Cabin Crew Attendant

Let your career dreams take flight in the airline industry!

What does a career as part of the air cabin crew involve?

As a member of air cabin crew (often called a flight attendant) you would make sure airline passengers have a comfortable, safe and pleasant flight.

Before a flight you would attend a briefing about the flight and schedule, check that there are enough supplies and that emergency equipment is working properly.

You also greet passengers and direct them to their seats and demonstrate emergency equipment and procedures.

During a flight you would ensure passengers are comfortable and deal with any requests, serve food and drinks, make announcements for the pilot and reassure passengers in the event of an emergency, and make sure that they follow safety procedures.

At the end of a flight you would make sure passengers leave the plane safely with all hand luggage and fill in a written flight report recording any unusual incidents.

What personal skills do you need?

You need a polite but firm approach when dealing with difficult customers, tact and diplomacy plus an enjoyment of teamwork.

The ability to remain calm and focused under pressure and in emergencies is essential, as well as sensitivity towards people who are anxious or upset. Good maths skills for handling cash, including foreign currency is also needed.

What training do you need?

Airlines will normally expect you to have four or five GCSEs (grades A-C).

You will also need a good level of fitness, normal colour vision and good eyesight, the ability to swim at least 25 metres.

You must be over 18, some airlines set the minimum entry age at 21. Height and weight requirements also vary between airlines.

The ability to speak a second language, plus previous experience in customer service is helpful.

Several college courses can develop the skills you need, although not essential, include: BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Preparation for Air Cabin Crew Service; EMTA Awards Intermediate Level 2 Certificate in Air Cabin Crewing; NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Airline Cabin Crew.

What are the opportunities for career progression?

Once you start work your airline would provide a programme of training, usually lasting between four and six weeks. You could also work towards NVQ levels 2 and 3 in Aviation Operations in the Air (Cabin Crew) offered by EMTA Awards and City & Guilds.

What is the salary?

(Guideline only) Starting around £12,000 to £14,000 a year, rising to £15,000 and £21,000. Senior crew up to £25,000 a year.

More information

Royal Aeronautical Society www.raes.org.uk

City & Guilds www.cityandguilds.com

EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL) www.eal.org.uk

Article from www.careersadvice.direct.gov.uk. Details provided for information only. Jobs not necessarily available.