As a corporate flight attendant, you may find yourself interacting with the many specific corporate cultures and personalities of a corporation. While full-time flight attendants find themselves in the same environment each time they fly, the corporate contract flight attendant is always acclimating and adjusting to a new workplace environment.
Qualities that a corporate flight attendant should possess:
Why would a business aviation flight department use a corporate contract flight attendant?
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Their full-time flight attendant is either on vacation, over crew duty limits, ill, on personal leave, or in emergency / first-aid training class.
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Their aviation department only uses corporate contract flight attendants.
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Their department is flying on a Part 91 certificate without a flight attendant but also has a Part 135 certificate, and they must have a third crewmember in the cabin.
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They only use a flight attendant onboard for international trips or just for customer trips.
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Their department uses a corporate contract flight attendant as part of an international crew change point as an augmented crew operation.
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Their company only uses a corporate contract flight attendant when the passenger count is over a specifically stated amount.
What are some of the questions an aviation manager / chief pilot could ask a corporate contract flight attendant prior to utilizing his or her service?
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When were you last through emergency and first aid / defibrillator training? (Obtain copies of all training certificates.)
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Are you experienced on our type aircraft?
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Do you have culinary skills and are you good with food presentation?
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What is your daily rate for international, domestic and stand-by days?
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Do you have a cancellation policy?
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Do you have a daily rate for extensive aircraft shopping / stocking prior to a trip of great length (international / road show)?
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Do you do aircraft consulting work for newly delivered equipment and what is your daily / weekly rate for this work?
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Do you have a current passport?
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Are your immunizations current for specific travel?
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Do you carry a paging device / cellular telephone?
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Do you have a current aviation ID card, such as Universal, Air Routing, or IBAC?
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Do you have reliable transportation to and from our facility?
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Do you have a "to go galley kit" equipped with galley amenities (if the company has just had its aircraft delivered)?
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Do you speak a foreign language (if applicable to the company's operation)?
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Do you have a credit card for travel expenses until reimbursement?
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Are you willing to have a 10 year background check?
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Are you willing to be randomly drug tested / screened?
Other recommended requests or discussion topics during an interview include:
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Ask what the flight attendant feels his or her primary responsibility is as a third crewmember, and see if it is compatible with your aviation department's mission.
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Have the flight attendant go onboard your aircraft with you and give you an emergency briefing, pointing out the operation and usage of all emergency equipment, doors, window exits, etc.
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Request three to four references from the flight attendant's past employers in the aviation industry (flight departments for which he or she has worked).
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Discuss your department's in-flight dress code and preference.
