The main responsibilities of a flight attendant are to ensure passenger safety and security. Their other duties may include serving food and beverages and attending to passenger needs. Even without onboard services, flight attendants are still required. Performance is difficult to measure but can be based on passenger complaints and commendations. Crews undergo annual retraining and are considered to have "normal" performance unless otherwise indicated. Reporting structures vary by airline but generally include junior attendants, senior crews, supervisors, and fleet controllers overseeing aircraft groups. Flight attendant activities are divided into preflight briefing and preparation, passenger reception, in-flight duties like safety demonstrations and meal services, and post-landing tasks before reporting.

1. THE JOB OF FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Joha Rahman
http://pramugari.info/

2. INTRODUCTION
 The main responsibility of a flight attendant is to
ensure the safety and security of the flying
passengers.
 The added responsibilities depend on the airlines,
and it can include the serving food and beverages,
inflight sales and attending to the needs of the
passengers.
 This means that, even if there is no inflight
services, flight attendants are still required in a
flight.

3. MEASURE OF PERFORMANCE
 Measuring the performance of the flight attendant
has been a subject of debates.
 It is difficult to measure the performance, as the
outputs are not directly observable.
 One of the easiest way is to base it on passengers
complaints and commendable letters.
 The test and assessment can be included as the
crews are required to undergo retraining annually.
 Using this simple method, every crew is
considered as getting the “normal” performance
unless proven otherwise.

4. REPORTING STRUCTURE
 The reporting structure varies according the airline. A typical
structure can be:
 a. Junior flight attendant – He or She operates on smaller aircraft like
B737.
 b. Senior Crew – Operate on Bigger wide body aircrafts like B747.
 c. Leading steward/stewardess – The crew in charge in a flight for a
small aircraft.
 d. In flight supervisors – The crew in charge in a flight on a bigger
aircraft like B747
 e. Fleet Controller – This is an office Job in charge of all the flights for
a specific group of aircraft. A fleet controller for B747 is responsible
for the operation and quality of all the services on B747 flights.

5. MAIN ACTIVITIES
 The main activities for the job of flight attendant
can be divides according to the phases of flight.
 preflight briefing – conducted for a specific flight and
performed by the crew in charge.
 Pre flight preparation – When the crew complete the
briefing, they will go the aircraft. They will spend about
1 hour to prepare for the flight. They make sure the
main safety equipments are in place, the demo units
available, the toilets are prepared, the foods are as per
listing..etc..etc.

6. MAIN ACTIVITIES … CONTINUATION
 Passengers’ reception – they play the host to the
incoming passengers, welcome them and guide them to
their seats.
 Predeparture – on pushback, the captain starts the
engines, the cabin crews will do the demonstration on
the use of safet equipments.
 The dinner is served when the flight stabilize in cruise
mode.
 On landing at the destination, the cabin crew thanks the
passengers and ensure that everyone go out. Then there
is a check list to follow and a report to write.

7. THE QUALIFICATION AND PREREQUISITES
 Education
 Most airline will accept graduate completing 10 –
11 years of schooling. This is equivalent to O level
in the British Education System.
 There are some airlines that demand higher
qualification, such as Degree or Diploma.
 b. Physical requirements
 As the crew has to perform the safety function,
he/she has to be able to access the equipments
situated on the overhead compartment.

8. THE WORKING CONDITION
 Flight attendants work at odd hours, depending
on the flight schedules
 They work long hours, some flight can be as
long as 12 hours and they are expected to
perform for 12 hours.
 They are expected to handle passengers. Some
may not be nice and can be rude to crew.

9. THE PAY AND ALLOWANCE
 It depends so much on the region you are
operating
 Generally crews are not well paid.
 It is normal for them to have a low pay, but they
make up in term of allowance and benefits.
 Allowances such as away from base, flying
allowances, overtimes, sale commission.
 Benefits such as free uniforms, accessories, travels

10. THE RESOURCE
Blog site:
http://pramugari.info/2011/01/job-of-
cabin-crew/
The author had retired from 35 years career in an airline and
now focused on blogging.
eMail : mktg@joharahman.com