I'm not sure what US' policy is, haven't read it. My point was that FSA's aren't covered under part 120 as required to be tested. No matter how you want to interpret 'dispatch', they don't fit the role described in that section. Personally, I think MTC should be doing receipt and dispatch, it would bring alot of jobs back.
Blue,
You appear to be deliberately obfuscating the difference between team leads and non-team leads under the collective of "fleet service agents", and there is a difference in terms one being in a "safety sensitive" position.
Clearly the FAA requires as part of an Aircraft Dispatcher's duties to perform Weight and Balance, in fact, it is part of the testing and certification process. http://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/airmen/test_standards/media/FAA-S-8081-10C.pdf
However, we also know that team leads are responsible for Weight and Balance which is what the FAA considers to be part of the "duties" of an Aircraft Dispatcher. (Notice "duties" is a critical word here.) Furthermore, under the requirements for random drug testing, the FAA Part 121, Appendix I -- Drug Testing Program, it says in part, the following:
"
III. Employees Who Must be Tested. Each employee, including any assistant, helper, or individual in a training status, who performs a safety-sensitive function listed in this section directly or by contract (including by subcontract at any tier) for an employer as defined in this appendix must be subject to drug testing under an antidrug program implemented in accordance with this appendix. This includes full-time, part-time, temporary, and intermittent employees regardless of the degree of supervision. The safety-sensitive functions are:
...
D. Aircraft dispatcher duties."
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/drug_alcohol/testing/drug/media/Appendix%20I%20(Link%202).pdf
Notice it says "Aircraft dispatcher
duties", and not "Aircraft dispatcher
position," and as we know Weight and Balance is part of the Aircraft Dispatcher's "duties", that means Team Leads are performing, in part, Aircraft Dispatcher's "duties". Also notice the sentence, "Each employee, including
any assistant, helper..." which means that if a Team Lead is providing ANY assistance and help the Aircraft Dispatcher's "duties," then they are subject to random drug testing. Non-Team Leads FSAs would NOT be either assisting or helping Aircraft Dispatchers, and thus, NOT considered to be a "safety senstive" position.
So Clarifies Jester.