Two air carrier Dispatchers recalled a previously released flight when they determined their decision to dispatch it to a destination was not authorized under the weather conditions.
Synopsis
Two air carrier Dispatchers recalled a previously released flight when they determined their decision to dispatch it to a destination was not authorized under the weather conditions.
Narrative
One of my flights was dispatched using exemption 3585 due to a destination tempo of 1/4 SM. During a conversation with the Chief Pilot regarding another flight; it was agreed that the operations supported our use of the exemption which states: '[At] the destination airport; the TAF weather conditions shall be not less than 1/2 SM of the lowest weather minimum visibility value established for the instrument approach procedure expected to be used.' The flight's destination was using ILS Runway 4 ([Runways] 4 and 31 have 3/4 SM landing minimums; [Runways] 22 and 13 have 1/2 SM). The issue is that using Runway 13 would have had an 11 KTS tailwind and [Runway] 22 had a 17 KTS tailwind. Therefore we could not legally use exemption 3585.By the time I realized this; the flight was airborne. I had them return to their departure airport since it was not legal to dispatch.There were too few dispatchers for the weather conditions this evening and that took away from my duties. More dispatchers should have been asked to come in during period of high workload.
Second reporter narrative
We have always been trained that we dispatch to an airport; not a particular runway. I passed this flight down to [another Dispatcher] before the flight departed and was made aware of the situation on the following day.This situation could be avoided with proper training during recurrent intervals since all the dispatchers I have spoken with were also unfamiliar with the phrase 'approach expected to be used.' We have been taught contrary to this phrase.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.