Air Cabin Crew...

Air cabin crew, also known as flight attendants, are responsible for the care and safety of air passengers during flights.

Before a flight they are briefed on the flight and schedule, and informed if any passengers have special requirements. They also check the aircraft to ensure it is clean and tidy, that sufficient supplies are available, and that emergency equipment is in place and in working order.

Before take-off they greet passengers, direct them to their seats, ensure luggage is safely stowed away and demonstrate emergency equipment and procedures.

During a flight they assist passengers as necessary, and may make announcements on behalf of the pilot. They serve food and drinks and sell duty free goods.

In emergency situations cabin crew reassure passengers and ensure that they follow safety procedures and instructions and use safety equipment correctly. They may have to deal with emergencies such as cabin fires, or give first aid to passengers.

At the end of the flight, cabin crew ensure passengers disembark safely. They then complete paperwork, which includes a written flight report recording any unusual incidents, customs and immigration documentation, and accounts of food and drink orders and duty free sales.



Hours and Environment
Hours of work can vary, and include weekends, nights and public holidays. The amount of time spent away from home may change from job to job. Delays and cancellations could mean hours are disrupted.

The work can be demanding and strenuous - cabin crew spend a lot of time on their feet and work in confined spaces. Bad weather can make flying conditions uncomfortable or even dangerous.

Air cabin crew wear uniform, and are expected to be smart and well-groomed.



Skills and Interests
As a member of an air cabin crew, you should:

be tactful but assertive, with the ability to deal with difficult situations politely but firmly
have a clear speaking voice
enjoy team work
be calm under pressure and in emergencies
be confident, friendly and good with people
be sensitive and reassuring towards people who are anxious or upset
be able to work quickly and efficiently
be confident with money, including foreign currency.

Entry
You will need a good standard of education, entry requirements vary between airlines, so you should check with them.

Many airlines ask for 4 or 5 GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), or the equivalent, including Maths and English.
You should be fluent in English. The ability to converse in another modern language is desirable, and is a requirement of some airlines.

Air cabin crew must be physically fit, with normal colour vision and good eyesight. Height requirements vary between airlines, and weight must be in proportion to height. You will need the ability to swim at least 25 metres. It is essential to be smart and well-groomed, and visible tattoos or body piercings are not usually permitted.

Previous experience in customer service is desirable, and nursing, or hotel and catering experience may be particularly useful.

Minimum age of entry is between 18 and 21. The maximum age varies between airlines, however, many have a compulsory retirement age of 50 or 55.

A valid passport permitting unrestricted world travel is necessary.

There are two main nationally recognised qualifications which enable those who want to work as air cabin crew to develop the skills needed to enter employment. They are the Edexcel BTEC Certificate in Preparation for Air Cabin Crew Service and the EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL) Certificate in Air Cabin Crewing.



Training
Airlines provide their own training programme for new entrants. This usually lasts for four to six weeks. Areas studied include: security, safety and emergency procedures, first aid, customs and immigration regulations, customer relations and passenger care, currency exchange, galley management, food preparation and service, and personal grooming.

Following basic training most airlines have a probationary period of three to six months, during which performance is monitored by trainers or senior crew. Air cabin crew have to pass regular examinations to test their knowledge of safety and emergency procedures, and ensure official first aid requirements are met.



Opportunities
Competition for places with airlines is very intense. Air cabin crew are usually required to live near the airport where they are based. They could be based overseas as international cabin crew with a British airline.

Experienced staff may gain promotion to senior cabin crew. It may also be possible to transfer to ground-based employment with an airline.