Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73not60

§44748 Aircraft Dispatching

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part A— AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart iii— safety › Chapter 447— SAFETY REGULATION › § 44748

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires people who work as aircraft dispatchers to hold the proper FAA aircraft dispatcher certificate. While dispatching, they must show that certificate if the FAA Administrator, an authorized National Transportation Safety Board representative, or another federal agency official asks. Requires each air carrier to have enough staffed dispatch and flight‑following centers to control every flight at all times. Each center must have enough dispatchers, working equipment, and physical and cyber security. If a center becomes inoperable, an air carrier may use another location for up to 14 consecutive days per location without FAA approval.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §44748

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)No person may serve as an aircraft dispatcher for an air carrier unless such person holds the appropriate aircraft dispatcher certificate issued by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

(b)Upon the request of the Administrator or an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board, or other appropriate Federal agency, a person who holds such a certificate, and is performing dispatching, shall present the certificate for inspection.

(c)(1)Each air carrier shall establish and maintain sufficient dispatch centers and flight following centers necessary to maintain operational control of each flight of the air carrier at all times.

(2)An air carrier shall ensure that each dispatch center and flight following center of the air carrier—

(A)has a sufficient number of aircraft dispatchers on duty at the dispatch center or flight following center to ensure proper operational control of each flight of the air carrier at all times;

(B)has the necessary equipment, in good repair, to maintain proper operational control of each flight of the air carrier at all times; and

(C)includes the presence of physical security and cybersecurity protections to prevent unauthorized access to the dispatch center or flight following center or to the operations of either such center.

(d)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), an air carrier may not dispatch aircraft from any location other than the dispatch center or flight following center of the air carrier.

(2)In the event of an emergency or other event that renders a dispatch center or a flight following center inoperable, an air carrier may dispatch aircraft from a location other than the dispatch center or flight following center of the air carrier for a period of time not to exceed 14 consecutive days per location without approval of the Administrator.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 44748

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60