High-flying career

In the early '30s, Ellen Church, a trained nurse, was hired by Boeing Air Transport, a predecessor of United Airlines, as the world's fir...

In the early 8217;30s, Ellen Church, a trained nurse, was hired by Boeing Air Transport, a predecessor of United Airlines, as the world8217;s first air hostess. Since then, thousands of young women have been attracted by the glamour and excitement of the job.

8220;Being an air hostess is not just about beauty, glamour and money. You need to have poise, presence of mind, an abiding interest in people and travelling and a sense of responsibility. You should have the capacity to smile even after your feet begin to ache after a long tiring flight,8221; says Sapna Gupta, director, Air Hostess Academy. Anyone who wants to become an air hostess generally referred to as flight attendants or flight stewardess should fulfill certain basic requirements.

Most domestic and international airlines look for a minimum height of 58217;28221;, a normal eye-sight, flawless complexion and a graduate degree. Fluency in Hindi and English is essential, and a knowledge of a foreign language is preferred. The minimum age requirement however, varies. While domestic airlines look for girls between 18 and 28 years, British Airways hires girls up to the age of 35. In some cases, there is a height limit also. United Airways does not hire girls above 68217;28221;.

Till recently, most domestic airlines hired only those who had a degree in hotel management, but things have changed. Any graduate is eligible for the job now, but as a British Airways official puts it, 8220;Every qualification adds to the chances of being hired.8221; Most posts are filled through advertisements and all candidates have to go through a written test as well as several rounds of interviews.

Says Neetu Tandon, who works as a flight attendant with Swiss Air, 8220;The written test is basically a test of your knowledge of countries, their capitals and currencies. It also includes test of basic mathematics and aptitude. The best way to prepare for it is to brush up your general knowledge by reading newspapers and magazines.8221;

Simply put, the selection board just wants to now how aware you are of the world around you. The interview consists of several rounds in a single day. The first and the second round are always group interviews, where candidates are quizzed about their hobbies and personal preferences. The final interview, which is always an individual round, is the deciding factor. 8220;You must be dressed up well, wearing make-up. It is also very important to know something about the airlines one is applying for. I was asked the name of the managing director of Jet Airways,8221; says Shweta Arya, who appeared for Jet Airways and Sahara Airlines8217; interview.

Focused preparation before taking the plunge increases the chances of success and it is here that training institutes like the Air Hostess Academy make the big difference. Run by the husband-wife team of Akash and Sapna Gupta, the academy trains prospective air hostesses in communication skills, body language, grooming and etiquette. They are also taught about the history of aviation, GMT timing, ground services, configuration of an aircraft, first-aid and handling emergencies. During the three month course, the students are also made to pick up a smattering knowledge of German.

Story continues below this ad

But professional courses like this one does not ensure them a job. 8220;A lot of training institutes have mushroomed in the capital, but we do not hire directly from them,8221; adds the British Airways official. Whatever the mode of selection, all flight attendants undergo training for a stipulated duration and only then are their services confirmed. Swiss Air, for example, sends its flight attendants to Switzerland for five-week training, while British Airways8217; flight attendants undergo a rigorous one-month training in London, and another five-month in India. Air India flight attendants undergo 12-week on-ground and in-flight training at Cabin Crew Training School at its base at Mumbai Airport.

Salary and perks of flight attendants vary with different airlines, so does the service contract. Renewal of contract is solely at the discretion of the airlines8217; authorities.