<strong>Here is what every aspiring cabin crew needs to know </strong>
Flight attendants are the ones who ensure safety, security and comforts of the passengers on flight. In fact, the airline companies and their pilots are able to carry out their respective responsibilities smoothly as they are able to depend upon the services of the flight attendants. In India, several youngsters, especially women, aspire to pursue a career as a flight attendant, or air hostess, thanks to the hefty pay package, immense opportunity for air travel and the glamour quotient attached to this profession. The best part is, students can pursue this career opportunity right after class XII.
Courses available
Young ambitious individuals who wish to become a flight attendant in India, right after their class 12 can either pursue a diploma or an undergraduate degree course in the field.
The 1-year diploma courses include:
- Diploma in Air Hostess Training
- Diploma in Hospitality and Travel Management
- Diploma in Aviation and Hospitality Management
- Diploma in Cabin Crew/Flight Attendant Training
The 2-to-3-year degree courses include:
- B.Sc in Air Hostess Training
- B.Sc in Aviation
- Bachelor's of Hospitality and Travel Management
As part of this programme, candidates acquire skills such as conducting pre and post flight checking, assisting passengers during deplaning, briefing them about flight rules and regulations along with ensuring their safety and comforts. The other responsibilities include: Examining in-flight infrastructure and resources, welcoming and sending off passengers, providing information to passengers and answering their queries, handling announcements on behalf of the pilots, preparing flight report, managing emergency situations onboard, serving meals and refreshments to passengers, maintaining cabin systems, ensuring health and hygiene of the passengers and providing them with immediate medical care, and operating aircraft equipment in case of emergency.
Eligibility criteria
In most cases, candidates are required to secure an aggregate mark of 45 to 50 percent and above in their qualifying class XII exams from a recognised school board in India. Most institutes also prefer candidates who are aged between 17 and 25 years. They are also required to have studied compulsory English as part of their 10+2 curriculum and should be fluent in the spoken language. Candidates also need to possess a valid Indian passport and should have a minimum required height of 157.5 centimetres.
Institutes to study
Some of the popular institutes in India to study flight attendant training are Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani; IITs Kanpur, Roorkee, Delhi and Kharagpur, Amity University, Noida and Lovely Professional University, Punjab.
Career options
After undergoing training as a professional flight attendant, candidates can pursue career options such as air hostess or cabin crew, airline steward/stewardess, crew scheduler, crew manager, ground staff, and senior flight attendant. They can be employed in international, national, commercial, chartered as well as military airlines.