A Flight Attendant or an Air Hostess or Purser is a cabin crew member who is employed by airlines primarily to provide personal services to ensure the safety, security and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, business aircrafts and military aircrafts. Other activities involve verifying tickets, greeting passengers, serving food or beverages, and explaining use of safety equipments.

Flight attendants provide personal services to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.

Duties

Flight attendants typically do the following:

 Attend preflight briefings on details of the flight  Ensure that adequate supplies of refreshments and emergency equipment are on board

 Assist in cleaning the cabin between flights

 Demonstrate the use of safety and emergency equipment

 Ensure all passengers have seatbelts fastened and ensure other safety requirements are met

 Serve, and sometimes sell, beverages, meals, or snacks

 Take care of passengers’ needs, particularly those with special needs

 Reassure passengers during flight, such as when the aircraft hits turbulence

 Administer first aid to passengers or coordinate first aid efforts, when needed

 Direct passengers in case of emergency

Airlines are required by law to provide flight attendants for the safety and security of passengers. The primary job of flight attendants is to keep passengers safe and to ensure that everyone follows security regulations. Flight attendants also try to make flights comfortable and enjoyable for passengers.

About 1 hour before takeoff, the captain (pilot) informs attendants about evacuation procedures, the length of the flight, and weather conditions. Flight attendants must ensure that emergency equipment is working, the cabin is clean, and there is an adequate supply of food and beverages on board. Flight attendants greet passengers as they board the aircraft and direct them to their seats, assisting as needed.

Before the plane takes off, flight attendants instruct all passengers on the use of safety equipment, either by playing a video recording or demonstrating its use in person. They also ensure that seatbelts are fastened, seats are locked in the upright position, and all carry-on items are properly stowed in accordance with federal law and company policy.

A flight attendant’s most important responsibility, however, is to help passengers in the event of an emergency. This responsibility ranges from dealing with unruly passengers to performing first aid, fighting fires, and directing evacuations. Flight attendants also answer questions about the flight, attend to passengers with special needs, help anyone else needing assistance, and generally assist all passengers as needed.

Before the plane lands, flight attendants once again ensure that seatbelts are fastened, seats are locked in the upright position, and all carry-on items are properly stowed.

Before they leave the plane, flight attendants take inventory of headsets, alcoholic beverages, and payments. They also submit reports to the airline company on the condition of the cabin, as well as on any medical problems that may have occurred during the flight.

Courses & Eligibility The minimum qualification required to become a Flight Steward & Cabin Crew is Intermediate or graduation. There are various institutes in India offers diploma course after 12th in the field of Aviation. Some of the airlines also provide 3 to 6 month training. In order to be a Flight Steward & Cabin Crew, you may have to pursue the following mentioned course:

 Diploma in Cabin Crew Services & Hospitality Management  Diploma in Airline and Travel Management  Diploma in Tourism Management  Diploma in Hotel Management  Diploma in Aviation & Hospitality Management  Diploma in Airline Cabin Crew  Certificate Course in Air Hostess/Flight Purser The duration of these courses may be from 12 months to 18 months.

Eligibility Criteria On the basis of the following eligibility criteria Airlines recruits the students:

 Age Requirement: Below 25 years old.  Height: Minimum 5.5 to 5.9 foots.  Weight: In proportion to Height  Status (Martial): Unmarried  Eye Sight: 20/30 vision or better is required.  Education: Graduate Degree or 12th/equivalent with three year diploma.  Other: No Tattoos, piercings or wild hairstyles.  Language: National & one international language How to become Flight Steward & Cabin Crew?  Aspirants have to apply in various airlines for different posts that are advertised in national newspapers & other mass media.  Once the aspirants are shortlisted, they have to appear for the written test.  Successful aspirants will be called for the group discussion & personal interviews.  After GD/PI, if aspirants are selected, then the airline trained them for 2 to 3 months.  After successful training, aspirants are put on trainee flights before assigning duties. Skills required becoming a Flight Steward:  Good Communication Skills  Patience  Confidence  Soft Spoken  Problem Solving Abilities  Excellent coordination skills  Friendly Nature Where can I pursue the aviation courses? Some prominent Institutions in India that offers short-term courses in Aviation:

 Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training  Kingfisher Training and Aviation Services  Avalon Academy, Dehradun  Air Hostess Academy  J. Aviation academy  Indian Aviation Academy  All India Institute of Aeronautics

Jobs & Career Due to increase in new airlines in the aviation sector, the aviation industry is expanding.

That’s why the job opportunities of the Cabin Attendants are growing at a very fast rate.

There are good career prospects and excellent growth opportunities for youngster not only in India but also in abroad. The Job profile of the flight attendants is very exciting, they can visit all over the world & see various cultures while earning a reasonably good salary at the same time.

Flight Steward works in teams to make the passengers comfortable in the Flight and to check the security of the passengers in the tough situations.

They also make sure that first-aid kits and other emergency equipment are on board and work properly or not.

Flight Steward welcomes the passengers while they are boarding the plane, check their tickets & serves refreshments and food on their journey . They also educate all the passengers, how to use the emergency equipment’s, supervise them in the seating arrangements and check the safety belt arrangements.

Flight Steward & Cabin Crew are mostly employed by the commercial airlines. They can also work in private air transport companies. They can seek job opportunities in Public & Private Sector.

Recruiters:  Indian Airlines  Air India  Jet Airways  Kingfisher  Spice Jet  IndiGo  Sahara Airlines Some working areas where you can find jobs are:  Private International Airlines  Private Domestic Airlines  Airport Ground Staff  Government International Airlines  Government Domestic Airlines

Salary What are Salary Prospects? In India, Flight Steward can earn a salary between Rs. 2.5 lakh to 4.5 Lakh per year as a beginner in the public sector. In Private sector, the salary package is attractive. A Head flight attendant is paid as per their experience, they can earn approximately 6 Lakh per annum. The Cabin Crew member working with the International airlines, they can get salary in between Rs. 9 lakh to 10 lakh per years. Some airlines offer an extra salary for working on off days. In the US, as a fresher, their salary starts from $18,000 per year. Salary is usually varies according to their position and experience.