Flight Attendant

What Does a Flight Attendant Do?
Flight attendants are primarily responsible for keeping passengers safe aboard aircrafts. The attendants are experts in aviation rules and regulations and they work diligently to ensure that passengers adhere to these regulations for safety purposes. Regulations include not allowing live animals out of their carriers in the cabin of the plane, prohibiting smoking inside the plane, and making certain that the passenger’s carry-on items are properly stored away so that in an emergency, these items would not block traffic in the aircraft. Before each flight, the captain explains the details of the flight to the flight attendants, such as the length of the flight and expected weather patterns. At the beginning of every flight, attendants brief passengers on the safety procedures of the aircraft, including emergency exit locations, seat belt operation, and how to use the oxygen mask. In case of an emergency, flight attendants are responsible for taking care of the passengers. In addition to ensuring safety, flight attendants also work to improve the quality of the flight, making passengers comfortable by providing them with food and drinks.

What Is the Employment and Salary Outlook for a Flight Attendant?
As the economy recovers and travel becomes more common again, the airline industry will see a boost. With the increase in globalization, travel for business will become more commonplace as well. Business employees often board aircrafts to travel across the country, and sometimes even across the globe, for meetings with other business employees. More flight attendants will be needed for the increase in flights. In addition to fresh job openings, there will also be job openings due to current flight attendants retiring or leaving the industry for one reason or another. Employment opportunities for flight attendants are expected to grow eight percent through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to the rewarding job of keeping travelers safe and the exciting opportunity to fly around the country and world and see many destinations, flight attendants earn a substantial living as well. Flight attendants earn an average salary of $35,930 annually, according to the latest information available from the Bureau.

How Can I Become a Flight Attendant?
Although the minimum education requirement for flight attendants is a high school diploma or its equivalent, more employers are actively seeking out applicants that have completed a college degree program. This means that to increase your chances of finding a job in the sky, you should strongly consider earning an associate degree in communications, nursing, hospitality, or another concentration that builds skills in dealing with people and helping others. An associate degree program typically takes about two years to complete. During this time, you should take courses in psychology, speech, and other related classes. Those aspiring to work on international flights should look into learning another major foreign language, as most international airlines seek flight attendants who are capable of communicating with passengers from both destination countries. After completing your associate degree program, you must earn certification from the FAA. To do so, you must successfully complete safety drills and undergo a training program that lasts about three to six weeks. This training program provides flight attendants with job-specific knowledge and skills, such as how to handle an attempted hijacking and emergency evacuation techniques.