Narrative:

When I took over the shift; we had multiple weather issues; multiple re-routes and a takeoff weight issue. Everyone was answering everyone else's phones in our quad due to the compressed workload and multiple issues everyone was trying to address. [Later] I sent a message to [management] asking for help but I got no response and no one came down to speak to me about the problems I was having. [Another dispatcher] saw I was having multiple issues and he came over; opened up [another desk] and took 10 of my flights. When you start to get behind in your releases; everyone starts calling which puts you even further behind. I finally called the director; told him I had multiple issues and was falling really far behind. I told him I was getting calls from the captains; chief pilots and the stations. I was not able to get a head of the workload and ATC reroutes. I asked him to start delaying the flights on my desk as I could not get to them in a timely manner. I had a thrust reverser MEL and takeoff weight issues; a departure stop and fuel issues on flights. The dispatch floor was not adequately staffed for the weather and ATC events that unfolded. Additional desks should have been staffed earlier in the day as the weather and ATC issues started to develop.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Dispatcher reported being unable to properly perform his duties due to high workload and no assistance from management.

Narrative: When I took over the shift; we had multiple weather issues; multiple re-routes and a takeoff weight issue. Everyone was answering everyone else's phones in our quad due to the compressed workload and multiple issues everyone was trying to address. [Later] I sent a message to [management] asking for help but I got no response and no one came down to speak to me about the problems I was having. [Another dispatcher] saw I was having multiple issues and he came over; opened up [another desk] and took 10 of my flights. When you start to get behind in your releases; everyone starts calling which puts you even further behind. I finally called the Director; told him I had multiple issues and was falling really far behind. I told him I was getting calls from the Captains; Chief Pilots and the Stations. I was not able to get a head of the workload and ATC reroutes. I asked him to start delaying the flights on my desk as I could not get to them in a timely manner. I had a thrust reverser MEL and takeoff weight issues; a departure stop and fuel issues on flights. The Dispatch floor was not adequately staffed for the weather and ATC events that unfolded. Additional desks should have been staffed earlier in the day as the weather and ATC issues started to develop.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.