Airline Dispatchers Federation.
Representing the professional interests of the Aircraft Dispatcher.

Russ Williams

Russ got into the aviation industry when enrolled in the Civil Aviation Management course at Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario, Canada in 1986.  The program was co-operative in nature, therefore worked terms as a Ramp Attendant followed by a work term with Transport Canada in Airport Operations.  Both jobs were in YHZ.

After graduation in 1989, he worked another term with Transport Canada, before gaining full time employment as an Assistant Dispatcher with Air Nova, a connector airline for Air Canada based in YHZ.  While at Air Nova, he went on to work as a Load Agent, then finally as a Flight Dispatcher.  During this time, he formed an (in house) Association and negotiated two collective agreements with the company.

He was hired in 1995 by Air Canada as a Flight Dispatcher in YYZ.  At the time, Transport Canada had legislated all Dispatchers must be licensed by June 01, 1998.  The goal was met and was a proud moment for all.  Still employed by Air Canada today, Russ was promoted to Chief Duty Dispatcher in 2004.

He was elected as Local Council Chairperson in 1997 for Association CALDA (Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association) and held this position for 5 terms.  The terms included a full collective agreement in 1999, followed by negotiation sessions in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2009 during the Airline’s restructuring.

Russ was elected National President of CALDA in 2009 and has been in the positon ever since.  CALDA represents Air Canada, Jazz Aviation, First Air, Air Transat and Sunwing Airlines and has over (two hundred) 200 members.  As President, he participated in further contract negotiations with Air Canada in 2011 and 2015 as well as sessions with all the member groups mentioned above.

Following being elected as National President, Russ began to attend industry meetings with Transport Canada, Navcanada, and of course IFALDA and the ADF.  Through IFALDA, he began to attend meetings with ICAO, notably an emergency session on Global Tracking following the disappearance of MH370 in 2014.  He was elected Vice-President West for IFALDA in 2014, and has held this position until 2017, whereby was elected President this past May in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Russ is married with three grown children.  Outside of all activities, he cherishes all time spent at the family replica Lighthouse cottage in Shediac Cape, New Brunswick, Canada.