control aircraft in the tower and also
earn your private pilot’s license.
TM
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
I remember how scared and nervous I was when I had to actively
control the runway and taxiways myself. I was so afraid of making
mistakes!! Learning new things does not come easy for me, so I
would make myself play “pretend controller.” I would make up mental
scenarios and say aloud my clearances and directions to the aircraft.
I would then repeat air traffic control sayings over and over until I
finally got them right. Controlling aircraft is fun and challenging.
I received my private pilot’s license in July of 2006. It was a challenge
for me. Some people flying comes easy, and some people it
doesn't. I was one of the many “doesn’t people” out there. I was
proud of myself when I soloed for the first time and even prouder
when I didn’t get lost during my first solo cross country flight. Its
nice to know that anyone can get a driver’s license, but not everyone
can obtain a pilot’s license. If you are interested in flying, go up on
flight at your local airport. There’s always someone at an airport
ready to talk to a young person about aviation.
I currently work as a flight planner at a fractional airline in Northeast
Ohio. A flight planner has the same duties as an aircraft dispatcher
except that we do not have operational control over a flight.
Operational control is the exercise of authority over initiating,
conducting, and terminating of a flight. Where I work, the pilot in
command has operational control, so I am assisting the pilots with
preflight planning. My job is interesting because of all the different
variables that can happen in aviation from day to day. For example
when the weather becomes really severe air traffic control may issue
reroutes. It’s my responsibility to see that our flights are routed
accordingly to what air traffic control wants.
Math and science plays a big role in my daily job activities. I look at
numbers all day. Part of generating flight plans is to calculate
passenger weights. I also compare actual flight plan distances to
preflight estimates. I look at fuel burn, total fuel, and takeoff
weights for our aircraft on every flight plan we work. On a given
shift, one flight planner might run close to a hundred flight plans
themselves. That’s a lot of math in a day! Science and technology is
everywhere from our aircraft to the computers I type on. Without
science and math we wouldn’t have electricity, cell phones, and many
other luxuries in life. We need more young girls interested in not
only aviation, but also other science and engineering related fields.
So if you’re interested, keep pushing forward with your goal and
seek a mentor to help provide guidance.
Over the past decade I’ve worked in military and civilian aviation, as
an airport management intern, as a gate agent, as a crew scheduler,
and currently as a flight planner. I have two degrees, my private
pilot’s license, aircraft dispatcher’s license, and Control Tower
Operator’s license. I’m not finished and I hope to one day fulfill my
goals to become an air traffic controller and to obtain my instrument
rating. The FAA has temporarily hired me for Air Traffic Control and I
can’t wait to go to Oklahoma City for my initial job training.
Yes aviation is fun!! Aviation is also challenging. You will have
frustrations and disappointments along the way, but it’s worth the
fight. Ten years later I’m still fighting, but I won’t give up until I’ve
given all that I can. Have fun with aviation and science. Always
remember to work hard, laugh, and learn from your mistakes and
you’ll make it in whatever you choose to do in life!
control the runway and taxiways myself. I was so afraid of making
mistakes!! Learning new things does not come easy for me, so I
would make myself play “pretend controller.” I would make up mental
scenarios and say aloud my clearances and directions to the aircraft.
I would then repeat air traffic control sayings over and over until I
finally got them right. Controlling aircraft is fun and challenging.
I received my private pilot’s license in July of 2006. It was a challenge
for me. Some people flying comes easy, and some people it
doesn't. I was one of the many “doesn’t people” out there. I was
proud of myself when I soloed for the first time and even prouder
when I didn’t get lost during my first solo cross country flight. Its
nice to know that anyone can get a driver’s license, but not everyone
can obtain a pilot’s license. If you are interested in flying, go up on
flight at your local airport. There’s always someone at an airport
ready to talk to a young person about aviation.
I currently work as a flight planner at a fractional airline in Northeast
Ohio. A flight planner has the same duties as an aircraft dispatcher
except that we do not have operational control over a flight.
Operational control is the exercise of authority over initiating,
conducting, and terminating of a flight. Where I work, the pilot in
command has operational control, so I am assisting the pilots with
preflight planning. My job is interesting because of all the different
variables that can happen in aviation from day to day. For example
when the weather becomes really severe air traffic control may issue
reroutes. It’s my responsibility to see that our flights are routed
accordingly to what air traffic control wants.
Math and science plays a big role in my daily job activities. I look at
numbers all day. Part of generating flight plans is to calculate
passenger weights. I also compare actual flight plan distances to
preflight estimates. I look at fuel burn, total fuel, and takeoff
weights for our aircraft on every flight plan we work. On a given
shift, one flight planner might run close to a hundred flight plans
themselves. That’s a lot of math in a day! Science and technology is
everywhere from our aircraft to the computers I type on. Without
science and math we wouldn’t have electricity, cell phones, and many
other luxuries in life. We need more young girls interested in not
only aviation, but also other science and engineering related fields.
So if you’re interested, keep pushing forward with your goal and
seek a mentor to help provide guidance.
Over the past decade I’ve worked in military and civilian aviation, as
an airport management intern, as a gate agent, as a crew scheduler,
and currently as a flight planner. I have two degrees, my private
pilot’s license, aircraft dispatcher’s license, and Control Tower
Operator’s license. I’m not finished and I hope to one day fulfill my
goals to become an air traffic controller and to obtain my instrument
rating. The FAA has temporarily hired me for Air Traffic Control and I
can’t wait to go to Oklahoma City for my initial job training.
Yes aviation is fun!! Aviation is also challenging. You will have
frustrations and disappointments along the way, but it’s worth the
fight. Ten years later I’m still fighting, but I won’t give up until I’ve
given all that I can. Have fun with aviation and science. Always
remember to work hard, laugh, and learn from your mistakes and
you’ll make it in whatever you choose to do in life!
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