Profession steward. Stewards. What is the profession of a flight attendant? Job responsibilities

Stuarts Stuarts

(Stuart, Stewart), royal dynasty in Scotland (1371-1714) and in England (1603-49, 1660-1714). The most famous are: Mary Stuart, James I (in Scotland - James VI), Charles I, Charles II, James II.

STEWARTS

STEWARTS (Stewarts, Stuarts), aristocratic Scottish family, royal dynasty in Scotland (1371-1707) and England (1603-1649, 1660-1714).
Kings of Scotland
The ancestors of the Stuarts are known from the beginning of the 11th century, when the founder of the family, Alan (999-1055), became seneschal of the county of Dol in Upper Brittany. As was customary in the Middle Ages, the position was inherited by Alan's descendants from generation to generation. In the mid-12th century, Walter (Walter) (1104-1177) - the third son of the fourth Seneschal of Dol - came to Britain and entered the service of the Scottish king David I. He later began to serve as court seneschal, and in 1157 under King Malcolm IV ( 1153-1165) officially confirmed as Lord Seneschal of Scotland. The position was passed down by inheritance to Walter's descendants for five generations until the first half of the 14th century. The surname of the family came from the name of the position (Stewart).
During the years of interregnum and the struggle for the Scottish throne, the fifth seneschal of the Stuart family, James, and his son Walter (died 1326) invariably sided with Robert the Bruce (cm. BRUCE Robert) and fought the British. The loyalty of the family of the new dynasty was rewarded: in 1315, Walter Stewart became the husband of the eldest daughter of King Robert I Bruce, Margery. This marriage gave their son Robert Stuart the right to take the Scottish throne after the death of his cousin, the childless King David II Bruce. In 1371, the first member of the Stuart dynasty was crowned Robert II. He remained on the throne until 1390, and then Robert III Stuart (1390-1406) reigned in Scotland.
Years of internecine struggle for the throne significantly weakened the authority of the central government in Scotland; local barons felt themselves to be independent rulers. The situation was complicated by relations with England, whose kings claimed supreme power over Scotland. The main goals of the first Stuarts were to repel the claims of the British and limit the freedom of their barons. But the forces of the first Stuarts (Robert II and Robert III) were still too small and they essentially remained just spectators in the bloody civil strife of the Scottish clans. In addition, Robert III found himself pushed out of power by his younger brother Alexander.
Relations between England and Scotland constantly teetered on the brink of war and peace. The English kings had greater economic, military and human resources than their northern neighbors, but for many centuries they were unable to conquer Scotland. In the 15th century, England was unable to wage active war in the north due to the Hundred Years' War (cm. HUNDRED YEARS WAR) and then the Wars of the Roses (cm. SCARLET AND WHITE ROSE WAR), but the English kings did not abandon formal claims to the Scottish throne. Armed conflicts broke out on the Anglo-Scottish border. Hesitant to commit large-scale aggression, the British supported the rebellious barons and rebellious clans against the Stuarts. In turn, the Scottish kings sought to find allies in the fight against England. France, England's main enemy and its opponent in the Hundred Years' War, became such an ally. The alliance between France and Scotland was renewed several times throughout the 15th and 16th centuries and was called the "Old Alliance".
In 1406, immediately after the death of Robert III, his infant son James I Stuart (1406-1437) was captured at sea and brought to England. Most He spent his reign (until 1424) in captivity in Windsor Castle. His release was helped only by a marriage between the captive and a relative of the English king Henry VI of Lancaster (cm. HENRY VI (English king)) Joan Beafort. After the wedding, the Scottish king was released to his homeland for a large ransom. At home, James I managed to significantly strengthen the authority of royal power. The barons of Albany, Mar, March and the clans of the islands recognized his unconditional authority over them. James I was stabbed to death as a result of a conspiracy of the barons and his son James II Stuart (1437-1460) entered into a fierce struggle with the Douglas clan, which lasted for several decades.
The policy of limiting the willfulness of local barons could not but cause resistance from the Scottish nobility. The confrontation between the king and the barons was especially acute during the reign of James III Stuart (1460-1488), who, in the opinion of many of his subjects, did not live up to the ideal of a king-knight. Unlike his warlike ancestors, he did not personally participate in hostilities, was interested in music and architecture, and was also inclined to rely on advisers of humble origin. In 1488, a rebellion broke out against King James III and he was stabbed to death in one of the battles.
However, the rebel victory turned out to be an accidental success. The reign of the new king James IV Stuart (1488-1513) was a time of further strengthening of royal power. The king successfully continued the policy of pacifying the nobility and achieved the subjugation of the clans of Highland Scotland and the islands, which especially stubbornly resisted the central government. James IV did a lot to streamline the work of the courts and develop an efficient state mechanism. He supported the development of Scottish trade, began building a fleet, developed artillery, and founded the university in Aberdeen (1495). During his reign, the first printing presses appeared in Scotland (1507).
Meanwhile, the War of the Roses ended in England and the powerful and enterprising kings from the Tudor dynasty established themselves on its throne. There was a real threat of English conquest hanging over Scotland. King James IV managed to conclude a truce with England, and in 1502 he married the English princess Margaret, daughter of the English king Henry VII Tudor (cm. HENRY VII Tudor). However, the rise to power in England of the warlike Henry VIII Tudor (cm. HENRY VIII Tudor), who entered the war with France, forced James IV to choose: remain faithful to the Old Alliance with France or bow to the will of the English king. The Scottish king decided to take the side of France; his army invaded English territory. In 1513, at the Battle of Flodden, the Scottish army was defeated and King James IV was killed. His successor, the tenacious and energetic James V Stuart (1513-1542), remained faithful to the alliance with France, strengthened by his marriages to the French princesses Madeleine of Valois (1537) and Marie of Guise (cm. MARIA Giz)(1538). The pro-French policy of the Stuarts led to another war with England: in 1542, the British attempted to invade Scotland, but were defeated. The Scots' return campaign ended in failure due to the betrayal of the barons; two of the king's sons died. King James V himself soon died. He was succeeded by his minor daughter Mary Stuart (1542-1567).
The suppression of the male line of the Stuart dynasty complicated the political situation in Scotland. Since the beginning of the 16th century, two opposing factions emerged at the top of Scottish society, which relied on the support of external forces: England or France. During Mary Stuart's minority, this confrontation intensified. The English party sought to force the queen to marry the heir to the English throne, Edward Tudor, and thereby unite the two countries. The French party tried to arrange Mary's marriage with the French prince and thereby preserve the actual independence of Scotland. The Francophiles won; France in 1548 provided Scotland with military assistance against England, and the young queen was betrothed to the Dauphin Francis of Valois (future King Francis II) and taken to France, where she was raised at the French court.
However, the dominance of the French party, the power of the Catholic Queen Regent Mary of Guise, who relied on detachments of French troops stationed in Scotland, gave rise to a strong opposition movement. Beginning in the 1520s, the ideas of the Reformation began to actively spread in Scotland. (cm. REFORMATION), brought by Calvinists from the Continent, as well as by English Protestants. By the 1550s, Protestants, led by preacher John Knox (cm. KNOX John), became the dominant force in the country. In 1560, supporters of the English party and Protestants forced the regent to withdraw French troops from the country. Catholicism was banned in Scotland and the Calvinist Church became the state religion.
In 1561, after the death of her husband, Queen Mary Stuart returned to her homeland. The first period of her personal reign (until 1565) was a period of peaceful coexistence between the Catholic queen and the Protestants and with England, where her cousin Queen Elizabeth I Tudor ruled. Mary's new husband was her distant relative, the Scottish Lord Henry Darnley. But soon the queen was overcome by ambitious dreams. A devout Catholic, she felt it was her duty to bring Britain back into the fold. Roman Catholic Church. Considering herself the rightful heir to the English crown, Mary openly contested the throne from Elizabeth I. The Scottish queen maintained close ties with papal Rome, the Habsburgs, the Catholic League in France, the Irish Catholic clans, were preparing to restore the dominance of the Roman Church in Scotland. The queen's policy caused discontent within the country, skillfully fueled by England. The Scots' patience ran out after the murder of the queen's husband, Henry Darnley, for which she herself was accused, and her hasty new marriage to the Earl of Bothwell. The barons' revolt in 1567 forced Mary Stuart to flee to England, where she was arrested and spent many years in prison. In 1587 she was executed on charges of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth I Tudor.
The new king of Scotland was the son of Mary Stuart and Henry Darnley - James VI Stuart (1567-1625). During his first reign, the young king was a hostage to factions of nobles fighting for the title of regent of Scotland. As an adult, James VI was carried away by the prospect of taking the English throne and devoted all his strength to the struggle for recognition as the heir of the childless Elizabeth I Tudor. His rights to the throne were based on the fact that he was the grandson of Margaret Tudor, the eldest daughter of the English king Henry VII Tudor. Jacob skillfully maneuvered between Catholics, to whom he promised protection and tolerance, and Protestants, and tried to maintain good relations with both England and the Catholic powers. James VI's diplomatic game was crowned with success: in 1603, after the death of Queen Elizabeth Tudor, he took the English throne under the name of James I Stuart.
Stuarts in England
Having received the English crown, James became simultaneously the king of England and Scotland, marking the beginning of the unification of the two countries into one state. The problems of Scotland faded into the background for him, and the main task was to strengthen the Stuart dynasty in England. Meanwhile, already in last years The reign of Elizabeth I expanded the influence of the parliamentary opposition. Unlike his predecessor, James I did not have widespread support in English society, could not maneuver political forces and manipulate parliament. In addition, he was a zealous supporter of the theory of the divine origin of the monarchy and unlimited royal power. These views conflicted with the English political tradition, where the role of parliament was extremely high. James I's political grievances caused a number of clashes with Parliament. The British were also dissatisfied with the king's foreign policy, his desire for reconciliation with Spain - the “national enemy” of England, and attempts to arrange the marriage of the heir to the throne with a Catholic princess. The daughter of James I, Elizabeth Stuart (1592-1662), married Elector Frederick V of the Palatinate. A century later, her descendants took the English throne.
James's successor, his son Charles I Stuart (cm. CHARLES I Stuart)(1625-1649), continued the unpopular policies of his father. The escalating conflict between the king and parliament resulted in the English Revolution in the 1640s (cm. ENGLISH REVOLUTION) which overthrew the monarchy. In 1649, Parliament passed a death sentence on King Charles I, who was executed on January 30, 1649. Following his execution, England was proclaimed a republic. After the death of the king, Scotland broke off relations with parliamentary England and recognized the son of the executed monarch, Charles II Stuart, as its king. Scotland became a royalist stronghold to continue the fight against Parliament. In 1651, the Ryalist troops were defeated by Cromwell's troops. (cm. CROMWELL Oliver), Charles II was forced to leave for the continent, and Scotland was forcibly united into one state with England.
In 1660, as a result of a military coup in England, the monarchy was restored and Charles II took the English and Scottish thrones (1660-1685). His reign was a time of economic growth and stability for England, but also a time of new political conflict between the monarchy and parliament. During the Restoration, the Whig and Tory parties emerged, which later became the basis of the two-party political system in Great Britain.
Charles II had no legitimate children (the most famous among illegitimate ones is the Duke of Monmouth) and was succeeded by his brother James II Stuart (cm. JAMES II Stuart (1633-1701))(1685-1688), during whose reign the conflict between the monarchy and parliament intensified. The conflict was facilitated by the religious policy of the king - a fanatical Catholic who sought to equalize the rights of his co-religionists with Protestants. Such attempts were perceived by his subjects - mostly Protestants - as an attempt to return Britain to Catholicism, which was associated with the unlimited power of the monarch. A variety of political factions united against James II and he was overthrown in 1688.
The throne was transferred to the daughter of James II - Mary II Stuart (1689-1694) and her husband William III of Orange (1689-1702). Mary practically did not interfere in political affairs, and her husband, an intelligent and far-sighted politician, managed not only to avoid conflicts with parliament, but also to significantly increase the prestige of the monarchy in England. After William III, another daughter of James II, Anne Stuart (1702-1714), became queen. Under Queen Anne, England and Scotland were formally united into one state - Great Britain. Anna died childless and the throne was to pass to the son of James II - James III Stuart (1688-1760), who lived in exile and remained faithful to Catholicism. But according to the Act of Succession to the Throne, adopted by the English Parliament in 1701, only a Protestant, and specifically the Duke of Hanover George (a descendant of the daughter of James I Stuart, Elizabeth) could be the king of Great Britain. Thus, the Stuart dynasty lost power in England and Scotland.
In emigration, the Stuarts found support in France. After the death of James II, the French king Louis XIV of Bourbon recognized James III as king of Great Britain. The challenger was known as the "Old Chevalier", or "Chevalier de Saint-Georges". He maintained contact with his supporters on British Isles. In Scotland, which had lost its independence, James III became a symbol of the fight against England. Supporters of the restoration of the Stuarts to the throne were called Jacobites. With the help of France, armed Jacobite uprisings were organized in Scotland, in which representatives of the Stuart dynasty also took part. In 1715, James III made an unsuccessful attempt to seize power in Great Britain. The son of James III and Mary Sobieska, Karl-Edward Stuart (1720-1788), known as the “Younger Chevalier,” led the detachments of the Scottish highland clans in 1745. On April 16, 1745, at the Battle of Culloden, the rebel troops were defeated by an English army that outnumbered them. Through severe repression, the British managed to suppress the Jacobite movement in Scotland. After the defeat, Karl-Edward lived in Rome for the rest of his life. King George III of England provided him with financial assistance. The Stuart dynasty finally came to an end in 1807, when its last representative, Charles Edward's younger brother, Henry Benedict Stuart, who held the rank of Cardinal of York, died in Rome.

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

Synonyms:

See what “Stuarts” are in other dictionaries:

- (Stuart, Stewart), royal dynasty in Scotland (1371 1714) and England (1603 49, 1660 1714). The most famous: Mary Stuart, James I (in Scotland, James VI), Charles I, Charles II, James II... Modern encyclopedia

Royal dynasty in Scotland (1371-1714) and England (1603-1649, 1660-1714). The most famous: Mary Stuart, James I (in Scotland, James VI; son of Mary Stuart), Charles I, Charles II, James II... Historical Dictionary

Exist., number of synonyms: 1st dynasty (65) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

An ancient Scottish house from which a number of Scottish and English kings descended. The name S. (English Steward, Scottish Stuart) belonged to the descendants of Walter, who reached the court of the Scottish king Malcolm III in the 11th century. rank of majordomo... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Stewardess, as well as steward- this is a specialist of ordinary personnel who can be part of the crew of air and water Vehicle. The main task of such a specialist is to serve passengers, take care of their safety, and, if necessary, provide medical assistance. Flight attendants and stewards check that all passengers have fastened their seat belts, explain the rules for using life jackets and oxygen masks, and serve food and drinks. The profession falls primarily into the “person-to-person” category, as it relates to the service sector. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in psychology and geography (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

Brief description: who is a flight attendant?

The position of flight attendant appeared in the first half of the twentieth century. At that time, only girls with medical education were allowed to do this work, although their duties also included composting tickets, cleaning the cabin, toilet and cockpit, distributing blankets and chewing gum, and even loading and unloading luggage. Fortunately, over time, all physically difficult work began to be performed by special workers using technical equipment, and flight attendants were freed from them.

Features of the profession

The vacancy of a flight attendant is shrouded in a certain romantic flair, and it cannot be said that it is absolutely not justified. However, for such a worker, every flight is not so much romance as it is work that must be performed flawlessly. Flight attendants and stewards are the closest representatives of the airline to passengers and, accordingly, their professionalism affects the prestige and status of the latter. The main responsibilities of flight attendants are usually as follows:

• Checking the completeness of rescue equipment.
• Meeting passengers and checking them boarding passes, providing assistance in finding seats in the cabin.
• Pre-flight preparation, including informing passengers about how to use life-saving equipment and the location of exits.
• Monitoring the behavior of passengers during the flight, preventing or resolving conflict situations.
• Providing medical assistance if necessary.
• Monitoring the interior: the level of humidity and air temperature, the presence of foreign suspicious objects, compliance with sanitary standards, etc.
• Distribution of food and drinks.
• Saying goodbye to passengers upon arrival at their destination.

When thinking about who a flight attendant is, most people imagine a slender girl in a branded suit from a famous airline. This is justified by the fact that many of these companies have certain requirements for the appearance of job applicants. The requirements may be more or less stringent, but they are always there.

Pros and cons of being a flight attendant

pros

1. Decent salary, full benefits package.
2. Opportunity to travel around the world.
3. Early retirement.
4. Decent social status.

Minuses

1. Quite a large load on the body (both due to the change in time zones and the need to spend a significant part of the flight on your feet).
2. The need to regularly leave home, which can cause difficulties in relationships with family and friends.
3. Inability to leave the airport during breaks between flights.

Important personal qualities

For a flight attendant, stress resistance, communication skills, psychological stability, physical endurance, diplomacy, restraint, and a pleasant appearance are important. In addition, she must have good eyesight and hearing, quick reactions, clear diction and a pleasant voice. Training to become a flight attendant can help you acquire missing skills, but without the right background, finding a job in this field will be difficult.

Flight attendant training

There is no need to study at a college or university to become a flight attendant. Very often, airlines that recruit new personnel themselves conduct training courses for their future employees (these courses usually last several months). But in order to get into study, you will need to pass an interview.

Having a college degree in certain fields can increase your likelihood of successful employment. For example, the answer to the question of where to get a flight attendant profession can be the direction of training at colleges “Transport Service” (code 43.01.06). Admission is carried out on the basis of the average score of the certificate, education after the 11th grade lasts from 2 to 4 years, after the 9th grade - from 3 to 5 years (depending on the form of education: full-time, evening or part-time).

Courses

As already noted, flight attendant training courses are conducted by all airlines when expanding their staff. Moreover, in most cases, they are required to pass both those who have not yet worked in a similar position, and candidates with work experience (since the responsibilities of flight attendants and stewards in different companies may vary). The courses always end with an exam, after which you will be required to complete 30 hours of training flight time. Only after this can you receive an official third-class flight attendant certificate (there are only three classes, the highest is first).

Best colleges for flight attendants

Place of work

Flight attendants work for transport companies. Most often we are talking about aviation companies, although flight attendants on water vessels may be called the same.

Flight attendant salary

Although the level of income of a flight attendant depends on the planes of which company she works on and in which country she is employed, it is always quite high.

Salary as of 03/16/2020

Russia 29800—190000 ₽

Moscow 30000—190000 ₽

Career

A flight attendant starts out as a third class flight attendant, and as her flight hours increase she can qualify for second and first class status. Most often, it is the title of first class flight attendant that becomes the pinnacle of such an employee’s career.

Professional knowledge

1. Organization of transport safety.
2. Risk and insurance in transport.
3. Organization of transport services.
4. Fundamentals of medicine.
5. Basics of psychology.
6. Management.

Famous flight attendants

1. Ruth Carol Tyler, the first African American flight attendant in the United States.
2. Nerha Bhanot, who died while rescuing passengers from a terrorist attack.
3. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, an Icelandic flight attendant who later became Prime Minister of Iceland (and the world's first female prime minister at the same time).

When asked when the new female profession of “stewardess” appeared, historians passenger aviation there is no clear answer. But in many reference publications, the world's first flight attendant is called the American Ellen Church, a registered nurse from Iowa. She managed to persuade the management of Boeing Air Transport to hire female doctors. In 1930, eight nurses were selected to fly. Helen Church was the first to fly from San Francisco to Chicago on May 15, 1930 (on a Boeing Model 80). Flight attendants (who were then called Sky Girls) were not only required to provide first medical care or, smiling sweetly, serve coffee, but perform a number of other duties that are not easy for men. The job description stated that flight attendants had to warmly greet passengers, validate their tickets, weigh the passengers and their luggage, and load and unload this luggage. Before departure, flight attendants had to clean the cabin and cockpit, check that the passenger seats were securely attached to the floor, and kill flies if necessary. During the flight, distribute chewing gum, blankets, slippers, clean shoes to passengers, clean the toilet after passengers use it. At stopover sites, they had to carry buckets of fuel to refuel the airliner. And when the plane arrived at its final destination, they had to help the ground staff roll it into the hangar. The girls worked 100 hours a month, receiving $125. Boeing Air Transport hired flight attendants with a three-month probationary period, but the practice turned out to be so successful that they were not only added to the staff, but also decided to hire mainly women as flight attendants in the future. The requirements for applicants were as follows: to be unmarried, to have a nursing diploma, age - no older than 25 years, weight - no more than 52 kg, height - no higher than 160 centimeters.

Today, each airline puts forward its own requirements for applicants for the position of flight attendant, but there are also general rules. The applicant must be of good appearance, without flaws, he must have a pleasant timbre of voice, smooth speech without defects, he must have a correct bite, proportional facial features, no moles or birthmarks on his face, and must be healthy. Vision should be correctable to within 20/30% or better. The age of candidates for an intern position varies from 19 to 29 years (in some companies the age limit ranges from 18 to 24 years). Weight must correspond to height and medical standards. For young people, height is from 170 to 190 centimeters, for girls - from 160 to 175 centimeters.

Airlines prefer to hire flight attendants who have experience interacting with people. Future flight attendants are required to have such qualities as sociability, diplomacy, tolerance, and emotional restraint. One of the main criteria for Russian air carriers is good command of the Russian language and one or more foreign languages. Airlines are especially interested in specialists who have specialized secondary education. Professions such as medical worker, teacher, linguist, waiter, bartender and cook are welcome. In the last few years, preference has been given to those with higher education in recruitment.

Applicants are examined by a special commission, which makes a decision on admission. If, after an interview and tests, the commission members approve the applicant’s candidacy, he will have to undergo a medical flight expert commission (VLEK). Based on the minutes of the meeting of the competition commission and the conclusion of the VLEK, the candidate is enrolled in the position of flight attendant trainee and sent to the training center to undergo initial training courses. Training at the educational complex and the medical commission are paid, although many employers pay for theoretical training of their potential personnel. True, on different conditions: some finance the process free of charge, others plan to deduct costs from the newcomer’s salary or do not interfere at all with the material costs of interns.

The training program and its original methods are aimed at a quick and successful introduction to the profession, especially since there are few textbooks. On average, training lasts about 2 months, but the duration of training is influenced by the level of foreign language proficiency. If an employer prepares employees for international charter flights, then the training period increases to 3 months. However, during the courses, flight attendants do not receive classical knowledge of a foreign language - they already come with it. Trainees are trained in professional phraseology and colloquial vocabulary, and regional studies introduces the new generation of flight attendants to the politics and culture of different countries, the mentality and habits of foreigners.

Today, in order to meet international standards, airlines are preparing flight attendants to communicate with passengers not only internationally. English language, but also in French and German. Aeroflot airline, for example, being one of the members of the alliance, specially trains flight attendants in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean at the Eastern University of the Russian Academy of Sciences. And flight attendants of the German airline Lufthansa working on Russian flights, in response to the wishes of Russian passengers, are beginning to learn Russian.

During the courses, boys and girls are taught to create a friendly atmosphere in the aircraft cabin, anticipate questions and desires of passengers, and demonstrate genuine interest in the state of mind of their students. In many respects, the trainee's training depends on the type aircraft airlines where he plans to work in the future. You need to know the design of the aircraft so that in case of any unforeseen situations ( air pockets, thunderstorm) be able to explain to passengers the reason for the shaking of the plane, calm them down, without compromising the crew and the company. Teachers bring to automaticity the ability of future flight attendants to use emergency rescue equipment. They practice emergency landings on land and water, learn to load passengers onto a raft, evacuate through an inflatable ladder, and open aircraft doors and hatches.

At the “stewardess school,” young girls are taught how to properly serve food, serve a trolley, and provide standard service to first and business class passengers. They are trained on real attributes (carts, dishes, drinks, food, napkins) and on simulators, models and dummies. Knowledge of practical psychology helps in the work. Already when meeting and seating passengers, flight attendants must note the mood of the passengers in order to find a special approach to everyone (some are calm and happy, others are irritated and excited).

In addition to technical knowledge and skills, future ship owners undergo air law and medical training. They also train to put out fires.

Professional activity obliges flight attendants to look impeccable at work: wear their uniform with dignity and demonstrate impeccable manners. For this purpose, the educational program has introduced mandatory visits theaters and museums. After completing the courses, the Educational and Training Complex issues trainees a theoretical certificate. With a rating below “good”, the trainee does not undergo technological practice. If this document contains a C, all airlines in the country will close their doors to the trainee. Only those with good grades will be offered internships under the auspices of an instructor. Typically, the probationary period ends when the newbie has flown at least 30 hours. The qualification commission issues a final certificate and assigns the status of 3rd class flight attendant.

Once a year, flight attendants undergo a medical examination. It is known that the work of aviation specialists places increased demands on health; this also applies to the health of flight attendants, especially since, according to some parameters, unfavorable flight factors have a slightly greater impact on them than on other members of flight crews. The following working conditions are unfavorable: physical stress in flight; work standing and on the go; temperature changes; violation of the work, rest and nutrition regime; constant change of climate zones and time zones; fatigue. In addition to the listed factors, professional duties and social conditions cause nervous and emotional stress due to high demands on the performance of official duties, strict discipline, and servicing picky and rude passengers. Women's career ends somewhere around the age of 45, men fly until they are 50.

It is generally accepted that stewards and stewardesses are the face of an airline: the recognition of a particular airline in the international market depends on their work. Twice a year, based on questionnaires filled out by passengers, directly in the process of providing services on board participating airlines, studies are conducted by the International Association air transport(IATA Survey of Flights in Europe, SoFiE). The survey is conducted in the main European languages: Russian, English, French, German. The study covers the European region, short and medium duration flights. Passengers evaluate the service on board the aircraft, both business and economy class, the boarding process and departure time, cabin comfort, food and drinks. In 2006, experts from the world's leading international consulting company SkyTrax, specializing in research in the aviation industry and monitoring the level of service on board all over the world, Aeroflot airline were recognized the best airline world in the Onboard Service Improvement Excellence category. According to the results of the marketing research "Review of Continental Flights: Europe (SoFiE)", conducted in the first half of 2008, Aeroflot - Russian Airlines was among the top five European airlines according to the rating of consumer satisfaction with the quality of service on European routes.

If you believe glossy magazines, then every girl wants to become a model, singer or actress. However, practice shows that this is not entirely true. Many girls are attracted not by the glitter of spotlights, fashion shows and world catwalks, but by the romance of the sky, private travel and the stylish beautiful uniform of a flight attendant. Not only the prestige of this profession plays an important role, but also the fairly high salaries of flight attendants.

If you believe glossy magazines, then every girl wants to become a model, singer or... However, practice shows that this is not entirely true. Many girls are attracted not by the shine of spotlights, fashion shows and world catwalks, but by the romance of the sky, private travel and a stylish, beautiful uniform flight attendants. Not only the prestige of this profession plays an important role, but also the fairly high salaries of flight attendants.

But is the profession of a flight attendant as wonderful as it seems at first glance? Is the work of a flight attendant really a continuous holiday and an extravaganza of unforgettable impressions? In fact, the professional activity of “heavenly angels” (this is what flight attendants are sometimes called) has a number of features due to which this profession can be called not only interesting, but also incredibly difficult. But what these features are you will learn in this article.

Who is a flight attendant?

stewardess) – an aircraft enlisted specialist and cabin crew member who serves passengers and is responsible for their safety. Since flight attendants (and stewards) are a kind of “face” of the airline, they are subject to increased requirements in terms of external and physical characteristics: for girls - clothing size 42-48, height 160-175 cm; for boys – clothing size 46-54, height 170-185; attractive appearance, pleasant voice, age up to 30 years.

The name of the profession comes from the English steward (manager), from which we can conclude that flight attendants act as managers of the aircraft cabin. To some extent, this is true, since during the flight it is the flight attendants who are the “hostesses” of the cabin, receiving guests - passengers. Official release date flight attendant profession It is considered to be 1930, when the Boeing airline first hired female flight attendants (before that). Note that the first flight attendants not only served passengers, but also weighed luggage and passengers, cleaned the cabin after the end of the flight, helped refuel the plane and roll it into the parking lot.

Modern flight attendants, fortunately, do not need to do anything like that. The list of their responsibilities is limited exclusively to serving the aircraft crew and passengers. Flight attendants meet and accommodate passengers on board, explain the rules of conduct on the aircraft and monitor their implementation, talk about how to behave in case of unforeseen situations and, if necessary, provide first aid, serve lunches and soft drinks, and check emergency equipment - life-saving equipment, monitor the sanitary condition of the aircraft.

What personal qualities should a flight attendant have?

As you might guess, flight attendant job is directly related to communication with a variety of people, so “heavenly angels,” first of all, must be polite, sociable and balanced. In addition, the list personal qualities skills that a flight attendant must have include:

Also, a flight attendant must own at least one foreign language, know the basics of social psychology, have skills in handling emergency equipment and servicing crew and passengers.

Benefits of becoming a flight attendant

It’s not difficult to guess what the main advantage of being a flight attendant lies in the special atmosphere of romance that surrounds not only the flight attendant’s place of work, but also her entire professional activity. Vivid emotions unforgettable experience, new meetings and life among the clouds - all this is an integral part of the work of a flight attendant.

It is also important that the “heavenly angels” have the opportunity not only (and, mind you, to receive quite high wages for this), but also to buy fashionable and high-quality things for themselves and their relatives at European prices. Agree that for young girls this advantage of this profession can be decisive.

It is also worth saying that the professional duties of flight attendants leave a certain imprint on the attitude of flight attendants towards themselves. Representatives of this profession are so accustomed to always maintaining an impeccable appearance and maintaining equanimity even in the most difficult situations, as in Everyday life involuntarily adhere to these habits. And this helps them a lot, both in personal life, and in building a career in the future, when the profession of a flight attendant becomes inaccessible to them.

Disadvantages of being a flight attendant

Despite the fact that at first glance, the work of a flight attendant seems like a dream come true, consisting of only advantages, there are also disadvantages. And the main disadvantage of being a flight attendant can be called strict age restrictions. Very rarely does a woman over 30 become a “heavenly angel”. Moreover, even experienced flight attendants with an excellent track record are forced to “retire” after 30 years, since the management of almost all airlines is confident that only young girls can have the necessary impact on passengers.

Now let's talk about traveling around the world. Yes, flight attendants have the opportunity to visit various parts of our planet. But visiting does not mean sightseeing and getting acquainted with the culture of other peoples. As a rule, airline flights in one direction and the other are carried out at intervals of 2-3 hours, so flight attendants simply do not have time not only to see the sights, but also to simply walk around the surroundings of the hotel where they relax between flights.

One cannot help but mention the rather difficult working conditions:

• firstly, on every flight you may encounter unpleasant passengers who are rude, make scandals and treat flight attendants like service personnel. But no matter how unpleasant the passenger is, flight attendants should always smile and calmly react to aggression;
• secondly, when setting off on their next flight, aircraft crew members, including flight attendants, worry not only about the safety of passengers, but also about their own lives. After all, the aircraft is a high-risk transport, technical problems of which can lead to irreversible consequences;
• thirdly, frequent changes in time zones, pressure changes, noise, vibration and radiation have a negative impact on the health of flight attendants, which causes problems such as varicose veins, gynecological diseases, neurosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia and musculoskeletal diseases - musculoskeletal system.

Where can you get a job as a flight attendant?

To become a flight attendant It is not at all necessary to enroll in a specialized higher education educational institution. It is enough to pass an interview with the airline, a medical commission and preparatory courses, which include both theoretical and practical parts. However, you need to understand that the work of a flight attendant requires a huge amount of knowledge: from providing medical care to the psychological foundations of negotiating with terrorists. Therefore, an applicant for the position of flight attendant must, at a minimum, have the ability to self-educate. And it’s even better if the flight attendant combines her work with distance learning in one of the best aviation universities in Russia, which can be classified as

Historical reference. The exact date of the appearance of this profession is not known for certain. However, most newspaper and reference materials indicate that the first flight attendant was an American woman, Helen Church. From her to management Boeing company Air Transport received a proposal to improve crew performance. It consisted of connecting female doctors to the air transportation system to provide emergency care. The idea soon came to fruition. On the first flight, 8 nurses were deployed on board the San Francisco-Chicago flight. At that time, the profession or specialty of a flight attendant was called “a girl in the sky.” Their main task was not only to provide first aid, but also to punch tickets, provide service, communicate with people, clean the premises, and check luggage. It got to the point that they could bring fuel during refueling, and after the plane landed at its final destination, they helped transport it to the hangar for parking.

The work schedule of the first representatives of this profession totaled 100 hours per month, for which they were paid 125 US dollars. Other airlines quickly recognized the benefits of flight attendants and soon began introducing them on board as well. The candidates were subject to fairly strict requirements: the presence of documents indicating medical education, not to be married, a weight category of up to 52 kilograms and a height of up to 160 centimeters, and must be under 25 years of age.

Description of the profession

Today, flight attendants, or flight attendants (stewards), have become qualified ordinary specialists on all air flights. They not only perform a service function, but are mainly responsible for all passengers, their safety and health. In general, this profession retains the same responsibilities as it had at the beginning, but with minor adjustments. For example, now flight attendants do not have to load passenger luggage or help transport aircraft into the hangar. Nowadays, the development of all branches of air transportation allows representatives of this profession to get rid of hard “manual” labor. In general, flight attendants have become nice, courteous waitresses, capable of providing medical assistance, and speaking several languages. But do not forget that their responsibilities include full control of the situation on board - whether passengers are fastened, whether oxygen, vests or seat fastenings are normal.

Male steward

Oddly enough, not only women can become flight attendants. Many airlines employ stewards. Initially, the co-pilot was responsible for taking care of passengers on board the airliner, but company leaders quickly realized that this was very dangerous. As a result, in 1928, a third crew member, a steward, began to be introduced on German aircraft. After some time, stewards began to change to stewardesses, because people are more comfortable when they are served by cute petite girls.

Disadvantages and advantages

Being a flight attendant is difficult; in this profession, like in any other, there are pros and cons.

1. Great opportunities. Air stewards have an amazing chance to look at different countries and cities, discover the world. The average citizen, as a rule, is not able to go on numerous trips.
2. Not a bad salary, built-in social package, provided benefits, provided vouchers and 45 days of vacation.
3. Retirement age is 45 years.
4. Varied life.

1. Moments when the crew is prohibited from leaving the airport, during a break between flights.
2. Heavy loads. The flight attendant has to stand for the entire flight.
3. The difficulty of getting used to regular changes in time zones and climate, which tests the body’s “strength.”
4. Overload. Statistics show that they cause poor health.

Where do they study?

It is not at all necessary to study and pass exams in prestigious establishment to get a job as a flight attendant. Expensive universities can be replaced by concentrating on special schools with a training course, where the requirements for candidates are much lower. On average, to become a flight attendant you will have to study for 4 months. The choice of educational institution will depend on the desired prospects; you can take a college course, or you can enroll in a university. The latter provides a wide range of knowledge, which gives a significant impetus to a career. Here are a few establishments offering training for the craft:

1. MSTUGA (Moscow).
2. Flight Institute (St. Petersburg).
3. State University (St. Petersburg).
4. Moscow institution - Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
5. “School of On-Board Personnel” – NOU.

Responsibilities and salary

Flight attendants have to give their all on every flight, because they have a huge burden of responsibility on their shoulders.. Here are their responsibilities:

1. Serve drinks and lunch throughout the cabin.
2. Guided by a whole set of rules, ensure on-board safety.
3. Provide emergency medical assistance, if necessary.
4. Seat passengers.
5. Prepare for flight.
6. Check the operation of communication systems.
7. Monitor mood and behavior in the salon.
8. Inspect the board for any prohibited or foreign items.
9. Monitor all parameters: dryness, temperature and pressure.
10. Turn on the light.
11. Check the integrity of the rescue mechanisms.
12. Ensure correct placement of equipment.

The salary for such requirements depends on the class of the profession. For example, beginners will not earn more than 20,000 rubles. per month. But after the end of the test period and the accumulation of flight hours, air stewards begin to receive various bonuses and bonuses. After 6 months of work experience, the salary reaches 60,000 rubles. First-class flight attendants can earn over 100,000 rubles; the salary for 60 minutes is approximately 4 thousand rubles.

How to become a flight attendant: possible prospects

There is a whole system of positions in this profession:

1. Stewardess III category.
2. Class II employee.
3. First class flight attendant.
4. Instructor.
5. Supervisor.

Many of the flight attendants reach the maximum of 1st class. Getting a job is not difficult, especially if you study in a department of the company. The basic requirements boil down to knowledge of several languages ​​(preferably English), attractive appearance, and good health. When hiring, even clothing size can be taken into account - 45 is required. In general, a flight attendant should be a pretty, positive girl.

Before you finally decide to get a job, carefully evaluate all the pros and cons of this profession. If you have already decided, call the airline and ask how to sign up for the course. The candidate will have to study a lot and take exams, but after passing he will definitely take off. Go for it!