A dispatcher forgot to check current WX for an alternate due to a shift change.

Attributes
ACN	583265
Time
Date	200305
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other
ASRS Report	583265
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Flight departed with an illegal dispatch release. Flight departed dfw during a shift briefing turnover. Former dispatcher had not checked the current forecasts for alternates since they came out close to shift turnover. New 'ft' for cos issued at XA30Z called for tempo 2 SM broken overcast 0003, making it illegal for use as alternate. When I discovered flight departed illegally, approximately XB15Z, I changed the alternate to publication, since they had enough fuel to do so. Flight continued to den without event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DISPATCHER FORGOT TO CHK CURRENT WX FOR AN ALTERNATE DUE TO A SHIFT CHANGE.

Narrative: FLT DEPARTED WITH AN ILLEGAL DISPATCH RELEASE. FLT DEPARTED DFW DURING A SHIFT BRIEFING TURNOVER. FORMER DISPATCHER HAD NOT CHKED THE CURRENT FORECASTS FOR ALTERNATES SINCE THEY CAME OUT CLOSE TO SHIFT TURNOVER. NEW 'FT' FOR COS ISSUED AT XA30Z CALLED FOR TEMPO 2 SM BROKEN OVCST 0003, MAKING IT ILLEGAL FOR USE AS ALTERNATE. WHEN I DISCOVERED FLT DEPARTED ILLEGALLY, APPROX XB15Z, I CHANGED THE ALTERNATE TO PUB, SINCE THEY HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO DO SO. FLT CONTINUED TO DEN WITHOUT EVENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.