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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE "EMIRATES FLIGHT ATTENDANT SCHOOL."



From emergency slide drills to make-up class to turbulence simulations, Flight Attendant School teaches new recruits how to be jacks-of-all-trades
There it is. The building shaped like an aeroplane. Of course! I'm standing in front of Emirates Aviation College, www.emiratesaviationcollege.com/‎
a short drive from Dubai International Airport, where I landed a day earlier after a 14-hour flight from Sydney. After flying with Skytrax's recently crowned World's Best Airline for 2013, Emirates, I'm about to get a behind-the-scenes look at the place where more than 17,000 cabin crew learn how to be international citizens of the skies.
While I don't get to go inside the plane-shaped building (it's a corporate office), the crew training facility in Building C next door proves to hold many a skyward secret in its glassy, high walls. It feels like a United Nations embassy — which is apt, given the 137 nationalities of the airline's crew.
Groups of keen-bean students, known as ab initios (Latin for "from the beginning"), wearing red shirts and black pants bop in and out of Building C. I've been granted a tour of the facility to see exactly how a mere mortal transforms into that most mystical of beings: the 21st century flight attendant.

The life of an air steward is often thought of in two ways: all globetrotting glamour, or endless trolley-pushing terror. These are, of course, generalisations. Like any job, it's what you make of it. The longest hauls some hosties have to work are 16-hour flights to Houston, Texas, with hours of preparation beforehand, and a five-hour break in the air. But the time off in cities around the world, with accommodation paid for by Emirates, is a priceless benefit.
Each prospective candidate does a seven-and-a-half week intensive training course at the college, before a four-month probation period of actual flying, and the eventual graduation. Safety and customer service are of equal importance, and as I'm reminded later, a flight attendant is your mid-air doctor, firefighter, police, safety officer, food and beverage provider — and if you're lucky enough to fly first or business class — sky-bar conversationalist.
The look: Creating cover girls and boys

My first stop is the Image and Uniform Department. Like any performance in society, the role of flight attendant has certain conventions one must follow. As if wearing a school uniform, an Emirates crew member must never let the facade of professionalism drop. An untucked shirt or haphazardly assembled white veil and red hat is not on-brand.
The room is filled with mannequin heads, illuminated mirrors and Clarins make-up (used for training purposes only; flight attendants can use any weather-ready make-up brand once they graduate). In the course of one eight-hour-day, the ab initios undergo a kind of finishing school covering make-up, nail and handcare (men's nail polish included), uniform maintenance, and even how to wear the hat.
I learn some interesting secrets along the way: the uniforms, last redesigned in 2009, are made of a fabric treated with nanotechnology, allowing no liquids to penetrate the fabric. Can you remember the last time you saw a flight attendant with a stain on their shirt?

One of the First Class suites in the expensive display room
You got served!
Next up is the Service and Training Department. All flight attendants are trained for one day in duty-free products, which include everything from expensive liqueurs to perfumes to Emirates exclusive products, like a special edition bejewelled A380 Mont Blanc pen (a popular choice, I hear).
I've never been one to indulge in duty-free shopping in the air, but there are plenty of other high-flyers out there willing to fork out thousands of dollars at 40,000 feet. For Emirates, mid-air duty-free shopping makes up around $50m in revenue each year. Flight attendants with a sales bent will actually bid to do routes with high duty-free sales, due to attractive commission incentives. So which route has the biggest spenders? Lagos, Nigeria. Yeah, I didn't see that one coming either.
"The most expensive room in the building"
An A380 first class replica
The giddy schoolboy in me comes out when we approach an exact replica of the A380 top floor — first and business class. It's got the first class shower-spa, 14 suites, and the first and business sky-bar. On my visit, a tall, blonde flight attendant is being trained in cocktail-making. No free drinks for me today, though — I'm strictly on the job!
Next door lies "the most expensive room in the building": replica first, business and economy class seats for all Emirates planes, so that every flight attendant knows each seat intimately. I can't resist taking a lie-down in the A380 lie-flat bed ... one can always dream.
Safety first: There may be some turbulence ...


Unlike most airlines, Emirates conducts 70 percent of its training in simulators, and 30 percent in a classroom. No expense has been spared on the state-of-the-art simulators, which are easily the coolest parts of the whole facility.
The Safety and Emergency Procedures Department has three gigantic motion-based simulators of real A380s, A330s and Boeing 777s. They sit on a giant pool of freezing water, with the emergency slides rolled out for the ab initios' slide practise. Yes, one of the requirements in training is to do a slide, but it's no laughing matter.
"Most of the stuff we teach them, they're never going to use, or hopefully never going to," says safety instructor David. Nevertheless, this is the part of flight attendant training that takes the longest to nail — around two to five weeks of training, covering turbulence, fire-fighting, evacuation, first aid, teamwork and communications.
I have a test-run in one of the flight simulators. Seated on an exit row, I see a take-off animation through my window, and feel the rocky ascent is if it were real. David cheekily decides to show me what it feels like when the nosewheel stops working ... turbulence! A plate falls! Bumpy landing! Lucky he didn't turn on the screaming-passenger sound effects and smoke machine. Yikes!

More than 700 crew per day go through the safety training, preparing them for any kind of situation in the mid-air, from learning how to deliver babies (using mannequins), to using defibrulators to treat heart attacks. My mind boggles at how much knowledge a flight attendant is required to store, and possibly call upon, in a high-stakes situation.
The finishing touches: Becoming a 'globalista'
My day at the college is capped off with the most creative part of the training program. Five years ago, Emirates launched "Nujoum" in a bid to instil the values of a universal service culture among its multicultural staff. Avoiding the feeling of a corporate brainwash, Nujoum, the Arabic word for "stars", is an interactive one-day program that uses film, role play and physical activities to hit home its core lessons.
I've been told to keep the finer details of this facility secret, so that future candidates get a surprise when they do the program. What I can reveal is that there are five rooms offering up different challenges based around the five aspects of what Emirates calls "the service personality": Cosmopolitan, Personal, Considerate, Pioneering, and Thorough. Each room is more surprising than the next, building up to a finale designed to inspire future cabin crew to go that extra mile in their daily lives.
This "experience day" takes place towards the end of the training, at a time when the ab initios are about to gain their wings to fly. Emirates' Senior Vice President of Cabin Crew, Catherine Baird, credits the multicultural "richness" of the airline's staff as key to its success.
"Our customers are 'globalistas', and so are our crew," Catherine tells me. It's the crew's understanding what Emirates is, and what you are … that makes for a memorable experience."

This is true: on my flight yesterday, the pilot announced that the crew spoke a total of 17 languages on board. If I needed something in Swahili, I would be well-catered for indeed.
While I didn't get the chance to push a trolley or do a slide drill, I finish my day in flight attendant school wondering, "Could I ever become one?" I wouldn't mind being in Rio one day, Lisbon the next....
Article written by Adam Bub who was a guest of Emirates. For more info on the Emirates Aviation College, flight features and bookings, visit emirates.com
For more info on things to do in Dubai, visit definitelydubai.com

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A FLIGHT ATTENDANT?




Have you ever dreamt of flying to exotic places or foreign cities? Or perhaps you have a desire to see more of South Africa? If so, then you should consider a career as an Airline Flight Attendant
.

Cabin Crew, also known as Flight Attendants, Air Hostess's, Stewards/Stewardesses or even Trolly Dolly's are primarily on board an aircraft for the safety of passengers, and secondly for their comfort and wellbeing.
Cabin Crew Members are the face of the airline and are therefore expected to excel in customer service and always remain friendly, approachable and enthusiastic with a good sense of self presentation.
The role of cabin crew can be physically demanding, flexibility is the key, it is the perfect opportunity to get away from the repetitiveness of a normal 9 to 5 job!
Cabin Crew can encounter many different situations whilst working on board an aircraft, therefore being a team player with the ability to use initiative, quick thinking and organisational skills will make you an an excellent candidate for this job. The rewards far outweigh the challenges, meeting people from around the world, learning new cultures, traveling, shopping, are just a taste of what this job is about.






Monday, April 7, 2014

QUALITIES OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT

 There is nothing better than seeing an aircraft flying overhead, and imagining where in the world it is en route too. It leaves you wondering when will it be your turn to be on that aeroplane, and fufil the dreams you have of travelling the globe. Well the opportunity may present itself sooner than you think , if you decide to choose becoming a Flight Attendant as a career. 



A Flight Attendant’s persona is that of glamour and style, male or female, they walk perfectly, are impeccably groomed and they turn heads where ever they go. However; one sometimes forgets that their primary responsibility is the safety of the passengers, aircraft and crew. Behind all that glamour has to be a particular type of person. One who can be calm in moments of panic, who can assist in a medical emergency, who has a sense of awareness greater than normal, and one who can work well with others. Being a team player and a really hard worker is vitally important when choosing this career. Working hours can be very long and you are required to spend this time with colleagues, of all different cultures, in a confined space. When your colleagues are required to carry your work load, it causes tension amongst crew. Passengers can sense camaraderie and normally happy crew means happy passengers. 


It is true that Cabin Crew are the face of the airline, they represent the company worldwide and therefore have a responsibility to exceed a customer’s expectations with regards to outstanding service. Crew Members need to be kind and eager, caring and happy, they need to be able to anticipate a passenger’s needs and always display respect, professionalism and etiquette.


 Passengers need to feel that crew members are able to handle any unforeseen situation. You need to be confident and assertive in situations where safety could be compromised. So many passengers have a fear of flying and crew must be capable of gaining their passengers’ trust. 

 Possessing problem solving skills is a great asset to have as a crew member. Minor issues such as; a passenger not getting their requested meal or seat, will need to be handled appropriately by the crew. Empathy and good listening skills are important, as sometimes passengers just want to tell their side of the story. With the vast choice of airlines available to customers, it is imperritive that the experience they have on board ensures that the next time they fly, they don’t choose another competitor.


 The height requirement for a cabin crew member varies from airline operator to airline operator. Height restriction is based on the ability of cabin crew members to reach emergency equipment which is stowed on the aircraft, with weight being proportionate to height. It is a must that a Flight Attendant take care of his or herself physically and mentally, and remain fit and healthy. This is important to overcome the effects of travelling across time zone and as a result experiencing jet lag. Proper nutrition and exercise must be a vital part of a Cabin Crew members lifestyle. Passengers also have an “image” of a crew member being well proportioned and perfectly groomed. 


 Another aspect which comes in very handy when flying internationally is the ability to speak another language.





English is the universal aviation language but more often than not, Cabin crew members are often confronted with large tourist groups from a specific country with very few being able to converse in English. When airlines open new routes to their schedule, they often advertise for cabin crew who speak the language of the new route they will operate to. Geographical knowledge or travel and tourism training is especially handy when flying. Passengers often rely on crew members for information regarding the country they are flying to, especially when it is a passenger’s first time to that specific destination. It is a great advantage for a Flight Attendant to be knowledgable and up to date with current affairs of the world. 



Overall the lifestyle a Flight Attendant leads is like no other, sure there are important events one may miss out on, a family birthday or wedding. But being able to walk down 5th Avenue in New York, or stand at the gates of Buckinham Palace in London, surely makes everything worth it. This career is always exciting and everyday you fly there is an opportunity to experience new things and meet amazing people.

WHY CHOOSE EPT AVIATION AS YOUR TRAINING PROVIDER?


EPT is an aviation training organisation offering a wide variety of aviation training courses from our facility adjoining OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Our most popular training course is the CAA approved flight attendant and cabin crew training which leads to eligibility for a CAA cabin crew license.


EPT Aviation Training is considered to be the ideal training platform for professionals within the aviation industry and related fields.

Combined, our trainers have jointly an accumulated total of more than 200 years of experience in the aviation industry. This wealth of experience is made available to our learners who are offered only the highest standards of training at our facility.

Learners will be trained by our professional trainers and subject matter experts who have been involved in the industry for years.
Management: Marlene Dippenaar (Managing Director) Isabel de Oliveira (Director Training & Quality Assurance) Shirlinia Emmanuel (Manager Training & Human Resources)
Trainers and Administrative Personnel: Mandy Chadinha, Colleen Shackleton, Larrissa Basson, Gillian Correia, Joel Emmanuel, Gareth Adams, Urshula Badenhorst, Mario Fortuin, Trevor Tennant, Colleen du Plessis, Shanaaz Barnabas
Training Service Providers:Sister Rene van der Bank (Aviation Medicine Training), Hannelie Rix (Interviewing Skills Training)and Kim Carmichael (photographer)
Our training facility at DENEL is equipped with:

  • Located in a 24 hour security aviation facility located with easy access to public transportation
  • Air Conditioned training rooms
  • Tea area for learners
  • Outdoor leisure area
  • Secure parking area
  • Offices
  • Equipment and tutorial room
Our course is 6 weeks long and in that time you will not only become a licensed Cabin Crew Member with the Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa, but you will also walk away with confidence, life skills and a great sense of accomplishment. We have an aircraft available at all times to enable realistic training on a daily basis. Our Aviation Medicine Course is trained by a highly skilled professional Nursing Sister.


Our live fire fighting is conducted on the premises by AAFSA. Other courses you will attend during the 6 week training are; Grooming Skills, Interview Skills, Dangerous Goods, Crew Resource Management and General Aviation Security. The regulations require that cabin crew members are able to swim with a life jacket on when applying for a cabin crew license. We offer swimming lessons to ensure confidence in the water. 

All our students will have professional photographs taken for their Curriculum Vitae which EPT hands over to them on successful completion of the course.


We honor our students with a Graduation Ceremony, to celebrate their achievements


Most importantly our aim is to provide our 

learners with the most memorable experience! 

Learning can be fun especially at EPT Aviation 

Training.

To find out more and enroll today 

Click on our website;

www.eptaviation.com




"HOT OFF THE PRESS"
EPT Aviation is proud to announce that we are now offering an on-line blended cabin crew training course. Check out our website for details!!!









Sunday, April 6, 2014

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW AND WHAT TO EXPECT.


 DRESS THE PART: If you want to become a flight attendant, try looking like one. Start by wearing a blue or black suit to the interview. Skirt length should be no more than an inch above the knee and pantyhose are a must. Keep fingernails clean and polished and long hair pulled back or styled conservatively. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum - no dangly earrings! Do not overdo the makeup. Think fresh and neat.

BE YOURSELF: First impressions count. It's a nerve wracking experience, but try to relax and don't forget to smile. Introduce yourself to other candidates in the room. Airlines prefer applicants who are friendly. So be yourself, enjoy the moment, and laugh! Have fun.


CONFIDENCE IS KEY: You may find yourself participating in a group interview with about four or more other candidates a lot like yourself. It's important to make a good impression. Keep it positive whenever answering a question, especially when discussing yourself or any past employers and co-workers. Also, don't be the last person to answer each question. Be confident. Raise your hand.

TALK THE TALK: Use the phrase "good customer service" and the word "flexible" as often as possible. Flight attendants spend more time with passengers than anyone else in the industry, so airlines are looking for applicants with experience in customer service.
Try sharing stories about the times you provided good customer service. Because the majority of flight attendants do not get based where they live right out of training, and because a flight attendant's schedule is constantly changing and many of us are on-call for days, even months, at a time, it's very important to remain "flexible." Show examples of that as well.

SLOW DOWN: Sometimes one may have to read a safety demo announcement (for example) out loud. While I know you can read, otherwise you wouldn't be here reading this, doing it out loud in front of a stranger who does not crack a smile while analyzing your every move and scribbling notes on a clipboard, is totally different. Remember to slow down and add a little life to what could be a long, drawn out, monotone speech. Before the interview takes place, try practicing reading magazines, books, whatever, out loud at home.


BESIDES TRAVELING AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE.... why do you want to become a flight attendant? Trust me, that is a question you will have to answer. Maybe you could say something like; "I'm looking for a career with a reputable company that I would be proud to work for. I enjoy providing excellent customer service and I find the flexible lifestyle very appealing, since I am not really a 9 to 5 kind of person." Two other questions that may come up are; "How did you prepare for the interview?" and " What question did you think we would ask, but didn't ?" possible answer; "When can you start training?" --- you say, "As soon as possible"

BUH-BYE, TOTSIENS, SEE YA LATER: Flight attendants are expected to welcome and say goodbye to each and every passenger while boarding or deplaning a flight. Wouldn't hurt to do the same to the person(s) conducting the interview process. Thank the interviewer for their time and tell him or her you look forward to seeing them again.


Let's say you score an airline interview, but for whatever reason you aren't hired. Don't give up. 
Keep on re-
applying. Or try another 
airline. Your dream job is waiting for you!!! Persevere and think positive. Good Luck to you all!!!

AIRLINES IN SOUTH AFRICA


SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS 
Over 80 years of excellence and innovation have propelled South African Airways (SAA) to become Africa’s leading carrier.



Fleet: 
A319-100 Airbus
A330-200 Airbus

CEO: Mr. Monwabisi Kalawe 

SAA flies throughout Southern Africa, Africa, Europe, America, Far East and South America


BRITISH AIRWAYS COMAIR

The Board:
Mr. D Novick (Chairman) Mr G Novick (Joint CEO) Mr. E Venter (Joint CEO)

The Fleet:
Boeing 737,300's,400's
Boeing 737-800's

Flights departing from Johannesburg leave from OR Tambo or Lanseria International Airport.

Destinations include Cape Town, Durban, Harare, Livingstone, Mauritius, Victoria Falls and Windhoek



KULULA.COM






Kulula fact Sheet Overview:


  • First took to the skies in August 2001 as South Africa's first low fare airline, pioneering a new way of flying making it affordable for anyone to fly.



  • Kulula comes from the Zulu word meaning "easily"




  • One of South Africa's biggest online retailers with thousands of transactions occurring daily.



  • Fleet consists of two Boeing 737-200's (118 seats) and one Boeing 737-300 (136 seats), seven Boeing 737-400's (162 seats) and two 737-800's (186 seats)


  • Operates over 325 flights a week with 15routes including three regional destinations


  • The first loyalty club to be launched by a low fare carrier called "jetsetters".




  • The Kulula products consists of:



  • Kulula.com- book a flight, car or hotel stay


  • Kulula holidays- book pre packaged affordable holidays and adventures


  • Owned by JSE-listed Comair Limited, an aviation company in the business for more than 60 years



Joint CEO's - Mr G Novick and Mr E Venter


MANGO AIRLINES


Mango in a nutshell
Mango was launched on 30 October 2006 with bookings going on sale at midnight on the same date. The online event was one of the largest E-commerce events in local online retail history with 10 000 impressions per minute registered in some instances. Mango’s first flight took place on 15 November 2006. Mango’s introduction grew the size of the South African aviation market by at least 10% making it possible for millions of ordinary South Africans, for whom air travel was previously impossible, to fly.
Mango’s business case is based on international best practice enabling it to be a true low cost carrier: Operating a uniform fleet of aircraft with high seat density, optimum asset utilization, high productivity from employees (3, 300 annual passenger movements: 1 employee). Operational efficiencies and effective channel strategies and payment methods have enhanced Mango’s leading position in the domestic aviation market. Ultimately, the key objective is to ensure sustainably affordable air travel that is accessible to all South Africans.
Mango operates four new generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft which are some of the most fuel efficient in our skies today. Mango’s aircraft is serviced and maintained according to world-class standards by SAA Technical. Each aircraft carries 186 Guests between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban and Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban and Bloemfontein and Cape Town.
Mango's CEO: Mr. Nico Bezuidenhout
SA AIRLINK
Airlink is a regional airline and privately owned business that operates as a franchisee of South African Airways (SAA). Airlink was placed on theInternational Air Transport Association (IATA) Register in February 2008.
  • Twenty-eight destinations in the SADC sub-region – offering more local destinations than any other airline.
  • Flights per month: 3500

Fleet:

  • Jetstream 41
  • Embraer 135
  • BAE146-200
  • BAE146 RJ85

Airlink's CEO: Mr Rodger Foster


SA EXPRESS


Since taking to the skies in April 1994, South African Express Airways has become one of the fastest growing regional airlines in Africa, and forms part of the trusted South African Airways (SAA) alliance.
SA Express caters for both business and leisure travellers by offering flights to most destinations within South Africa and services between Botswana, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 
The airline has expanded its fleet; the latest acquisitions include two Q400 turbo-prop aircraft. The 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) and DeHavilland Dash 8-Series 300-turbo-prop aircraft are available on certain routes operated by the airline. These aircraft offer a new level of service with leather seating and superior design
SA Express CEO: Inati Ntshanga