As an instructor, I am privileged to be a part-time teacher on the BTec Air Cabin Crew and Aviation Operations program at Solihull College. When I am not imparting knowledge to aspiring learners, I am busy providing my expertise at Birmingham Airport. My primary duty is to ensure that aircraft are properly equipped, adequately fueled, thoroughly cleaned, and professionally serviced. For long-haul flights, I assist in plotting the route, creating maps, and coordinating with the cabin crew.
With an extensive experience spanning almost 20 years in the aviation industry, I have witnessed its evolution and how it has remarkably transformed. During my early years, anyone could readily secure a job at an airport. However, the current climate has dramatically changed, and obtaining an airside security pass became a lengthy process. They conduct thorough background checks with the past five years of employment as their primary concern.
As part of our interview process with prospective students, we ask them what they think the most important role of the cabin crew is. More often than not, students would answer customer service, but safety is always our top priority. We emphasize this importance during our five-week training courses, with four weeks geared towards safety and one for customer service.
Our year-long course typically accommodates around 20 students, and we equip them with a broad range of skills that they can utilize in their future employment. We cover lifesaving skills, emergency evacuation procedures, food hygiene, air fares and ticketing, and travel geography. We also teach them a foreign language, primarily Spanish, and delve deeper into aviation operations, its history, and advancements.
We expect our students to adhere to strict standards. Every week, they are required to attend college twice in full cabin crew uniform. We conduct training sessions at Birmingham airport, encourage them to observe the cabin crew in action, and provide an opportunity for a study trip on a long-haul flight, mostly to New York. We culminate the course by allowing our students to serve an in-flight meal on a real flight for a hands-on experience.
The majority of our students eventually land careers with prominent airlines, making it a lifelong dream come true for most. It is truly rewarding to see them grow and succeed in their chosen career path.
