Beth Blair

Archive for the ‘Aviation’ Category

Most people don’t know the difference between commercial aircraft. But when you fly frequently you will begin to notice subtle aircraft differences and eventually that observation and knowledge becomes second nature. Before long you can tell from the ground what type of aircraft is up above making a descent or what model you’re boarding for a flight. And after a while you have your preferences.

This is especially true when you work the aircraft, whether you’re actually in control of the plane as captain or first officer or working the cabin as a flight attendant. For example, when I worked as a flight attendant on the Boeing 737 I adored the new (at the time) 700 series. There were air flush lavatories, leather seats and everything was new and shiny. On the other hand, I dreaded the 200 series. The lavs had blue juice, the engines were too loud and when passengers sat down the fabric cushions produced a fog-like cloud of peanut dust.

When I first started at what is considered a regional or connection carrier I wasn’t sure what I would think of the Embraer aircraft. I had lived by the philosophy, if it’s ain’t Boeing I ain’t going.

The Embraer 170 and 175 were much smaller than what I was used to, but it ends up these little guys are great aircraft. And as for the coined term “regional”, that’s pretty much false. I ended up flying way outside of the regional realm. Based out of Minneapolis, I traveled down to Florida, New Orleans and Houston and up to Saskatoon and Vancouver, Canada.

From day one I noticed passengers saying, Wow! This is a much bigger regional aircraft than I expected. Most passengers can stand up straight and there isn’t a need for gate checking luggage since the overhead bins fit average sized carry-ons. The seats are comfortable and there’s plenty of under the seat space for bags since there’s no dividing bar. The seat headrests bend and move up and down to accommodate all heights. Best of all, there is no middle seat which guarantees everyone is comfortable.

Passenger comfort aside, it’s also an ideal aircraft to work on as a flight attendant for a number of reasons. The engines aren’t terribly loud, the galleys are easy to work in, and because there are only two flight attendants needed on the aircraft there are two extra jumpseats on the 175 and one on the 170 in case one breaks or a co-worker needs to get home to work. There are also a number of other features that make life easier, too…

1. Flight Attendants control the temperature. At my former airlines temperature conversation went like this.

Me: Hi, Captain. Could you cool it off? It’s very cold in the back of the plane.

Captain: Sure.

Me: Hi, it’s me again. Now it’s too hot.

Captain: Ok.

Me: Hello…sorry to bother you again. It’s still really warm. People are feeling faint.

Captain: The other flight attendant just called and said it’s too cold in the front of the plane.

On the Embraer both flight attendants have temperature control: one for the front, one for the back.

2. The door arming lever is an easy up/down handle. Not every airplane door is alike but I can’t tell you how much I loved not having to bend over and fasten a grimy, sticky girt bar to the floor latches when arming the door’s emergency slide. It’s also nice that the flight deck has an armed indicator so the pilots can tell us if the door didn’t arm or disarm properly.

3. Cabin viewing window. I’ve sat on many jumpseats that have a view of a blank bulkhead wall, but on these Embraers there are viewing windows so the flight attendant can see everything that’s going on in the cabin while sitting in the jumpseat. On the 175 the window can close – which is great for night flights when the people in the last row are sleeping. This photo is of the 170. It’s a tinted plexiglass window.

And in a nutshell, that is why I loved working the Embraer 170 and 175. My question for you is…do you have a favorite aircraft?

Now that I’m back in the airlines one of the most frequent questions people ask is, what’s flight attendant training like? I’m currently with my fourth airline and this was my third flight attendant training. Every airline’s training is different but the underlying message is always the same – safety and security.

Some days are fun and full of comradery and laughter while other days can only be described as so intense that you hope you never have to relive a day like that again. Tests are almost daily and vary from written fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions (which must be passed with an 80% or higher) to evacuation commands which must be said verbatim. In other words, if you miss one word it’s considered a fail and you have to pull a do-over. By then end, every student knows the cabin and it’s safety features and before long it becomes our second home.

Below are some photos taken throughout the month-long training to give you an idea of what flight attendant training is like.

This is our Flight Attendant Manual (FAM), also known as our Flight Attendant Bible. You can’t tell how thick it is, but believe me, it is. We read every word. It’s a mandatory item when we fly and if we forget it we’re grounded.

Emergency equipment. We have to preflight (make sure it’s operational) each piece of equipment every time we board an aircraft.

Here’s a video of us inflating our life vests. That’s me on the far right. (refresh the page if you can’t see it).

 

Ready to fight the fire with my Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE).

And we did get to practice fighting a galley fire at the airport.

We donned the flight deck oxygen.

Jumping down the emergency slide is mandatory. It’s much steeper than it looks.

We spent a lot of time in the cabin trainer rehearsing “what if” scenerios.

One night we were at the airport until 3 am for hands-on aircraft experience.

Finally, Graduation Day!

And here I am now… once again an official flight attendant. And loving every moment…

Amongst the numerous highlights of my Alaskan Princess Cruisetour this summer our summit flight around Mount McKinley was indeed one of the more memorable experiences. Flying around this massive mountain was humbling, especially when I felt I could reach out and touch the snow resting on the peaks, only to discover the plane was still at least two miles away.

View from Denali National Park – looks like a cloud

Talkeetna Aero Services

Pre-Flight

From a distance

Oxygen

Getting Closer

Summit

14ers Camp (14,000 feet climber base)

14ers Camp

Returning

After the flight

The other side of the mountain: View from Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge

What’s important when choosing a uniform? I recently spent time contemplating this question as I researched and wrote an article for the April/May issue of  Aviation Security International Magazine. The topic concentrated on airline and security uniforms and how companies can create the right impression. We live in an age where airlines and airport security are scrutinized for their every move; therefore, it’s a must for the airlines to put some thought into their uniforms before sending their employees to represent the company and communicate with passengers.

I interviewed several professionals who offered insightful suggestions on how to master a sharp and professional look. My interviewees included image consultant Robin Walker, Steven Metzler (VP of Ops at Firstline Transportation Security), Gailen David (aka The Sky Steward), Max Flight (producer of Airplane Geeks podcast), Stephanie Gehman, who is the marketing manager for Harrisburg International Airport, and one my frequent interviewees, Shashank Nigam CEO of SimpliFlying. A big thank you to all of them for their contribution.

During my airline career, I wore a bevy of uniforms, from the typical navy outfit with “stewardess” high-heels to colorful polo shirts, khaki shorts and tennis shoes and there is no doubt the most respectful feedback from passengers occurs when employees are dressed professionally – even when the uniform is casual.

The neatness topic naturally arose during my research as did employee body language and uniform color. The psychology that goes into the planning of a uniform is fascinating, but what I find intriguing is the passenger reaction. The next time you fly, pay attention to the employee uniforms and take note of “how” they are wearing the uniform. What message they sending?

If you’re interested in reading the full article, you may sign-up for free online access on the Aviation Security International Magazine website.

Amelia Earhart was one of my childhood heroines. I loved reading about her adventures and found her passion and zeal for flying inspiring; therefore, it’s no surprise that before I became a travel writer my time was spent in the sky as a flight attendant. Over the years I thought it would be interesting to learn to fly the plane and, even better, get a private pilots license, but I never enrolled in lessons. However, my interest has piqued again -  I had my first flying lesson! In March 2010 I had the opportunity to take a discovery flight with the Let’s Go Flying! program which was created by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The flight was one of my most memorable experiences as I was able to taxi, take-off and fly the Cessna 172 myself!

I know flying seems like a far-fetched dream for some people but the Let’s Go Flying program really is a great way for future pilots to get a sample of flying, learn some terminology and fall in love with the adventure – because after you do it once, it’s very likely you will want to return.

You can read more about my flying experience on The Vacation Gals.