SDC2026: Insights on Mental Wellness Among Schedulers and Dispatchers

March 25, 2026

Business aviation runs on precision and high standards, yet fatigue and stress – left unsupported – can quietly erode the very safety and diligence that matter most.

At the 2026 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2026), the “Plotting a Modern Route for Mental Health in Aviation” session will feature insights on the impacts mental health and personal fatigue can have on those working in a profession that always demands top performance.

“Pilots have federal regulations that limit their work hours,” said Dr. Daniel Mollicone, one of the panelists in the 9 a.m. March 26 session. “They are also screened periodically by clinical professionals about mental wellness issues.

“There is no comparable oversight in the S&D role,” he continued. “The job can be highly stressful and may often systemically deprive you of sleep. Schedulers and dispatchers must know how to manage those occupational hazards for themselves.”

Tysen Pina, head of the Aviation Department at Kansas State University, learned the importance of taking care of personnel during his time as a U.S. Air Force squadron commander. He added that watching business aviation schedulers and dispatchers at their jobs further opened his eyes.

“They laughed when I asked how often they checked those flights, because for them it’s a 24/7 job,” said Pina, who also is on the session panel. “That moment drove home that aviation safety isn’t just about pilots in the cockpit. It’s about supporting the maintainers, ground crews, dispatchers and schedulers who are planning and watching over those flights around the clock.”

Flight departments may utilize strategies like proactive scheduling, fatigue management and setting realistic workloads and clear time-off policies to prioritize mental health for schedulers and dispatchers and boost their resilience during demanding shifts.

In addition to managing their own stress levels, Mollicone noted schedulers and dispatchers may also be the first to observe something possibly “off” with a pilot, cabin attendant or other flight department personnel.

“For that reason, I believe schedulers and dispatchers could benefit from basic mental health training, similar to student crisis phone line volunteers,” he said. “Even half a day of training would be a practical step toward helping those whose jobs involve checking in to make sure everything’s okay.”

Management should also provide intentional opportunities for their schedulers, dispatchers and sales personnel to celebrate successes, said David Smith, session panelist and vice president of charter and aircraft management at Jackson Jet Center. “Recognizing wins both big and small helps people stay connected to the purpose behind the work and to reinforce that their contributions truly matter,” he added.

Smith further recommended those roles be part of the flight department’s safety management system. “That only works when leadership builds a culture where open dialogue is encouraged, team wellbeing is regularly assessed, and people have room to speak up before stress or fatigue turns into burnout.”

View the full SDC2026 schedule and don’t miss this session at 9 a.m. March 26.