What is a Flight Attendant?
Flight attendants are cabin staff who work on airplanes to provide service and ensure passenger safety during flights. This term often refers to the woman who fulfills this role, while steward refers to men who perform the same duties.
Duties and Responsibilities of Flight Attendants
- Passenger Safety:
- Deliver safety instructions before takeoff.
- Demonstrate the use of safety equipment such as seat belts, lifebuoy, and an oxygen mask.
- Help passengers in emergency situations, including evacuation if necessary.
- Passenger Services:
- Serving food and drinks during the flight.
- Answer questions and meet passenger needs, such as requests for special meals or additional assistance.
- Handle passengers who experience health problems or medical emergencies.
- Flight Preparation:
- Check cabin conditions before passengers board the plane to ensure cleanliness and availability of safety equipment.
- Check passenger manifests and ensure that all passengers are seated safely before take-off.
- Communication:
- Communicate with the pilot and other crew to ensure good coordination during the flight.
- Address complaints or problems that may arise during the flight in a professional manner.
Qualifications and Training
To become a flight attendant, one usually has to fulfill some basic requirements such as:
- Minimum high school education or equivalent.
- Good communication skills, both in local and foreign languages (especially English).
- Good physical health and ability to swim.
- Pass special training that includes safety procedures, passenger service, and other specialized skills relevant to airborne employment.
Flight attendants play an important role in ensuring a safe and comfortable flight experience for all passengers.
Definition of Flight Attendant
Flight attendants are cabin crew members on airplanes who are responsible for ensuring safety, comfort, and services for passengers during the flight. This term is generally used to refer to women who carry out these duties, while men who fulfill a similar role are often called stewards.
Definition of Flight Attendant
Flight attendants are professional workers in the aviation industry whose main task is to:
- Keeping Passengers Safe: Ensure that all safety procedures are followed, provide safety instructions, and assist passengers in emergency situations.
- Give service: Serving food and drinks, assist passengers with special needs, and handle various requests or complaints.
- Providing Comfort: Greet passengers in a friendly manner, help passengers find seats, and ensuring the cabin environment remains clean and comfortable during the flight.
Functions and Roles of Flight Attendants
- Safety Instructions:
- Informs about safety procedures and use of emergency equipment.
- Direct passengers in emergency situations, including evacuation if necessary.
- Service During Flight:
- Providing food and drinks in accordance with airline service standards.
- Answers questions and assists passengers with special requests or additional needs.
- Emergency Management:
- Provide first aid if health problems occur on board the aircraft.
- Handle emergency situations such as fire or turbulence calmly and skillfully.
- Cabin Preparation and Inspection:
- Ensure cleanliness and tidiness of the cabin before passengers board.
- Check safety equipment and ensure everything is in good condition and ready to use.
Flight attendants must undergo intensive training to understand safety procedures, passenger service, and various emergency situations that may occur during the flight. They also need to have good communication skills, friendly attitude, and the ability to remain calm and professional in a variety of situations.
Position of Flight Attendant
The position of flight attendant in the aviation industry has several levels or hierarchies, reflecting their respective levels of responsibility and experience. The following are several positions that are generally found in a flight attendant's career:
1. Junior Flight Attendant (Junior Flight Attendant)
- Description: Initial position for flight attendants who have just started working. Usually, they are still in the learning stage and adapting to flight attendant duties.
- Task: Carry out basic service tasks, help seniors, and learn safety procedures and passenger service.
2. Flight Attendant (Air hostess)
- Description: After going through a period of training and gaining experience, Junior flight attendants will be promoted to regular flight attendants.
- Task: Carry out daily tasks in providing services to passengers, ensure safety, and handle emergency situations.
3. Senior Flight Attendant (Senior Flight Attendant)
- Description: Flight attendants who have more experience and have demonstrated skill and leadership in their duties.
- Task: Leading a team of flight attendants in flight, provide guidance to juniors, and ensure all safety and service procedures are followed correctly.
4. Lead Flight Attendant atau Chief Purser (Chief Stewardess)
- Description: Managerial position within the flight attendant team, Responsible for all cabin services on one flight.
- Task: Coordinate the duties of all flight attendants, manage situations that require quick decisions, and act as a liaison between cabin crew and pilots.
5. Purser or Cabin Manager (Cabin Manager)
- Description: The highest position in the flight attendant hierarchy, usually responsible for several flights or the entire cabin crew on a particular flight route.
- Task: Ensure compliance with company service and safety standards, Handle passenger complaints or problems, and reporting performance to airline management.
6. In-Flight Services Manager
- Description: The role is usually at airline management level, responsible for overseeing all aspects of in-flight service across the fleet.
- Task: Develop service policies and procedures, train flight attendants, and ensuring that service and safety standards across all company flights are met.
7. Trainer or Instructor
- Description: Flight attendants who have extensive experience and are responsible for training new flight attendants.
- Task: Deliver training materials on safety, service, and emergency situations for new and experienced flight attendants.
This hierarchy may vary slightly by airline, but generally, This position structure reflects the career path that a flight attendant can take from initial position to management level.
Flight Attendant Requirements
To become a flight attendant, there are a number of requirements that must be met. These requirements include physical aspects, education, Skills, and personality. Below are some general requirements that are usually required by airlines:
General requirement
- Education:
- Minimum high school graduate or equivalent. Some airlines may prefer candidates who have higher education.
- Age:
- Usually minimal 18-21 year. There are airlines that set a maximum age limit, but this may vary.
- Height and Weight:
- Have proportional height and weight. Height is usually regulated by certain standards, often approx 158-172 cm for girls and 170-185 cm for men, however this can vary between airlines.
- Appearance:
- Look attractive and neat, with good self-care. Have no visible tattoos while wearing uniform.
- Language ability:
- Master English well, both verbally and written. Other foreign language skills are a plus.
Special Requirements
- Health:
- Pass a medical examination that includes an eye test, hearing, and general physical tests. Do not have a health condition that could interfere with your duties as a flight attendant.
- Swimming Ability:
- Good swimming ability, as this is important in emergency situations involving water.
- Interpersonal Skills:
- Good communication skills, ramah, and able to work in a team. Able to handle stressful situations calmly and effectively.
- Work experience:
- Experience in customer service or other service industries would be a plus, although not always necessary.
Training
- Basic Training:
- Upon receipt, Candidates for flight attendants will undergo intensive training organized by airlines. This training includes safety procedures, emergency treatment, passenger service, and knowledge of aircraft.
Traits and Personality
- Adaptability:
- Able to adapt quickly to various situations and changing schedules.
- Leadership:
- Have good leadership skills, especially for more senior positions.
- Discipline and Responsibility:
- Discipline in complying with rules and procedures, and responsible for carrying out their duties.
Meeting these requirements will increase your chances of being accepted and successful in a career as a flight attendant. Each airline may have additional or special requirements that prospective flight attendants need to meet.
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