How to Become a Flight Attendant Without a College Degree!
Author: ryansprout
Job Description:
Flight attendants are protected by law to insure their own safety and security as well as providing the same service to the traveling public. The primary job are to ensure that security and safety rules are followed among all passengers, also make flights more comfortable and stress-free for passengers.
Attendants are briefed by the captain of the flight or the pilot in command on such preliminary precautions such as emergency evacuation methods, the length of the flight, expected weather concerns, and any special issues having to do with flight passengers such as a woman being board who is pregnant. Also you make sure that emergency aid kits and other emergency equipment that are aboard are working properly and efficiently. They also check to make sure that there are ample amount of of food, beverages, and any other resources. Prepare to greet passengers as they board the plane, check their tickets, and tell them where to store their carry-on items.
You will guide all passengers on the ways to use of emergency instruments and confirm that their seat-belts are buckled, seat backs are in their upright positions, and all carry-on items have been correctly put away in their designated spots before the plane takes off. While the plane is in the air, flight attendants help passengers in the event of an emergency situation. Safety-related calls may range from reassuring passengers during bad weather conditions that everything will be fine. Additionally if passengers must evacuate a plane during an emergency, flight attendants instruct passengers on how to do so. Flight attendants answer any questions passengers have during the flight, and help young children, seniors or physically disabled people, and anyone needing assistance.
Work environment:
Since airlines work around the clock and 24 hours a day, you can work nights, holidays, and weekends – this also includes overtime. Scheduled work time for flight attendants is limited to 12 hours per day, but flight attendants can be scheduled up to 14 hours a day, and even longer times for international flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that all flight attendants get 9 hours of rest before being allowed to board a plane again after a duty course.
Flight attendants may be away from their home. During this period, the airlines provide hotel accommodations and meal allowances. Flight attendants must also be flexible and willing to relocate.
Training, licensing, qualifications and educational requirements:
Workers must be certified by the FAA before they are allowed to work. The only educational requirement is a high school diploma or a GED.
Education and training: Applicants who attend schools or colleges that offer flight attendant training have an upper hand over other applicants. Highly desirable areas of studies include social skills, such as communications, psychology, nursing, travel, tourism, hospitality, and education. Flight attendants who wish to work for international flights usually have to be able to speak a foreign language fluently. For their international airlines, FAA departments prefer candidates who can speak two major foreign languages.
Licensing and certification:
All flight attendants must be certified by the FAA. To get certified, you must successfully complete training courses and procedures. These include but are not limited to evacuation, fire fighting, medical emergency, and security procedures established by the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration.
Other qualifications:
Airlines prefer to hire balanced, tactful, and resourceful people who can speak clearly and interact comfortably with strangers while remaining calm under stressful situations. Their is an age, physical, and appearance requirements. Applicants usually must be at least 18 to 21 years old, although some carriers may have higher minimum-age requirements. Applicants must meet height requirements for reaching overhead bins, which often contain emergency equipment, and most airlines want candidates with weight proportionate to height. Flight attendants must be in excellent health, and a medical evaluation is required. Vision is required to be correctable to 20/30 or better with glasses or contact lenses (uncorrected no worse than 20/200). Men must have their hair cut above the collar and be clean shaven. Airlines prefer applicants with no visible tattoos, body piercing, or unusual hairstyles or makeup. In addition to education and training, airlines conduct a thorough background check, which goes back as many as 10 years, as required by the FAA,. Everything about an applicant is investigated, including date of birth, employment history, criminal record, school records, and any gaps in employment.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ezine/5675934