One of the most romantic and sensual professions is that of a flight attendant. Many young women are wondering: how to become a flight attendant? I want to visit different countries, see the world, meet interesting people, even meet my love on the plane. In addition, the work seems dust-free. But few people know what this profession really is, what hard work is hidden behind a beautiful picture, and what you have to pay for the opportunity to fly.
The history of the stewardess profession
The profession of a flight attendant originates in the 30s of the last century. Someone had to take care of the passengers on board, and for advertising purposes it was decided that they should be young and attractive women, although the first task was to unload the co-pilot for safety reasons. There was no place to study as a flight attendant then, the education of a nurse was enough.
Flight attendants met passengers, checked tickets, weighed luggage, and cleaned the cabin. During the flight, they served food and drinks, polished passengers' shoes, carried buckets of fuel during intermediate landings. The first flight attendants are young women no older than 25 years old with nursing diplomas, necessarily slim and short - no more than 160 cm and 52 kg. The term "flight attendant" appeared quite recently, in 1998.
What does it take to become a flight attendant?
The requirements of various airlines for applicants for the position of a flight attendant are not too different. As a rule, they are the following:
- Average height - from 165 cm, but not too high so that you do not have to bend your head.
- Excellent health. For flight attendants, it is mandatory to pass a medical examination. Good eyesight, absence of cardiovascular diseases, psychological health - all these are mandatory requirements for flight attendants.
- The absence of excess weight, tattoos, scars, piercings, noticeable flaws in appearance.
- Good knowledge of at least English, and preferably German or French.
- Higher education, competent speech, good diction.
Requirements for flight attendants
So how do you become a flight attendant? Flight attendant school is the next step after passing the interview and medical examination. The course is designed for a month or two. This is followed by a thirty-hour internship already on board the aircraft.
It is generally accepted that flight attendants are required to have a model appearance. The requirements for the figure of a flight attendant are not dictated by aesthetics at all, just being too short can prevent passengers from getting things from the upper shelves, and heavy weight is undesirable so as not to overload the aircraft.
Having a desire to acquire this profession and being interested in how to become a flight attendant, you will definitely have to improve your English. This job pays well and gives you the opportunity to travel the world. In addition, the flight attendant's paid vacation is more than 70 days. But it is hard work both physically and mentally.
What is taught in the courses
Future flight attendants are trained in first aid, rules of conduct in emergency situations, and passenger service. Flight attendants can even deliver a baby or calm a violent passenger. Girls are also taught how to apply discreet makeup and hair, as well as wear a uniform. Training takes place with the use of simulator aircraft. At the end of the course, an exam is taken, part of which is a simulation of an aircraft crash with the crew descending into a pool of cold water. How much to study to become a flight attendant depends on the airline, but is usually between four and seven weeks.
Work at Aeroflot
Aeroflot is one of the most desirable employers for flight attendants. Firstly, here the salary of flight attendants is higher than in other airlines. Secondly, it is prestigious to work at Aeroflot, as it is a very respected organization. Thirdly, it impresses with a huge number of international flights. What you need to become a flight attendant in this particular company:
- secondary education;
- for those who have no experience, the upper age limit is 26 years old, experienced flight attendants can try their luck at Aeroflot even at an older age;
- height from 160 to 175 cm;
- clothing size up to 48;
- good level of English;
- citizenship of the Russian Federation;
- registration in Moscow or the Moscow region;
You can learn more about how to become an Aeroflot flight attendant on the airline's website. If you meet all their requirements, then you can safely fill out the questionnaire posted here, which must be accompanied by a good photo with neat daytime makeup and hair.
Applicants will be interviewed by a special commission. If, after the interview and testing, a decision is made in favor of the candidate, the applicant is sent to undergo a medical-flight expert commission. Based on the results of this commission and the results of the interview, the applicant is enrolled in the position of a trainee flight attendant and is sent to the Aeroflot Aviation School for training and further training.
How much do flight attendants earn
In Aeroflot, a flight attendant can earn from 40 to 90 thousand. The salary is not fixed, but depends on many factors:
- the presence or absence of complaints and thanks;
- grades at the next exam in English;
- number of flight hours.
Flight attendants who perform well are transferred to long-haul flights. In this case, very decent travel allowances are also paid. Also, over time, you can become a senior flight attendant or instructor. To work on international charter flights, it is desirable to speak not only English, but also French and German. In addition, Aeroflot trains flight attendants in Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
The social package in Aeroflot is also quite good: insurance, pension contributions, preferential air tickets, sanatoriums, kindergartens, vacation 74 days.
Where Aeroflot flight attendants are trained
Where to study to be a flight attendant depends on which airline you interviewed with. Before becoming a flight attendant at Aeroflot, you need to graduate from the flight attendant training school of this company - the Aeroflot Aviation School. The cost of training in it is 45,000 rubles. For those who passed the interview and were hired, Aeroflot partially pays for the training, the rest can be deducted from the salary. You will have to study for 1.5 months. The course includes both theoretical training and practical training on an aircraft. In training, the simulator "land-water", a model of the passenger compartment is used. During their studies, students master the skills of providing first aid, undergo emergency rescue training, and a course in organizing air transport. Flight attendants are taught how to properly serve food and even open champagne, serve passengers, guess their desires and smooth out conflict situations.
The price of the issue is motherhood
Changes in pressure, exposure to ozone and radiation, loud noise, vibration, change of time zones - all this cannot but affect health. For example, it is difficult for flight attendants to endure pregnancy, it is often interrupted at the earliest stages. In the third or fourth week of pregnancy, a rough laying of organs, the nervous system, and the brain occurs. Under the influence of harmful factors, the natural development of the embryo may be disrupted, and a miscarriage occurs or the fetus freezes. This happens at a time when a woman may not even be aware of her situation. Occupational gynecological diseases are also observed in stewardesses, as well as dysbacteriosis. In order to conceive and bear a healthy child, the flight attendant needs to abandon flights even at the stage of pregnancy planning.
Other disadvantages of the profession
Due to the long stay on the legs, flight attendants often suffer from varicose veins, and they often have problems with the spine. Life in constant stress leads to another occupational disease - insomnia.
Flight attendants work with people. Situations are very different, conflicting, complex. A flight attendant must always remain calm, friendly and have a smile on her face. The situation is aggravated by the fact that many passengers in the air deteriorate character. Fear and panic, multiplied by alcohol, lead to quarrels, whims, nagging, and sometimes fights. Thus, stress is the eternal companion of a flight attendant. Therefore, flight attendants retire at thirty.
Often, flight attendants do not have a personal life. It so happened that they fall in love with a beautiful stewardess, fascinated by the romance of the profession, but when the wife is not at home for weeks, this is a completely different matter. The stewardess simply physically cannot take care of the house, life, perform all the duties of a good wife and mother. If she's even lucky enough to be a mother.
Nevertheless, this work is very interesting, complex, responsible and well paid. If you are attracted by the sky and distant countries, then go ahead! It is possible to get the job of your dreams.
