Smart Skills
Flying start
Usha Albuquerque

"Come fly with me. Come fly, come fly away …" The words of this well-known song could very well be the lines of an advertisement for an airline. For, it is the smiling face of the flying crew that is most often evoked to promote an airline.

In fact, air hostesses are the face and image of an airline company. They are the people passengers come to first, and possibly most, in contact with, and so they project the profile of the airline.

There are two categories of professionals that work in the airlines – the ground crew who handle ticketing and reservation, marketing and administrative functions; and the flying personnel that include the cockpit crew—pilot, navigator, flight engineercabin crew of air hostess and flight attendants.

The cabin crew, along with the pilot, is responsible for the safety of passengers on a flight.

A typical cabin crew on board a flight consists of a team of young men, called flight pursers, and young women, called air hostesses, who assist passengers on board the aircraft with information on safety and emergency measures, weather and places of interest en route; supervise seating and look after air-sick travellers, babies and children travelling alone. They also serve meals and refreshments, provide reading material, and make inflight announcements.

The cabin crew ‘dress the plane’ to see that blankets, head-rests, magazines etc are available, deal with any emergency, and write reports after each flight.

Most of the time that the cabin crew are airborne they are continuously busy, and working at great speed. Duty hours vary from one airline to another.

Though no formal qualifications are required, and a minimum of Class XII pass can suffice, most airlines prefer to recruit graduates with a degree or diploma in tourism or catering, or some service experience.

Knowledge of a foreign language and first aid or nursing can also be an advantage. You should be unmarried and in the age bracket of 19-25 years, at least 157.5 cm in height, if you are a woman, some foreign airlines specify a minimum height of 160m, and 163cm for men, with proportionate weight, and have normal eyesight or corrected with contact lenses up to 6/6.

Airlines also look for young people who are service-oriented, outgoing and friendly, exude a certain confidence and courteousness, courage, a positive outlook on life and an ability to work hard, and help others.

What’s more, you must also accept flexible work timings and possess the physical stamina for long flights.

With the increasing demand for more cabin crew, many airlines are on a recruiting spree. Often the selection consists of an appearance test or a written test followed by an interview.

Today, there are several airhostess training institutes that are giving young hopeful air hostesses and flight pursers the spit and polish that airlines look for.

Students are put through personality development programmes, training on etiquette, beauty, skin and hair care and also given practical exercises on simulated flights, accident rescue, first aid etc. Most programmes run for a year, and take on students after school, or graduation. Some airlines take on candidates with promise directly, and train them. Indian Airlines imparts cabin crew training at the Indian Airlines Central Training Establishment, Hyderabad, while Air India provides training for its cabin crew at Juhu, Mumbai.

Private institutes such as the Air Hostess Academy and Frankfinn, with branches in many cities, are conducting certificate and diploma courses for airhostess and flight purser training with placement offers. The National School of Service Entrance in Bombay, and Dean Travel and Tours in Bangalore, run similar programmes.

Many airlines also provide refresher and reorientation programmes from time to time, for its own flying and ground staff. For airlines with international collaborations, this training is often conducted abroad.

Once you join an airline you will be working on shift duties according to the schedule of the airlines, and dependent on its areas of operation.

Money matters

After some years of experience you will be eligible for promotion as Senior Hostess. Deputy Chief Air Hostess and Chief Air Hostess are other higher ranks in the hierarchy.

The fascination of flying draws many people. Being a flight attendant, whether male or female, is today a full-fledged career with the exciting promise of travelling to different places and interacting with a variety of people. Moreover, salaries being offered are attractive too. Airhostesses and flight pursers start on salaries between Rs 15,000-25,000 pm plus benefits, including free/concessional air passage for dependants.

Air travel has grown and private airlines are being set up fast and furiously with a huge demand for trained professionals. So, why not launch your career with flying colours?

The writer is a noted career expert