Safety Tips.

Flight attendants that are on duty according to the schedule are to perform demonstrations regarding the safety precautions in case of emergency.Passengers are to be informed appropriately and the instructions given should bevery organized. This is to ensure the passengers boarding the plane understand the instructions and carry out them if necessary.

Flight attendants in the process of demonstrating the instructions should also bear in mind, the appropriate way of communicating and bringing themselves in a public situation.

Difficult situations on the plane.

In a flight, there are a variety of passengers and flight attendants have to take this matter into account. Passengers are never easy to be satisfied. What should you do in handling difficult situations? What if something goes wrong in the plane?

Passengers in the plane will be looking for you in case of emergency for your guidance and instruction. In such situations, you must not portray any sort of fear or discomfort and this is very much needed because if you did, the passengers would get panicked and the situation might get worse. You must show that you are confident in that role and that you have the utmost faith in your pilots and your aircraft, and that you know exactly what you are doing and why you need to do it. Smile and comfort them efficiently.

Different ways are to implied with different passengers – age factor comes into the picture in this context. Grammar and the word choices also play a part.

Below are some techniques that you can perform in case of emergency.

• Ask yourself questions when you have to deal with passengers and keep in mind these questions need to be answered within a few seconds -  Who are they? Why do you think they are complaining or not cooperating? How will you resolve the situation? What language will you use?

• Use of apologetic language may soften the situation.

• Imply politeness strategy while communicating with the passengers.

Yes, flight attendants play a very important role. Remember the things that you should do in case of emergency! Do not panic.

Aviation vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example of sentence
airfare noun	cost of a plane ticket	The cost of your meal is covered in your airfare.
aisle noun	the long empty space that you walk down	Please keep your bags out of the aisle so that nobody trips.
aisle seat noun	the seat that is next to the aisle	I’ll give you an aisle seat in case you need to walk around with the baby.
assist verb	help	Please wait until everyone is off the plane so that we canassist you.
baggage noun	the bags and suitcases that travellers put their belongings in	I’m afraid your baggage got on the wrong airplane.
baggage, luggage claim noun	place where you pick up your baggage after arrival	The announcement will direct you to the correct baggage claim.
blanket noun	warm covering	If you feel cold I can get you ablanket.
boarding pass noun	part of the ticket that you give to the crew as you step onto the plane	Your must present yourboarding pass at the gate.
bumpy, rough adj	up and down movement of the aircraft	It might be a bumpy ride because we are flying through a storm.
cabin noun	interior of the aircraft	There is no smoking allowed inside the cabin.
call light noun	a button passengers can press to get a crew member’s attention	If you need anything, just press the call light.
captain noun	the person who is in charge of the plane	Would the kids like to go and meet the captain?
charter noun	discount airline	If you take a charter it will cost you half as much.
cockpit noun	the part of the plane where the captain and his co-pilots sit	We aren’t doing any more tours of the cockpit because it’s almost time to land.
comfortable adjective	feel good physically, able to relax	Because you have long legs you might be morecomfortable in an aisle seat.
complimentary adjective	free of charge	We offer complimentarycoffee or tea, but you have to pay for alcohol.
co-pilot noun	person who helps the captain fly the plane	If the captain gets sick the co-pilot can take over.
domestic adjective	within the same country	You should be at the airport two hours ahead of time fordomestic flights.
emergency exit noun	section of the plane that opens in the case of an accident	Are you comfortable sitting next to the emergency exit?
e-ticket noun	airfare purchased on the internet	You will need to present your identification along with youre-ticket.
excess baggage noun	heavier/more bags than you are allowed	You can either pay for yourexcess baggage or leave one of your bags behind.
first-class noun/adj	more expensive seating, with better services	When you sit in first-classyou get a better meal to eat.
gate noun	place where passengers go to wait to board a plane	Gate 3B is down this hall and to your right.
headset, earphones noun	device that allows passengers to listen to music or a movie	We will be coming around to sell headsets for five dollars.
international adj	worldwide	For international departures, go up one level.
jet lag noun	tiredness due to travelling through different time zones	I’m used to travelling now. My body doesn’t suffer from jet lag anymore.
land verb	returning to the ground after being in the air	We will be landing in Tokyo in approximately ten minutes.
life vest, life jacket noun	a blow-up device that you put on in an emergency over water	Please take a moment to locate the life vest under your seat.
motion sickness noun	a bad feeling in the stomach that passengers get during a rough ride	There is a paper bag in front of you in case you experiencemotion sickness.
overbooked adj	more passengers than available seats	The flight is overbooked. Four of our passengers will have to wait for the next flight.
overhead bin/compartment noun	place above the seats for storing luggage	You’ll have to put your bag under your seat because all of the overhead bins are full.
over-sized baggage adj	items that do not fit in suitcases	Infant car seats and sporting equipment can be picked up at the over-sized baggagecounter.
oxygen mask noun	a device that goes over a person’s face, provides air in case of cabin air pressure loss	Put your oxygen mask on first before putting one on your child.
passport noun	document that proves a person’s identification and nationality	Please have your passportout when you go through security.
pilot noun	the person who drives the plane	The pilot is circling over the airport until it is safe to land.
refreshments noun	drinks and snacks	It’s a short flight, so we will be serving refreshments but not a meal.
row noun	a number of seats beside each other	You are in seat B of row nine.
runway noun	the strip of land that an airplane takes-off and lands on	The plane almost missed therunway because it was such a bad storm.
seatbelt noun	device that holds passengers in their seats	Please remain in your seats while the seatbelt light is on.
steward (male), stewardess (female), flight attendant, air host noun	man or woman who provides service for passengers during a flight	Ask one of the stewardessesfor a pillow if you’re tired.
stopover noun	touching down at more than one airport during a flight	It’s not a direct flight. We’re making one stopover in Toronto.
take off noun/verb	when the plane leaves the ground	We are next in line to take offon this runway.
taxi in, out verb	driving an airplane to the correct place for taking off or deboarding	Please remain in your seats until we taxi in to the gate.
touch down verb, noun	when the aircraft wheels land on the ground	That was a very smooth touch down.
turbulence noun	rough flight	This turbulence should only last a few minutes.
wheelchair noun	a seat for pushing elderly, disabled, or injured people	A steward will take you to the gate with a wheelchair.
window seat noun	seat next to the window where passengers can look out	If your child wants a window seat I can move you back a row.

View some of the pictures here! All of the pictures cannot be included here due to the nature of the words involved.

                          

                  

                    

Understanding Flight Attendants...

What do you understand about flight attendants? Are you aware of the nature of the job? What are the responsibilities involved? Well, if you want to know the answer, continue reading!

Flight attendants are referred to as a community of people that are responsible in ensuring the passengers’ comfort and safety at all times. Flight attendants, sometimes called as the members of the cabin crew not only take charge of the passengers’ well doing but also to make sure the plane boards and departs at the given schedule.

Besides maintaining the routine tasks, flight attendants also grant the passengers’ request and deal with their queries while providing a good service to them and these includes delivering food items, providing comforters and etcetera. Among others, flight attendants should adhere to the safety and security of the travelling at all times. Flight attendants should also try to make flights comfortable and enjoyable for passengers.

Flight attendants are briefed by the captain at least an hour before the take off. Here, they are exposed to emergency evacuation procedures, coordination of the crew, the length of the flight, expected weather conditions, and special issues having to do with passengers.

Being the flight attendant, you must make sure that first-aid kits and other emergency equipment are aboard and in working order and that the passenger cabin is in order, with adequate supplies of food and other necessities. As passengers board the plane, you have to greet them, check their tickets, and tell them where to store carry-on items. Do not forget to portray a smile!

Before the plane takes off, you have to instruct all passengers in the use of emergency equipment and check to see that seatbelts are fastened, seat backs are in upright positions, and all carry-on items are properly stowed. In the air, helping passengers in the event of an emergency is the most important responsibility of a flight attendant.

Any queries about the flight should be answered appropriately. In certain cases you must also take into account other minor responsibilities that are involved and these include: distribute reading material, pillows, and blankets; and help small children, elderly or disabled persons and any others needing assistance.

What about the working hours? Please take note of this as this is very important for you. Flight attendants may have to work nights, holidays, and weekends. Theworking hours are not fixed and you are to adhere to these rules and regulations at all times.  Attendants usually fly 65 to 90 hours a month and generally spend another 50 hours a month on the ground preparing planes, writing reports, and waiting for planes to arrive.

Flight attendants receive extra compensation for increased hours. Flight attendants may be away from their home base at least one-third of the time. During this period, the airlines provide hotel accommodations and an allowance for meal expenses. Wow, this is so fun! You get to spend your time in a hotel while you are on work!

You should always bear in mind that you must be flexible and willing to relocate yourself if you were asked to do so. However, many flight attendants elect to live in one place and commute to their assigned home base. Home bases and routes worked are bid for on a seniority basis. This simply means to say that the longer you have been employed, the more likely you are able to work on chosen flights. Almost all flight attendants start out working on reserve status or on call. On small corporate airlines, flight attendants often work on an as-needed basis and must adapt to varying environments and passengers.

The combination of free time and discount airfares provides flight attendants the opportunity to travel and see new places. However, the work can be strenuous and tiring. You have to stand most of the time and this can be really exhausting! You have to remain pleasant and efficient, regardless of how tired they are or how demanding passengers may be. Occasionally, flight attendants must deal with disruptive passengers.

Working in a moving aircraft leaves flight attendants susceptible to injuries. For example, back injuries and mishaps can occur when opening overhead compartments or while pushing heavy service carts. In addition, medical problems can arise from irregular sleeping and eating patterns, dealing with stressful passengers, working in a pressurized environment, and breathing recycled air. This is not provided here to discourage you but just as a kind note. Bear in mind the pressures and responsibilities.

All sorts of jobs around the world have some form of pressures; and it is your responsibility to deal with them. Work without stress and you will love your job!

Managed to understand them all? Great! The next section looks at the structural patterns of communication in English. Acknowledge the different approaches involved in the communication aspect. Have fun!

Aviation Quiz

1. Many people have broken the sound barrier while driving. Who was the first person to break it in a level flight?

a) Chuck Yeager

b) Scott Crossfield

c) Wilbur Wright

d) Neil Armstrong

2. What do you hear when somebody says something while you are travelling faster than the speed of sound?

a) Nothing at all

b) A sonic boom

c) Since you are travelling faster than the speed of sound you hear words back words

d) You hear what is being said because the air inside the aircraft is travelling at the same speed as you.

3. What Does ICAO stand for?

a) International Civil Aviation Organization

b) Intense Civil Aviation Operations

c) Interstate Civil Aviation Organization

d) Interstate Civil Aviation Operations

4. Which of the following are PPL training aircraft?

a) C172. B737

b) DA-20, B757

c) B767, A330

d) C172, DA-20, C152

5. What is the unit of measure of altitude in aviation?

a) Feet

b) Yards

c) Meters

d) Kilometers

6. What is the minimum age for getting a PPL license?

a) 15

b) 14

c) 16

d) 17

7. ASOS is something that a pilot needs to call for latest information. What does ASOS stand for?

a) airplane security oversight service

b) automated surface observation system

c) aviation-special operations satellite

d) all sorts of stuff

8. FBO or fixed based operator is a business that most airports have to handle what part of airport activity?

a) Flight instruction

b) Charter and aircraft rentals

c) Hangar operations, maintenance and fueling

d)  All of above

9. The horizontal stabilizer in a plane helps the plane to:

a) Land smoothly

b) Fly straight

c) Slow down

d) Take off smoothly

10.What is an SST

a) Supersonic transport

b) Super saver traffic

c) Snow and sleet tractor

d) Saturday Sunday Traffic

11. Where are ailerons and flaps located in an airplane?

a) Power plant

b) Wings

c) Landing gear

d) Cockpit

12. What are the 4 forces of flight?

a) Air, weight, wings and motor

b) Lift, drag, weight and thrust

c) Electricity, fuel, momentum and weight

d) Motor, fuel, drag and wings

13.A foot pedal in the cockpit is used by the pilot to control what?

a) Ailerons which cause the aircraft to start

b) Rudder, which helps the plane to turn left and right

c) Brakes, which slow the aircraft in the air

d) Slow down on landing

14. Which force of flight does drag resist?

a) Lift

b) Thrust

c) Weight

d) All of above

15. When air molecules speed up, what happens to the pressure they exert?

a) It increase

b) It decreases

c) Spins counter clockwise

d) None of the above

16. The yoke is located in the cockpit. What does it control?

a) The flaps

b) The ailerons

c) Landing gear

d) The speed

17. What is the shape of the wings called?

a) Oval

b) Ellipse

c) Airfoil

d) Polygon

18. Thrust propels an aircraft in which direction?

a) Forward

b) Up

c) Down

d) Sideways

19. In aviation what does FAA stand for?

a) Financial Aid for Airports

b) Fire Attack Apparatus

c) Federal Aviation Agency

d) Federal Aviation Administration

20. What does ATC stand for?

a) air traffic control

b) airport terminal capacity

c) automatic taxiway clearance

d) air traffic count

21. What does IATA stand for in aviation industry?

a) International Air Transport Association

b) International Air Travelers’ Alliance

c) International Aviation Technology Association

d)Intercontinental Air Transportation Association

22. Which letters are used to distinguish parallel runways?

a) A, B, C

b) X, Y, Z

c) N, S, E, W

d) L, C, R

23. Which design feature is no longer found in new models of 747?

a) Restaurant

b) Small swimming pool

c) Parachutes

d) Spiral staircase

24. When does the term ‘heavy’, as in “Delta five eight heavy, cleared for landing runway 9 left” apply?

a) More than 250,000 pounds gross weight

b) More than 1,000,000 pounds gross weight

c) Full of passengers

d) Full of fuel

25. Which two-engine Boeing aircraft was the first to be certified for transatlantic/transpacific flights with the usual two-year-in service wait?

a) 717

b) 737

c) 757

d) 777

26.What is the normal number of cockpit crew assigned to a transoceanic 747 flight?

a) Two

b) Four

c) Six

d) Eight

27. What was the original model of Boeing 707 named as?

a) Noisy Nellie

b) Water Wagon

c) Smoky Joe

d) Seven Outta Sight

28. As of 2010, which call-sign belongs to British Airways?

a) British Airways

b) Speedbird

c) Union Jack

d) Big Ben

29. Air Sickness Bag is also known by a technical term. What is it?

a) Motion Discomfort Bag

b) Emesis Bag

c) Motion Sickness Bag

d) Air Sickness Bag

30. Air sickness bag is a very versatile product. What is the specific use for it?

a) Shopping bag

b) Pack gifts to send to your friends

c) Get the autograph of the famous person sitting next to you

d) Use in case of air sickness on flight

Answers

1. a

2. d

3. a

4. d

5. a

6. d

7. b

8. d

9. b

10. a

11. b

12. b

13. b

14. b

15. b

16. b

17. c

18. a

19. d

20. a

21. a

22. d

23. d

24. a

25. d

26. b

27. b