AT COMMUTEAIR, WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE WITH GREAT STORIES TO SHARE.
From ESL Teacher to Sky's the Limit Dispatcher
Kiah Watson’s journey to becoming a Dispatcher at CommuteAir is a testament to how unexpected opportunities can lead to fulfilling careers in aviation. She joined CommuteAir in November 2022, initially working in Crew Scheduling for a year before transitioning to Dispatch.
Watson’s path to CommuteAir and the aviation industry was far from conventional. She spent five years teaching English in South Korea from 2015 to 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she returned to the U.S., spent a couple of years selling her art on Etsy, and eventually found herself ready for the next step. That’s when she discovered an opportunity at CommuteAir—an opportunity she had never imagined would lead her to the airline industry.
“I’ve always loved to travel, but it never crossed my mind that I could work in aviation,” said Watson.
Like many, she had a limited view of the industry, thinking only of pilots, gate agents, and air traffic controllers. But after hearing about CommuteAir’s dispatcher program, she saw a chance to try something new and jumped at it.
CommuteAir’s dispatcher program is a unique opportunity to enter the field with all expenses paid for dispatch school. For Watson, this meant attending Sheffield School of Aeronautics in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The rigorous program takes five weeks of intense learning about meteorology, federal aviation regulations, aircraft systems, and flight planning. It’s also demanding, as students pull 11-hour days—but it equips them with the skills needed to thrive in the fast-paced dispatching world. After completing her training and passing the FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practical Knowledge Test, she returned to CommuteAir for on-the-job training.
“I won’t lie, it was grueling,” Watson recalls. “But the hard work was worth it.”
Now, as a certified dispatcher, her role involves a variety of responsibilities. Her day starts with “familiarizing,” where she reviews flight schedules, weather conditions, and operational updates. From there, she begins planning flights, ensuring each one is safe, legal, and efficient. It’s a high-pressure job that demands constant attention to detail and the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.
“The job is incredibly interesting,” Watson says. “I get to work closely with pilots and crew members to solve problems and ensure every flight is ready to go. I love the responsibility we have. If I think a flight isn’t safe, I have the authority to stop it, just like the captain does.”
What Watson values most about her role at CommuteAir is the company’s close-knit, supportive culture.
“I love the small, intimate company vibe at CommuteAir,” she shares. “You don’t feel like just another cog in the machine. The fact that the company offers programs like this really makes it feel special.”
One surprising aspect of the dispatcher role that Watson has come to appreciate is the opportunity to fly on the flight deck. Once certified, dispatchers can use their flight benefits to sit in the jumpseat if a flight is full in the back.
“I thought that was pretty neat,” she said with a smile.
As a woman in aviation, Watson is proud to be part of the growing diversity within CommuteAir’s dispatch team, reflecting a positive trend in the industry.
“I love seeing more female pilots out there, and I think more women are realizing aviation is a viable career option,” she says. “I am very passionate about programs that give women the financial backing to pursue aviation careers, something that wasn’t always available in the past.”
Looking ahead, Watson is excited about her future at CommuteAir and the growth potential. Dispatching is a gateway to roles like Operations Controller and Duty Manager. While she isn’t sure where her journey will take her, she’s eager to see where her curiosity leads next.
For anyone considering a career in dispatch, she recommends contacting CommuteAir’s talent acquisition team at careers@commuteair.com to learn more about the program.
“You never know what might be waiting for you,” she says. “Regardless of where you started, there’s always an opportunity to grow and discover new passions.”