A18-Sunday News, September 14, 1980

VANCOUVER PROGRAM SHOWS

VANCOUVER (UPC) - The
airline cabin, once almost
the exclusive domain of
pretty females, now has
become the workplace for a

growing band of males.
Today, say industry
spokesmen, airline

passengers are as likely to be
greeted at the top of the
aircraft steps by a smiling,
well-groomed male.

But, the spokesman said,
the industry stil] is trying to
dispel the popular
misconception that a flight
attendant is nothing more
than a glorified
waiter/ waitress in the sky.

Competition for what
many see as a glamorous job
is fierce, says Fred Wood-
man, manager of Pacific
Western Airlines’ cabin
operations traming program
in Vancouver.

The airline receives about
100 applications a week for
its flight attendant training
program, 15 of whom are

selected for each training
session.

And, says Ruth Cowan,
PWA public relations and
advertising manager, there is
more to becoming a flight
attendant than learning how
not to spill coffee on a
Passenger during tur-
bulence.

The PWA attendants’
course includes five weeks of
classroom study and two
weeks of on-the-job training.

Each trainee must
complete 6% hours of
classes a day for 25 days.
They are instructed in
customer service, aircraft
theory, firest aid, flight
procedures, food service,
emergency procedures,
personal development,
security, immigration and
customs regulations, plus a
firm understanding of
company policies.

It is the “glamor” of the
work that often attracts
applicants, says Woodman,

More males becoming |
ight attendants

especially those who have
just graduated from high
school.

But Cowan, who visits
schools throughout the
province to talk to students
about employment op-
portunities with the airline,
is quick to stress that airlines
look for much more than
mere good looks.

There are a few personal
requirements that PWA
insists its applicants must
meet, most stemming from
safety considerations, says
Cowan.

Applicants must be at
least 5-foot-3 (anyone
shorter wouldn't be able to
close the door of the air-
craft) and their uncorrected
vision cannot be weaker
than 20-100.

Additional pre-requisites
include a Grade i12

education and two years of
employment that has in-
volved working with the
public.

PERM SALE
SEPT 15-27

A GREAT TIME

TO LOOK GOOD AND SAVE
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT NOW

OPEN WED, THURS & FRE NITES “TH 9 PM.

MQ:

SQUODS

20 satons in Woodward; Stores and Major malls

Starts Monday
September 15th

Dozens of
Great Values in|
Meat, Grocery,

Produce & Bakery

On ‘til Saturday
September 20th