National
| Median wages (2008) |
$35,930 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
97,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
27,000 additional employees |
39-6031.00 - Flight Attendants
Provide personal services to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages.
Sample of reported job titles:
Flight Attendant, Purser, In-Flight Crew Member
Tasks
- Direct and assist passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing.
- Announce and demonstrate safety and emergency procedures, such as the use of oxygen masks, seat belts, and life jackets.
- Walk aisles of planes to verify that passengers have complied with federal regulations prior to takeoffs and landings.
- Verify that first aid kits and other emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and oxygen bottles, are in working order.
- Administer first aid to passengers in distress.
- Attend preflight briefings concerning weather, altitudes, routes, emergency procedures, crew coordination, lengths of flights, food and beverage services offered, and numbers of passengers.
- Prepare passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures.
- Determine special assistance needs of passengers such as small children, the elderly, or disabled persons.
- Check to ensure that food, beverages, blankets, reading material, emergency equipment, and other supplies are aboard and are in adequate supply.
- Reassure passengers when situations such as turbulence are encountered.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Aircraft communication systems — Satellite aircraft communication systems |
| Aircraft environment controllers — Cabin management systems |
| Aircraft escape or ejection systems — Emergency exit doors and windows; Evacuation slides; Slideraft packs; Window exit escape ropes |
| Aircraft fire control or extinguishing systems — Aircraft fire extinguishing systems |
| Aircraft oxygen equipment — Chemical oxygen generators; Portable oxygen bottles; Protective breathing equipment; Supplemental oxygen systems |
| Cool containers — Refreshment carts; Refrigeration units; Storage compartments |
| Life vests or preservers — Flotation seat cushions; Life preservers |
| Lifeboats or liferafts — Emergency rafts; Sliderafts |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Calendar and scheduling software — AD OPT Altitude; Bid Assistant; SBS International Maestro Suite; ValtamTech Flight Crew Log |
| Computer based training software — IBM Lotus LearningSpace |
