Yellowknife (Mar 17/06) - There is no typical day for an Air Tindi Float Base dispatcher.

Everything from unstable weather, late passengers and overweight cargo affect a flight plan and it's up to senior dispatcher Trevor McKnight to make it all work so customers and pilots are happy.

Every day holds a different set of challenges for Air Tindi dispatcher Trevor McKnight. From organizing passenger lists to making sure planes are fuelled and ready to go, McKnight has to be on top of everything so cargo and passengers arrive on time. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

"I never thought I'd be able to walk outside, look at the weather and be able to tell what kind of day I'll have," said McKnight.

Arriving one hour before a flight is scheduled to leave, McKnight makes sure flight loads, passenger lists and aircraft are in order and ready to go.

But McKnight's job doesn't stop there. Once the pilots are in the air, McKnight is in constant contact on a transistor radio making sure there are no problems en route.

If there are, McKnight is the pilot's first contact for assistance.

"I remember a day a few summers ago where we had three out of four planes call in with mechanical problems from across the NWT," said McKnight.

He was stuck not only arranging maintenance for the planes, but also had to figure out how to work with only one plane. Mcknight has been with Air Tindi for 13 years.

Originally from Ontario, he has a diploma in airport and air carrier management from Georgian College.

Throughout the day, McKnight makes sure to keep his priorities straight and to be calm no matter what the situation. Success is about thinking on your feet, he said.

"You can't let things happen to you - you have to make them happen. A whole day can be planned and then one call will change it."

McKnight is looking forward to Air Tindi's busy season in the summer, when there's several hours of light to fly in.