Air cabin crew are the main point of contact for air passengers, and their primary role is to ensure the safety of passengers. They also attend to the passengers, to make sure they have a comfortable and pleasant flight.
All air cabin crew are trained to deal with safety and security issues. In the event of an emergency, air cabin crew encourage the passengers to follow the captain's instructions, remaining calm at all times and dealing with any further problems as they arise. They also oversee the evacuation of the aircraft if necessary.
Before boarding the aircraft, the air cabin crew are briefed about their flight. Then, once on board, they may be responsible for:
In addition to these tasks, air cabin crew also fill in forms, for example detailing any sales of food and drinks on board, immigration documents and flight reports. They work as a team and may work with different members of staff on each flight.
There is no typical working week for air cabin crew. They work irregular hours on a rota - including nights, public holidays and weekends. Part-time work may be possible.
Some air cabin crew may work only on short flights, such as European or internal flights. Others may work on long-haul flights, with long periods spent away from home.
The working environment is often quite demanding. Cabin space is restricted and the galley where cabin crew prepare meals and refreshments is a small area. A lot of time is spent moving from galley to cabin, standing up and attending to passengers. Cabin crew may experience jetlag due to crossing different time zones in a single flight.
Air cabin crew wear a uniform and must be well groomed, with no visible tattoos or body piercings.
A driving licence may be useful.
The starting salaries for air cabin crew may be from £10,000 to £12,000 a year.
Air cabin crew work for British or foreign airlines. These may be small budget airlines or large national ones. It is helpful if air cabin crew live within easy access of an airport.
The airline market is changing, with a growth in smaller airlines offering low-price flights, and an increase in the number of routes. Although competition for jobs is intense, there are growing opportunities in this area.
Job vacancies may be advertised by individual airlines, in local and national newspapers and by recruitment agencies.
Airlines often set the following requirements for applicants:
In addition, previous experience in a customer service role is often required. Cabin crew may also be subject to criminal records checks for airport security clearance.
Entry requirements vary between airlines, but all applicants should be educated to GCSE/S grade standard. Airlines may require four or five GCSE's/S grades (A-C/1-3) or equivalent qualifications. English, maths and a foreign language are useful subjects.
There are nationally-recognised qualifications for people who want to work as air cabin crew:
The Edexcel BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Preparation for Air Cabin Crew Service is an introductory course.
EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL) awards the EAL Intermediate Certificate in Air Cabin Crewing, a vocationally-related qualification that covers all aspects of the job and assesses students on their performance in a mock-up air cabin.
NCFE Level 2 Certificate for Airline Cabin Crew.
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 National Award, Certificate or Diploma in Aviation Operations - candidates need four GCSE's/S grades (A-C/1-3) or equivalent qualifications.
Airlines run their own structured training programmes, which last from four to six weeks. These cover a series of practical and written tests in:
The training is a mixture of theoretical and practical knowledge. Much of the learning takes place in role-play situations.
Having completed their training, newly qualified air cabin crew have a probationary period of three to six months. During this time, they are monitored by their trainers or senior members of staff.
Work-based training courses are also available, leading to NVQ/SVQ Aviation Operations in the Air - Cabin Crew at Levels 2 and 3.
Oil Drilling Roustabouts and Roughnecks work as part of a small team on offshore oil or gas drilling rigs or production platforms. Roustabouts do unskilled manual labouring jobs on rigs and platforms, and Roughneck is a promotion from roustabout.
Roustabouts do basic tasks to help keep the rig and platform working efficiently and Roughnecks do practical tasks involved in the drilling operation, under the supervision of the driller.
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Air cabin crew should:
Promotion prospects vary from one airline to another. The first level of promotion may be to purser, taking responsibility for a particular cabin such as first class or club class.
There may be opportunities to move into ground-based employment, such as passenger check-in officer, or to work as a trainer of cabin crew. Some cabin crew may also go on to senior roles within airlines such as flight or aircraft operations.
There may be opportunities to work overseas.
Careerroo practice tests specific to the aviation industry
Website: www.careerroo.com/
EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL), SEMTA House,
14 Upton Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0JT
Tel: 01923 652400
Website: www.eal.org.uk
GoSkills, Concorde House, Trinity Park, Solihull, West Midlands B37 7UQ
Tel: 0121 635 5520
Website: www.goskills.org
NCFE Awarding Body, Citygate, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4JE
Tel: 0191 239 8000
Website: www.ncfe.org.uk
The Royal Aeronautical Society, 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ
Tel: 020 7670 4300
Website: www.aerosociety.com
Are Lingus, Employment Section,
Personnel and Catering Building,
Dublin Airport, Co Dublin
Tel: (003531) 7052651
Website: www.aerlingus.com
British Airways Recruitment and Selection,
PO Box 59, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow TW5 9QX
Tel: (020) 8564 1020/1021
Website: www.britishairways.com
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., Customer Service Recruitment,
Virgin Flight Centre,
Victoria Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 7PY
Tel: (01293) 444890
Website: www.virgin-atlantic.com
British Midland, Cabin Services Department,
Donington Hall, Castle Donington DE74 2SB
Tel: (013) 3285 4000
Website: www.flybmi.com