Short answer: a Flight Operations Officer (FOO), also called a flight dispatcher, prepares each flight with the captain and follows it from the ground. In Portugal, the licence is issued by ANAC, the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority, and can be held from age 18. The process includes an approved course, theory exams and an internship of at least 90 working days at an airline.
What does a Flight Operations Officer do?
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defines the FOO as the person designated by the operator to control and supervise flight operations, as summarised in working paper A41-WP/598 to the ICAO Assembly. ICAO Annex 6 lists four duties:
- Help the captain prepare the flight and provide the information needed.
- Prepare the operational and ATS flight plans, and sign and file them where applicable.
- Give the captain, in flight, the information needed for a safe flight.
- In an emergency, start the procedures set out in the operations manual.
In practice, the FOO works in the airline’s operations control centre (OCC). Before every departure, they check weather, airspace restrictions, fuel, mass and the aircraft’s technical limitations.
Is an FOO licence mandatory in Europe?
Not under EU rules. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) states in its guidance (GM1 ORO.GEN.110(c)) that air operations rules do not require licensed FOOs. Each airline is responsible for operational control and can comply through its own training.
Portugal is one of the countries that issues a national FOO licence. For job seekers, that matters: the licence proves a competence assessed by the regulator and recognisable by any operator.
What does ANAC require?
Regulation 840/2010, as amended by Regulation 614/2018, sets the requirements:
| Requirement | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 on the date the licence is issued |
| Education | Year 12 with Maths and Physics, or compulsory schooling + Maths and Physics exams at an approved training organisation |
| English | ANAC exam, certificate from a recognised centre, or theory exams taken in English |
| Training | Approved course at an ANAC-certified training organisation |
| Theory exams | Air law, aircraft general knowledge, performance, meteorology, navigation, operational procedures, principles of flight, radiotelephony |
| Supervised internship | At least 90 working days and 120 dispatches on air transport flights, with a qualified monitor |
| Final assessment | Practical proficiency demonstration |
| Validity | 5 years, renewable with an operator declaration |
The internship can only start once the theory exams and English have been passed.
Why can you start at 18 in Portugal?
ICAO Annex 1 sets 21 as the minimum age for the licence, as applied by authorities such as Kosovo’s. ANAC lowered it to 18 in 2018, in line with the age of majority. A young person who finishes Year 12 can hold the licence before turning 20, which is not possible in countries that follow the ICAO age.
How has FOO training changed?
What career can an FOO have?
The OCC is the starting point. Recent job ads in Lisbon and Barcelona include roles such as Operations Controller in a 24-hour OCC and OCC Duty Manager. The latter coordinates dispatch, ground operations, crew control and maintenance, and prefers candidates who have worked as flight dispatchers.
The workload grows with traffic. In summer 2026, the European network managed by EUROCONTROL averaged 35,959 flights a day, and 21% of flights were delayed by flow restrictions. Every one of those cases goes through an airline OCC.
What is IITA's FOO License like?
The Flight Operations Officer License (CAA-Certified) is ANAC-certified and delivered by AWA (Aeronautical Web Academy) in Prior Velho, Lisbon.
- Duration: about 7 months of theory + 90-working-day internship
- Schedule: daytime or after work
- Class size: maximum 12 students
- Language: taught in Portuguese, materials and exams in English
- Guaranteed internship at an airline holding an air operator certificate. Partner airlines include EuroAtlantic, Spring Jet, SATA Regional, SATA Internacional, NetJets, LuxAviation, PrimeSlot, Orion-Jets (TAESPEJO) and OMNI Executive Aviation.
- 100% employment rate
- Payment: 50% deposit, instalments and bank financing partnerships
- Next cohort: starts 26 October 2026, applications open
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an FOO and a flight dispatcher?
None. They are two names for the same role. ICAO uses ‘flight operations officer/flight dispatcher’; ANAC uses ‘Oficial de Operações de Voo’ (OOV).
Do I need to be a pilot to become an FOO?
No. You need Year 12 with Maths and Physics, or equivalent exams, plus English.
How long does the licence take?
About a year: 7 months of theory and at least 90 working days of internship.
Is the Portuguese licence valid in other countries?
The licence is national. As EASA does not require a licence, European airlines may accept the training as proof of competence. Always check with the operator.
How often is it renewed?
The licence is valid for 5 years and is revalidated with an operator declaration.
Frequently asked questions
- ANAC, Flight Operations Officer licence, updated 20 May 2026
- ANAC, Regulation 614/2018 amending Regulation 840/2010, Diário da República, 21 September 2018
- EASA, AMC/GM to Part-ORO, GM1 ORO.GEN.110(c)
- ICAO, Doc 10106, 1st edition, 2021
- ICAO, A41-WP/598, 2022
- EUROCONTROL, Special Summer 2026 Flash Briefing, 11 September 2026
