Check out this article from "Air Trails" magazine dated February, 1951. The technology surrounding flight dipatch has changed radically and the work they did then was amazing.
Compare that with this article from USA Today about a modern-day major air carrier dispatcher's job and responsibilities.
The FAA Aircraft Dispatcher certificate is a product of legislation passed by the U.S.congress in 1938. The Civil Aeronautics Act mandated that air carriers conduct their flight operations as safely as possible. A result of the regulation was that the FAA began to certify individuals in a new position known as Aircraft Flight Dispatcher.
Today all US airlines (passenger & cargo) and many corporate flight departments employ FAA licensed aircraft dispatchers. The airlines are required by law to have aircraft dispatchers in charge of every flight. The corporate flight departments choose to employ licensed dispatchers for the increase in both safety and operational efficiency.
Aircraft Dispatchers are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of an air carrier's fleet. They ensure that all factors affecting safety are considered and plan the flight along the most efficient route available. Each flight is different and requires the aircraft dispatcher to carefully review all of the available information before a flight may be released by the airline or company operational control center.
Some of the factors that are considered by the Aircraft Flight Dispatcher include but are not limited to:
Aircraft Flight Dispatchers are an intergral part of any flight operation center. They share equal responsilbility with the pilot for the safe operation of a flight. Aircraft Flight Dispatchers are responsible for the pre-planning, in flight monitoring (including pertinent weather information), and assuring that each flight reaches its final destination in a safe and timely manner.
The airline industry's safety record has been enhanced and the role of an Aircraft Flight Dispatcher is now more important than ever before. With complicated aircraft systems, busy air routes and removal of Flight Engineers from the flight deck, pilots rely on FAA Certificated Aircraft Flight Dispatchers for accurate and timely information.