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Careers... |
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The air hostess or air stewardess, as she is sometimes called, is the first person to welcome a passenger aboard an aircraft. Her welcoming smile and greeting acknowledge every passenger. She helps to check them in and supervises their seating arrangements and helps them in arranging their handbaggage in the proper manner. Once all the passengers have come in she goes about ensuring the safety-belt arrangements and demonstrates the use of emergency equipment. She has to make the necessary announcements over the public address system. Her duties and responsibilities start much before the arrival of the passengers. Before their arrival she has to make the necessary arrangements for the comfort of the passengers by checking that blankets, pillows, magazines, newspapers, etc., are in good order in the proper places. The air hostess has to be on duty throughout the duration of the flight looking after passengers in general and taking special care of air-sick travellers, sick children and babies; and also the elderly or very young who are travelling alone. She has to provide first aid meals to passengers and crew but she is not supposed to cook them. After the meal she has to clear the dishes and check again that all passengers have been served all the items. All through the flight she has to work continuously and efficiently in the confined space with good humour. Depending on the routes she flies she may get to do a lot of sightseeing-the longer the route the higher are the chances of sightseeing as crews often change planes at ‘slip points’ or stop-overs. At these times they stay at luxury hotels at the airlines, expense. Common sense; sense of responsibility; ability to handle crisis; initiative; helpful, friendly nature; physical stamina and the capacity to work for long hours on one’s feet; calm, unruffled mien; ability to work with speed and efficiency; systematic approach; attractive appearance; a well-modulated pleasant voice; and a proportionate figure with a graceful carriage.
Airlines recruit air hostesses on the basis of certain eligibility criteria: Age: below
25 years. The applicant should be physically fit with a pleasing personality and clear complexion. After the initial screening of applicants is completed the airline company calls them for a written examination, usually of the objective type (multiple choice). Those who qualify in the written examination have to appear for a group discussion followed by a personal interview of successful candidates. Knowledge of the national language (apart from English) and at least one international language is essential. During the period of training of trainee air hostesses the subjects taught include catering, first-aid, general airborne procedures, documentation (dealing with the flight documents they have to complete after each flight), use of the public address system, and technical details of aircraft pressurization and ventilation. They are given lessons in the use of safety equipment and the emergency drill. At first the practical work is taught on firm ground; later on they have to gain flight practice flying as an extra or supernumerary.
Increasing privatization in the airline industry and tie-ups between foreign carriers and private airlines-Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways with Jet Air; Lufthansa's management arrangement with Modiluft and with many more in the pipeline-form the picture of India's civil aviation industry today. Carriers like Sahara and Jet have made a bid to augment their fleet strength. In this encouraging atmosphere those who are interested in working as air hostesses will find innumerable opportunities ahead of them. While most airlines advertise their openings, interested candidates can also apply on their own. A resume accompanied by photography may be mailed to the different airlines. Air hostesses can look for monthly emoluments in the range Rs.8000 to Rs.40,000. The span of their flying career as symbols of hospitality rarely exceeds 10 years. Prospects of successful absorption in other cadres in the travel and tourism sector are good.
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