Anyone who has taken a commercial flight will be familiar with the sight of cabin crew on board. They have a role in flights ranging from predominantly health and safety roles in no frills budget airlines to other roles including food service. As a result their training is complex and varied in order to manage the role that they have. The result of this is that the majority of flights pass smoothly without any hiccups with customers for the most part served by able and smartly dressed cabin crew.
Training Process
The training for cabin crew consists of a combination of theoretical and practical training covering safety procedures, emergency protocols, customer service and cabin management. These programmes include both classroom learning and hands-on exercises including simulator training and real-world scenarios. Training is provided by a variety of different sources including colleges and universities, private learning providers, as well as thorough in-house training by airlines themselves. British Airways and easyJet for example provide their own training for cabin crew.
Initial training involves safety training, which is a crucial component often leading to a Cabin Crew Attestation or similar certification. This particular qualification is mandatory for cabin crew in the European Union as well as member countries of the European Aviation Safety Agency and airlines based in the UK. Emergency training is also provided covering how to deal with fire, smoke, evacuation procedures as well as First Aid. Simulator training is also provided which involves the use of aircraft simulators to practice emergency procedures as well as other real-life situations.
Cabin crew are also given training in providing excellent customer service, handling passenger inquiries and managing diverse situations. Other training provided includes understanding the aircraft’s layout, managing the cabin environment and adhering to uniform and grooming standards. This may explain why cabin crew look so smart!
The Experience
In terms of the experience, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) describes cabin crew courses as exciting and challenging. Cabin crew are assessed by written examination, and role play scenarios to evaluate competency. Continuous professional training also takes place after qualification to ensure that all staff keep up to date with any changes that occur post qualification. The continuous training also ensures that cabin crew maintain their skills and competences.
All in all, it appears that cabin crew go through an intensive and thorough training process and are assessed to ensure that high standards are met. In addition, professional competence is maintained post qualification with continued training to ensure that cabin crew maintain standards and are up to date with any changes. We hope that the standards continue to be maintained and improved upon.
What are your experiences of cabin crew training? Share your answers in the comments below.
