Engine failure SYD

 A very small percentage of flight attendants can say they had a serious on board emergency during their whole flying career. I've red many books about aviation and most of the Crew quit flying because of family matters (getting married, having kids, somebody's health), starting their own business, moving on to something different or simply because they never were passionate about flying (in that case quitting happens quite quickly, unless they have some debts or loans to pay). Sometimes they quit because they got shocked from a difficult on board situation, an emergency. Well that is ALSO NOT my case, but I did have a handful of emergencies on board (check out my previous articles about Lightning Strike, Aborted Landing, Turbulence, Crosswind), the most severe one being told in this very article.

Shukran Award for outstanding performance in Emergency situation

It was a sunny and hot September day in the desert on a Boeing 777 ready to depart for Sydney. As usual the flight was overbooked, so much that we had to place some economy bags in business class hatracks. I was seated on the lefthand side jumpseat, close to the engine, facing the passengers in the last economy cabin. In front of me a happy couple going to get married in Australia. Time for departure!

The aircraft is gaining speed  and we finally take off, but just a dozen meters from the ground I hear a loud BANG and an abrupt balance loss, recovered very shortly. And then we keep on climbing. And climbing, And climbing for what it felt a lifetime! (Poor bird, it was struggling to lift a full weight with half power). The Crew knew something was wrong, we should have been released for duty by now. But as they say "hope is the last to die" and I've learned that well. Most of the passengers were unaware of the situation: sleeping, watching in-flight entertainment, chatting. Besides a couple of careful observers.

I called my Senior in economy telling about what I've heard and felt, informing him some random masks deployed in the next cabin. He confirmed the same and said we cannot contact the cockpit yet since we were still during the critical phase of take-off. So we had to wait.

And suddenly over the PA we heard that dreadful announcement of emergency that no Crew would ever want to hear. It's kind of a code that might not mean anything to the passengers, but it is there to alert the Crew. My blood froze. I think I might have become even more pale than I usually am (which means I looked quite ghostly Casper-like) and I thought I was going to pass out. Because for us Crew that meant End of Hope, it is happening to you, right here, right now. My first idea was to reach for water, but then I remember our procedures and also that everybody is watching. Take it easy Kina, breath in, breath out. Focus. You need to set an example here, not spread panic. Ok, it's gonna be ok.

Then we finally got the all-attendant-call and there it was: the verdict. Head of Cabin Crew talked to the pilots and was passing us the information. After making sure we all answered the interphone, she told us we had engine failure and we would have to return to base immediately, have an emergency landing and most probably brace for possible impact. No pressure there!

After the initial shock, there was no more space for distracting thoughts, the training kicked in and I went to full flight attendant mode, soldier like. I started revising my tasks and duties, go through possible different scenarios and making myself ready to react in any circumstance. Somehow time has expanded, so I even had some spare time to relax and meditate and observe the passengers while thinking about my loved ones. By now we already deployed emergency announcement on board and everyone was aware of the situation. Someone started crying, sobbing or holding hands like that Australian couple in front of me. That's when I thought "I don't wanna die alone, at least they are together! But I know I am loved and I've done and seen so much in my life. Come what may, I'm ready". Khallas.

Another PA alerted us that we were 2 minutes from ground and shortly Flight Crew gave the command to brace. Cabin Crew started echoing the command throughout the cabin alternately "BRACE, BRACE". Children started screaming as their parents assumed brace position, squeezing them in motherly arms. I could see the desperation around me. Be ready! You cannot do anything until we are in the air, but the moment we touch the ground, it's your turn Kina! Be ready!

And finally we touched the ground in the less possible rough way, given the situation (later on people on ground told us there were sparks). We stopped halfway through the runway and following our pilots command, implemented the procedures while the fire prevention trucks poured water on the engine and tires that at this point got totally flat. There was no need to deploy the sliderafts, but we still had rapid deplaning.

When we finally reached the airport we immediately had a meeting to discuss what just happened. The Crew was overexcited and full of adrenaline because, HEY, we just survived!!! On the way to the meeting room I met my academy batch mate and I quickly told her: "I just had an emergency landing!", her jaw dropped saying "You were on the Sydney flight?! We heard your pilots call "May Day" over the radio!!! OMG, are you Ok?!"... Only when I got home and everything finished I actually realized how tired I was - that was a huge psychological effort!

The Dreamteam

I was happy and thankful to our excellent 4 pilots as well as the whole Cabin Crew team who gave an outstanding performance in such a difficult situation. One thing I've learned is never to leave any unsolved matters before a flight: if I need to solve a misunderstanding, say Thank you, I miss you or I love you to someone, I shall do that before duty. Well I was already doing that by instinct, but now I realized how important that was, what peace and strength it gives you in the extreme situation.

Aviation is the safest means of transportation, but things can happen and flying is not exactly as going to the office every day. That's a compromise we accept, we signed up for it from the day 1. My best friend from childhood (the one who years ago signaled me the recruiting for becoming a Flight Attendant near my city and pushed me to participate and consequently become one!) was shocked when she heard about my adventure, being exactly that day - her birthday! I told her "Marina I'm reborn today, so we can both celebrate birthdays on this day from now on!".

The whole set of Crew got grounded until the investigations were over and  that particular flight departed with a different aircraft and a different set of Crew the same evening. Among the new crew was another of my academy batch mates - and the news was spreading fast: passengers were grateful and ready to go home, especially that new weds who thanked me on social media. I was pretty calm when I resumed flying after 10 days, but when I first flew on Boeing 777, I'll admit,  I was anxious for a moment. A year later I happened to fly on that same aircraft ETL echo-tango-lima (I'll never forget it!) and it happened to be a 17h flight over the Ocean! Of course I knew there was nothing to fear, except.... memories!

Company Promotion CPRO

 Once upon a time, in the '70s, vintage Stewardesses used to promote products on board by wearing them and walking down that aisle just like models on the catwalk. It is not a surprise that they did look like models since the grooming standards from the very beginning of this journey were extremely strict (we are talking about the 30/40s, for more details check out my article about the Flying Uniforms).

Dolder Grand Hotel Zurich

Today we don't do that anymore... well at least not on board! Depending on the Company size and position on the international map of exclusivity, some Airlines are still organizing promotion events in base and outstation. And I had a privilege of participating in many CPROs, mostly outstation!

Brussels Ribbon Cut CPRO

Bruxelles Atomium

Outstation were my favorite because not only I might have traveled to a new destination that was out of our flying network, but I would also get a chance to visit those places as a tourist. Like that time in Brussels when I took a train to nearby Gent in order to visit my friend from the university times. It's a win win! 

Zurich CPRO Mobile Truck

Moreover, Flight Attendant-Promoters would fly in business class, so I got used to the comfortable traveling conditions very soon. Starting from the limo pick-up at my company accommodation in Abu Dhabi and drop off at the hotel in the promotion destination. The pay for the "ground work" was the same as other ground jobs within the company (such as trainers and other office positions), meaning significantly lower than our flying hours as Cabin Crew. So in exchange of luxury and more time on ground, those months with CPRO on my roster, I would earn less. And I was perfectly happy with that, finding a good balance of work in the air and on ground, in base and outstation.

Promotion Team on board Boeing 787

I also met some good people that I had a pleasure becoming friends with (liebe Maren). I mostly had to assist the clients with food and drinks, present some innovating on board products, promote the company and illustrate the excellence that only my company ever had: the so called "Residence" which was fitted only on Airbus 380 aircrafts. See the video bellow and you'll understand what I am talking about! It's an on board private apartment (in fact there was only one per aircraft) which will save you money from paying a private jet, but give you the same privacy and excellency that is expected for a 31.000$ round-trip from NYC to Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 pandemic, EY decided to withdraw from the market all the  A380s, which also means no more Residence from this year.

But back on the main topic, CPRO. I remember that 5 day promotion in Munich for Air Cargo exhibition. Gulf companies were pretty much the only ones having Air-Hostesses work on the promotion, but for us it was fun. That's when I earned my A380 metal, almost half a meter big aircraft model from our German representative. It stands today in a high position, flying towards the window and reminding me every day how liberating is to have wings!

Air Cargo CPRO Munich

Or that other time in Salzburg where we attended a night gala event in the hangar at the airport, joining Air Berlin, Nikki Lauda and Red Bull Crew. We also had a free day before and after the event - such was the coincidence with flights, so the Ambassador came to join me all the way from Italy and it felt like a small vacation. Christmas markets, visiting castles and museums, warming up in the historic coffee bars with Sacher torte and hot chocolate in the city of Mozart.

Hangar BTU Salzburg CPRO

Rome, Geneva, Salzburg, Abu Dhabi - the Ambassador would follow everywhere as a love top, so my working on ground would get integrated by the amusing exploring of surroundings and culinary delicacies, on the top of constant loving support.

Rome CPRO with Alitalia Crew

Zurich is my favorite though and I've done promotion there several times. Twice for the Film Festival itself and once for a Red Cross gala event. 

ZFF central Pavilion

Zurich Film Festival is usually held in September and you can see walking on the green carpet many of the internationally known celebrities. My Airline had a stand for Stars right in the middle of it all, in a central pavilion, in front of the Zurich Opera House, in the Sechseläutenplatz. Thanks to that I was able to see Christoph Waltz, Liam Hemsworth, Luke Evans, Kiefer Sutherland and Arnold Schwarzenegger walking on the green carpet that went from the central pavilion to the Cinema Corso. Of course all the other cinemas in the city center were involved as well with a full day program 10 days long. I managed to see some of the films after my working shift and I am a cinema lover, so it was a huge privilege for me! My favorite film was Colonia with Ema Watson and seeing the film Premiere right there, in the big hall of Cinema Corso with Lufthansa Air Stewardess from the 70s opening the first scene of the film (that was her role!!!), gave me goosebumps! Highly recommended film and it doesn't have to do anything with aviation - besides that opening scene. During the lunch break I would get my take-away food and go to the lake to enjoy some sun and fresh air, observing the swans dance.

EY star lounge in the central Pavilion of Zurich Film Festival

The Red Cross gala event was held in the glorious Dolder Grand Hotel which stands in the hills and has a great panorama over the city. Another opportunity to see the swiss bourgeoisie who's names I was starting to recognize. Star of the gala was the former Miss Switzerland whose dress was by far the most impressive one. But I did have fun analyzing all the guests outfits: after all it was the first time in my life to see such a burst of elegant gala dresses in all colors, materials and forms! Sort of a fairy tale come true where I could fit as an observant Cinderella, hahaha. Well they did offer us a table and after the delicious food, we went on the stage to deliver the auctioned prize. Fun fun Fun!!!

Red Cross Gala CPRO at Dolder Grand Hotel Zurich

I did have some "local" promotions as well, one of those at the Aviation event in Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. The problem with a promotion in the desert is that outdoors it gets hot pretty quickly and being our uniform quite thick, we suffered some sweating. But the setting under the stars was quite impressive and the atmosphere very cool. 

Emirates Palace CPRO, Abu Dhabi

I am gonna close my CPRO memories with quite a cool one: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi! When a new game called Flying Aces was about to enter this amusement park, Ferrari decided to make a promotion video with 28 Cabin Crew filling up all the seating spots on the new rollercoaster. And it was such a blast that I fainted during the ride (yeah, I missed the biggest in the world loop with the twist!)... You can clearly see the horror on my face (if you manage to spot me, little hint: I was the only one with the short hair!). While the others were in for the second round, I was begging to get me out of there 😂 Such a shame! That working day got us a prize of 2 premium tickets for the park itself. Since the Ambassador happened to be in Abu Dhabi during those days, I seized the moment and after the promotion job (that went from 6 to 12am), I changed clothes in the bathroom, left my uniform in the lockers and enjoyed the park for the rest of the day, until the closure at 10pm. He did not convince me to get on Flying Aces again, not happening. But I bet that rollercoaster enthusiasts will have great fun! I'm in for more chilling games. 

Cavallino Rampante from the Ferrari World CPRO

Oh, almost forgetting: the setting of Flying Aces is amazing, during the route to the rollercoaster you get to learn a lot about Ferrari, starting from Count Baracca, Italy's top fighter ace during the WW1. The emblem that Baracca wore on his airplanes - Cavallino Rampante - inspired Enzo Ferrari to use it on his racing cars. The prancing horse became the official symbol of the Scuderia Ferrari racing team since 1929. These two gentlemen were proudly from my region Emilia-Romagna. Although I would see more Ferrari cars on the streets of the UAE, rather than in Italy, the Ferrari Headquarters factory is based in Maranello, less than 50km from my home, Bologna. That was a little history and geography lesson if you don't mind. Now enjoy the ride, starting from the Crew faces:

I know that flying after the Pandemic will have to get reimagined all over the world, but I honestly hope that the memorable experiences such as the above mentioned ones will still be part of Flight Attendants job!

Fairy flight MAN

Let me stop you right there before you start thinking that I cannot spell the word right or ask yourself how is it possible that after 6 years of flying I did not learn the right word for "flying an empty aircraft"?! ✋

Fairy?

Ok, ok, we are talking about FERRY flying. Doesn't it sound boring though? Isn't it just so much nicer to call it FAIRY flight? As in light and free as a fairy? Because that's what you are: empty aircraft=light aircraft, no passengers=you're free to do what you like! 

Ferry flight

Why on earth would an airline waste their money on a fairy flight? Well there are multiple reasons, like delivering a brand new aircraft to a customer, moving from one base of operations to another, maintenance operations or, as in my case, returning to base.

My first Fairy was after a diversion case on a HYD turnaround which I talked about in my previous post. Since we had an unexpected layover in Hyderabad, after minimum rest we were to bring back the aircraft (and ourselves) back to base. With no passengers, The whole experience was quite adventurous and it was impressive to see the Dreamliner with empty seats and only Crew on board. Being able to observe the panorama from every angle of the aircraft was unique. We felt kind of special, kind of Fairy light, you know what I mean.

My second Fairy was my last operational flight before the Covid19 quarantine, we're talking about March 2020. The majestic hotel in Manchester was still open only for us, as most of the hospitality structures were already on lockdown. It was quite hunting to find ourselves in that big Harry Potter Castle-like hotel which is a proper labyrinth, only about 25 people, all Crew and the rest totally empty. It was also sad to see that colorful lounge wrapped in silence and only room service available. On the streets people started following social distancing when grocery shopping, but generally UK woke up quite late regarding all the Covid19 prevention. Or maybe they're still living the dream, who knows?

Empty Manchester Airport, March 2020

Seeing the airport in Manchester completely empty was hard core movie style. As if we were protagonist of those horror movies about the end of the world and just waiting the moment when the zombies are gonna come out and rush at us. Still following all the safety protocols, that's our job, but hey. Talking to ourselves only. And then back to base. Strong feeling of a "last time". Last flight before the lockdown, last Manchester, last time in my favorite European hotel, last time in that uniform, last time spreading wings, last time Crew? I took it all in and preserved that energy. What was to follow is months and months on ground while the world is changing. Reshaping. Nourishing. Getting reborn.

Same song by Bublé applies. And I'm feeling...Good! Whatever you do, one thing never stop: DREAMING!!!

Boeing 787 - the Dreamliner

Lightning strike HYD

Do you know what is Diwali? It is a Hindu festival of lights celebrated between mid October and mid November. And that is precisely when, as by some game of irony, during my turnaround bound to Hyderabad (India), I had a lightning strike. A whole different on board lights festival!

But lets rewind. Peaceful departure, quite a calm night flight and Crew with only cabin trolley bag, since we were supposed to go back and forth the same night. And then through the pitch black night we heard raining, visibility zero. Couple of bumps here and there, but still ok. We latch ourselves on the jumpseats, cabin is ready for landing. Except the bad weather wouldn't let us! Bumps become more intense, visibility still zero, we can all hear the rain hitting the aircraft and then BUM, a blinding white light that showed me all the puzzled faces in the cabin, a sound as when a circuit breaker pops up at home and then darkness again. No worries, all commercial airplanes are manufactured with a conductive body, such as aluminum. Even the composite planes, such as the one we were flying on, are safe as long as they have the protective mash. Shortly after our pilot announces that we will be diverting to Bangalore. Another two airlines followed our example and diverted as well. That was not an aborted landing, as we didn't even get close to the ground, but it was a go around since we announced the landing with the control tower, but then weren't able to do so, until the decision of a diversion.

We finally landed safely in Bangalore at the first lights of dawn. Spectacular morning colors and a deserved break while the lightnings engineer is checking the aircraft for a possible damage, water tank gets topped up and petrol refueled. Ready to take those passengers to their festival destination, Hyderabad. Now we had daylight and the storm was gone, so we managed to land. But by that time the Crew wasn't legal anymore to operate the flight back to base. In fact duty hours surpassed 12h already. Sooooo improvised layover was the airline's verdict.

Diwali, Hindu festival of lights

We found ourselves in Hyderabad for a ground version (and more pleasant one!) of Diwali festival of lights! Yaaaaay! Thankfully our aircraft was a Boeing 787- 3 classes, meaning that the First Class had fancy amenities like pajamas, sleepers, toothbrush and socks. Just enough for our 13h layover.  But since then I have learned that some items are just essential to have on every single flight, just in case some unexpected situation like this happens! 

Make a list: t-shirt, leggins, flip flops, extra panties, toothbrush and paste, comb, make up, wet wipes, charger, little bag, tablet and a book!

Aborted landing CAI

This is something that you learn in the aviation academy and you train for in the simulator.

Aborted or rejected landing is when for some reason it is not safe to land anymore, so the pilots decide last minute to abort the landing. The reasons can be bad weather or technical issues, in any case the decision is made last minute, so there will be no communication about it, even though everyone will realize quite soon what is happening. Sometimes the landing gears already touched the ground when the plane goes back up in the air abruptly. The following action is to gain altitude, go around and attempt another landing. General rule is that after two unsuccessful attempts, it is advisable to opt for a diversion.

Thailand, Phuket airport attached to the beach

It can be a routine challenge, but when unfavorable conditions start to pile up, it can turn into a disaster. Do you remember that case of FlyDubai crash in Russia in 2016? I do very well, because just a couple of months after that I had my first rejected landing! It was a Cairo turnaround, demanding day, we all knew in advance. During the approach to Egypt pilots advised there is a sand storm in Cairo and the landing might be bumpy. Well, not only was it bumpy, but it seemed like the aircraft was dancing left and right all the time. At that time we were still cheerful and carefree as it is normal to have a bumpy landing. Until just before the touchdown we found ourselves attached to the back of the seat, heard the sound change and felt the abrupt motion of sinking before returning up in the air. That's how I can best describe the feeling of an aborted landing. It wasn't funny anymore. Too bad that we had 2 suppy Crew with us (newbees that just finished the academy and are doing their observation flights before finally getting their wings) and they were quite puzzled. The turbulence became so bad that the passengers started screaming and woooowing and unfortunately vomiting as well. I started to feel nauseous myself from all that shaking. Second attempt, fingers crossed. We are ready. But the weather doesn't get better and the landing gets aborted AGAIN. So that is the moment when I started thinking about FlyDubai case (peace be upon them), and began to worry. All the attention was on the pilots decision: divert or attempt again?! There were 2 more airlines who like us couldn't manage to land and were performing a go around as well for more than 1h. The situation was tense, the air was heavy, smelly and fragile. Everyone were serious and on alert. Third attempt. Shaking, dancing, shouts and then finally touchdown, we made it!!! A huge applause was heard in the whole cabin as a sense of relief was palpable. During the disembarkation people kept thanking the pilots who in this occasion came out to greet them. Cabin Crew included! I will not tell you about the mess in the cabin upon arrival. Looked like the hurricane passed our way!

And you would think that was the end of the day: I wish! We still had to operate the return flight and after the sand storm was gone we were safe to depart. On the way back we had a medical case, a diabetic person collapsing in the middle of the cabin, so we had to stop the service and assist him, since on the small Airbus 320 there isn't much space (he occupied the only existing aisle) and the Crew in economy are 2 (the suppies are there to observe only, remember?). Well it all ended well, paramedics assisted the casualty as soon as we landed. But back to base we truly thought among ourselves: "What a hell happened today?!". We were utterly exhausted from such a psychological effort on both sectors. After a day like that you just need to sleep and reset. Start over, thankful for a new day. 

I like to think about the new day with one of my favorites from Bublé "Feeling good".

Turbulence

Turbulence is a totally normal phenomena for the flying Crew, in fact there is no flight without a tiny bit of turbulence. The question is only when and how intense is it going to be.

But let's start from the basics. What is turbulence? It is an irregular motion of the air due to currents or even due to the motion produced by a bigger vehicle than yours (let's say you are flying on Airbus319 and you pass by Big Mama A380. It's like being on a highway on a motorcycle and passing by a truck, you get the idea, right?). 

Usually during the pre-flight briefing the flight Crew informs the Cabin Crew about the expected turbulence on route. They know the when and how intense while still on ground. That way Cabin Crew can plan the service accordingly. So most of the times they know already when it is coming, how long it is going to last and how strong it is going to be. Sometimes the route might be adjusted in-flight in order to avoid storms and possible turbulent areas. Pilots will never decide to go through an area of severe turbulence, because that can cause structural damage to the fuselage and take the plane out of control momentarily. So if that happens, it means it was unexpected. In other words it didn't show on the radars, it came out of the blue sky. And that is pretty much the only time you might experience severe turbulence, because pilots will avoid even the medium ones, while a light turbulence happens on a daily basis.

As a matter of fact, light turbulence can even be pleasant. I've heard many Crew say (including myself) that the best time for the turbulence to happen is during the in-flight rest on the long flights. It literally feels like you are cuddled to sleep! But if the bumps become too sharp turning to medium intensity, it might prevent you from sleeping. On the other side the worst timing for turbulence to happen is during the service. Spilling drinks on passengers or yourself is not fun. Neither pushing a 100kg heavy cart down the aisle against the strength of nature.

How will you know what intensity you are experiencing? If there are few bumps and your Cabin Crew continue the service and move around the cabin with nonchalance, it's probably light turbulence. If the bumps are persistent and your Crew discontinue the service and sit down themselves, that is most likely to be medium turbulence. I have never experienced the severe one, but I have colleagues who did. I also saw the effects of it, because they teach your that in the aviation academy. Something as heavy as the 100kg full cart with food, cutlery and drinks will be taken to the ceiling. Any person who is standing will fly to the ceiling. Any loose objects will hit the ceiling (and back). THAT is severe turbulence. If it happens, you'll be fully aware of it.

So why the pilots put the seatbelt sign on and then there is no turbulence?! Well first of all, unless it is unexpected and you're required to comply immediately (and you will, trust me), pilots will give you time to comply. So they will turn the seatbelt sign 5-10 minutes  before it starts, so even the people in the lavatory will have time to go back to their seat and secure themselves. Then Cabin Crew need to stay safe as well, so they first need to check on the passenger compliance and finally seat down themselves and that takes time. And finally sometimes the radars show certain intensity of turbulence which at the end turns out to be less strong than predicted. But better safe than sorry, right?

So the general rule is very simple: observe your Cabin Crew and copy paste. If they are seated with seatbelt fasten, there is a reason for it. You should do the same!

And one more tip. When you are sleeping with the blanket, fasten your seatbelt OVER the blanket, so it will be clearly visible. That way if there is turbulence during your nap, not only you'll stay safe, but Cabin Crew won't need to disturb you by waking you up to fasten your seatbelt. Because they will, it's their job. Simple as that.

Safe flights and clear skies!

Crosswind

Do you know what crosswind is? Quite intuitive, right? A wind blowing across your direction of travel. But have you ever experienced it? You know that time when you were riding your bicycle and the wind was so strong that you had to put all your effort and tend your muscles to the maximum in order to move forward? Or when you were crossing a bridge on a motorcycle and the wind seemed to move your vehicle sideways giving you the impression of being out of control?  Or maybe you felt in in a car on a highway when a truck passed by very fast and the mere size of it moved the air, therefor your car.

FedEx MD10 fighting crosswind

Well it also happens in the airplanes at the most critical stage of the flight which is take off or landing. Pilots are well trained for it, but you do need to be a good pilot to play with the wind (just saying). It is beautiful to see from outside, this elegant romantic dance between the nature and the huge metal tube with wings. Maybe not so fun to be in it during the dance, but for the Cabin Crew: we have all experienced it countless times. You do get used to it, no panic. It's part of the job. But the power of the wind...it is incredible how strong it is. These tones heavy machines seem a mere fly at the mercy of the wind, even the Big Mama (Airbus 380).

So during the landing approach when you see that the airplane is not so straight in the runway direction, but it looks like you are going to land sideways, no worries: it's a technique against the crosswind! Just keep that seatbelt tightly fastened and follow the Crew instructions, it is going to be fine!

photo credit: pdx.rollingthunder FedEx MD10 fighting crosswind via photopin (license)

Flight Attendants Uniforms

The story is old as the uniforms themselves. Just admit it: have you never been mesmerized by a person in uniform? Weather it is a policeman or a firefighter, captain of a boat or a flying pilot. Or maybe you have a thing for nurses and flight attendants. We must have learned it from the films or... uniform just gives that sense of authority and reverence at first glance, but it's up to you to keep it up afterwards.

Virgin American

In any case uniforms are super cool! Especially for those like me who hate to think about how to dress every morning. It's there, it's ready, that's not the reason you're gonna be late. Of course it is a bonus if the uniform is attractive and nicely fitting, then you'll never get bored of it. Also everyone looks kind of the same, so working environment has one less gossip on the plate.

Air France

Air Berlin

Uniforms represent the style and image of the company and even though the saying is "do not judge the monk by his habit", you will surely get one first impression just by the looks of it.

It is important that the uniform is of the best quality because you will be wearing it all the time  and for long hours. Stylish, comfortable, practical and resistant, not necessarily in the same order.

It has to be resistant because on board wear and tear effect happens really fast. After all you're not sitting in a chair or slowly walking around. Most of the time your running around in a rush, bending down, tip toeing, squeezing and sweating around. 

Practical uniform is designed to help in what you need to do. So for example, even though I love the design of the Korean Air uniform, that color must be awfully unpractical for a Cabin Crew job, getting dirty constantly. As it is wearing slippers at all times like in Singapore Airlines (it is already cold enough with ballerinas!).

You will spend countless hours in it, under abnormal conditions for the human body (pressure and altitude), maybe sometimes sleep with parts of it. So it has to be comfortable to wear. It's basically your second skin!

Finally about fashion...Yes, it is relevant, probably for both the Crew and the passengers. But it surely isn't the first thing to take into consideration. For instance in such a narrow aisles that we find ourselves to work in nowadays, passengers eyes cannot even get to see the shoes you are wearing. So why impose ridiculous standards about high heel shoes and brands. If safety is #1 priority, then the shoes should be comfortable and practical, first of all. Or make up and nail shades, hair style standards etc. There should be some general guidelines and a lot of common sense, but that's all. Everything beyond is nonsense. 

Emirates Airlines

On board less accessories the better. I know that once upon a time in some airlines Crew used to be modeling on board, walking long that aisle like on a catwalk. But that was glamorous era when they had plenty of time to do so and the whole concept of flying was different: more elegant, exclusive and luxurious. My generation can only dream about the good old times. What to do!

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways

Alitalia

Turkish Airways

Speaking of the good old, it is interesting to take a glance into the vintage uniforms! Oh my, oh my!

From the very beginning
there were strict standards about
the Crew uniform

First uniforms were very much 
army like and that is because
Crew used to be primarily
nurses working hand in hand
with soldiers

In the '70s Crew uniforms followed the fashion of freedom in the hippies era

Flight Attendants are the face of the airline indeed. Soooo...
Happy Crew, happy passengers! Old golden rule 

My favorite pose: looks like it's evergreen!

Good bye, au revoir, auf Wiedersehen, arrivederci, hasta luego!

Before and After

You don't need a university diploma in order to work as a flight attendant. But you do need a handful of skills to face that lifestyle. And there is no in between with flying: either you love it or you hate it! If you love it, you will always want more, you won't be able to stop and when on ground you will always be aware of the aircrafts flying above your head just by the sound. If you hate it, you will suffer and some people still do it. Why on earth?! Obviously, because of the benefits! And the pay. You'll finally be able to live comfortably and also put something aside. That's if you manage your perks wisely, but I have heard of Crew who used all their savings in drinking, partying or fancy branded bags, shoes and clothes. What to do, we are all different. What made me happy was to travel even more during my free time, that's where I invested part of my savings. And what I have out of it is beautiful memories, many of which will find their final destination in this blog!

Interesting enough is a fact that a high percentage of Crew that I flew with actually has a university degree! Some even multiple masters. Probably hoping to put it to use one day AFTER the flying career. I had my university class mate from Italy as a fellow Crew working in the same company overseas years after: what are the odds?! I helped him out for the interview and saw the positive result of my efforts when he got recruited, just a couple of years after me. It was quite comforting to have close someone from home, while so far from home. We are still in touch and always remembering the good old times in Bologna.

But let me go back to the main topic. While flying, I discovered that IT is my ideal job. That I don't want to go back to what I have studied at the university, also because I was already putting it to use on board, even though in a different way than imagined. I've studied International Relations at the Political Sciences Faculty, so foreign languages are my main asset and I do speak lot of them. Well that is exactly what I was doing on board as well! Also being diplomatic, patient, tolerant and moderate was part of the skills I learned and used on board. How to read the situation quickly and always find a solution is another skill I can brag about.
 If you love it, you will never stop. But what if you're forced to stop flying? Let's say because a certain mortal virus shows up in an epic number of the year 2020 and aviation is the worse affected industry because while the whole world is in quarantine, the aircrafts are in hangars. Period.

Then you need to reshape your future. Measure your skills and understand what your strengths are. Focus on those and look for a job that will fit your profile. Apply apply apply.
So which are the possible outcomes for a former Flight Attendant? What comes AFTER?

Here is a short SUPER FUNNY and greatly ACCURATE video about Cabin Crew trying to work from home, it is obviously Covid-age.

TRAVEL AGENT

You surely know a lot about traveling, why not starting your own business in the same industry? You have all the tips needed about places you have seen by person, contacts of trusted people, material to show the visual and even the leftover currencies (this last one is for your own memory). But get the point?

TOUR GUIDE
If you don't like organizing, let someone else do that and you go directly on the field! Get specialized about a certain place where you would like to live and go show it around to the others! If you know how to tell catchy stories and keep people's attention, not only the tourist will have fun, but you will as well.

TRAVEL BLOGGER
Hello from the other side! Here I am. If you have a lot to tell and an interesting way to tell stories along with a lot of media, this is the right job for you. It takes time, dedication and consistency, but if you are talkative as I am, it will only be fun!

PHOTOGRAPHER
If you don't like to write, but you are a good photographer, why not tell your stories through the media?! Get a network and go out there! Catch some memorable moments and places and make everyone dream with the beauty around the world.

CRUISE SHIP
If you still want to get your hands dirty, but on ground or better on water, a job on a cruise might just be right for you. It's a hard job, 24/7 availability, but it is also as fun. Camaraderie is evergreen.

AU PAIR
You are not going to earn even closely as much as Crew, but you can travel and learn new languages if you like baby-sitting. After dealing with countless screaming children on board, we all learned how to be a nanny. But not everyone likes it. If you know how to deal with children effortlessly, why not give it a try?

LANGUAGE TEACHER
Most of the Cabin Crew I have worked with know at least one foreign language, along with their native one. Some speak 3 or 4 and a niche goes beyond with 5+ (yes, I am among those! 🎓). If you like teaching, it should come quite natural to you putting those language skills to use. Surely you will need to be certified, so some studying and exams will be the first step.

UNIVERSITY
Many colleagues of mine interrupted their studying career in order to start flying. Wrong choice! EDUCATIONE COMES FIRST. But it is never late to finish your studies, because there is no age to studying! And if you still have to understand what your dream job is, put your time to use by starting a course (nowadays there are plenty online, especially because of the Covid-19 crisis, but I do prefer to go to the classroom). And if you didn't get the chance to study because you started flying early, well this is your chance to rectify. Hopefully you have some savings from your Crew life that will be helpful in this decision.

HOTEL MANAGEMENT
Some of the Crew come from a hotel management background. Going back to it is like a deja-vu, but that might just be what you like to do. Stay in the customer service industry, but on ground.

BARTENDER
It goes under the customer service, but specified with the drinks. Were you that Crew preparing cocktails and mocktails on all the parties? You had it in you all time long!

RADIO talker or CALL CENTER
Used to talk over the interphone, not only among the Crew, but addressing passengers over the public announcements, just admit it: you always enjoyed hearing your voice loud and knowing that everyone else is hearing it too (besides the distracted ones that aren't listening).
Well use that persuasive voice to talk on the radio and keep your slice of glory! Or chat all day long with random  people over the phone in the call center.

SALES ASSISTANT
Most of the airlines have a duty free on board. Therefor most of the Crew know how to sell. 1+1=2
As far as me is concerned, been there, done that.

EMR (emergency medical responder) or PARAMEDICS
There are some Crew who always play in the front line with confidence. Especially in the emergency situations such as medical ones. If you want to save people life full time, you will need to study some more and get the certification, but you will also stay in the game. A hero!

FIRE FIGHTER
You like action and you are not afraid of fire. You feed on it because you are a burning atom full of energy to give. We need these heroes in the society big time!

AVIATION TRAINER
And if you still want to stay in the aviation industry, but in the backstage, this is an interesting position to consider. But you do need to be able to transmit information in a clear and effective manner. There is much responsibility to it, so don't take it lightly. You can choose between teaching service, safety or first aid. Or simply following the ab-initio during their training weeks in bureaucracy matters.

Do you have any other suggestions on a possible career AFTER flying?
As you can see from the above, flying is not a dead-end career. It is just a beginning of your adventures. Good luck!

Aviation Terminology M-Z

In order to make this list as exhaustive as possible, I decided to split the article in two parts, so that you can actually take in all the information. 🧠 So let's move on from letter M!

MILE HIGH CLUB is a slang term for people who have had sex during a flight. As simple and straight as that. Mile alludes to the frequent flyers program, high refers to the altitude of air traveling and club to the rarity and exclusivity of the act itself. Once upon a time it was kind of a must, today it is more difficult to perform since Cabin Crew are patroling the whole aircraft at all times, lavatories included. If you decide to be brave, be also prepared to meet the police at the arrival!

MINIMUM CREW is the minimum mandatory number of crew on board the aircraft. Every aircraft type has a different requirement of Crew according to the number of the doors on board and general rule is 1 door=1 Crew.

MINIMUM REST is minimum legal time for rest in between the flights that has to be granted to the Crew. It is important to know the regulations of your company in order to alert the Crew Control about the possible discrepancies. Legalities depend also on flight time departure/arrival (morning-day-night flight) and the length of the flight itself. In between the turnaround and medium haul flights minimum rest is around 12h. In between the ultra long haul flights there must be a minimum break of 48h. But again, every company has their own rules about this (even though they should follow Civil Aviation Authority) and the above mentioned numbers are already over-stretched to maximize the Crew productivity. In other words, the good old times of a week long layovers are gone. 😭

NO-SHOW is when the Crew doesn't show up for work. It might be lateness or sickness, or any other unpredicted event, but the result is the same: they will get off-loaded from that flight and another Crew will be assigned to replace the missing Crew.

OFF day is a day when the Crew is free of work and it cannot be called for duty.

OFFLOAD is when the Crew or a passengers gets removed from a flight. It can be for sickness, lateness, rudeness or any kind of disruption to the standard operating procedures.

ON DUTY is quite intuitive: Crew on work, flying, operating a flight.

OPERATE is a synonym of working, flying. It is used to differentiate when the Crew is deadheading or staff traveling, so still on board, but not working, off duty.

OTP on time performance or punctuality

PAX short for passengers

PED stands for Personal Electronic Devices

PILOT IN COMMAND is the one flying the aircraft on a specific flight. On the commercial airlines there is usually a minimum of 2 pilots on board (Captain and First Officer) and they take turns in flying, but never during the flight itself. Rather it will be that CP is flying on the first sector and the FO on the return sector, or the other way round.

PURSER is head of Flight Attendants, the supervisor on board. In chain of command it is the first point of reference for the Crew, after the Flight Deck obviously (CP and FO).

PUSHBACK is the first movement of the aircraft on ground and it is a car that is dragging (pushing or pulling) the aircraft from the parking position to the runway.

RED EYE flight is a night flight. Quite intuitive: on a night shift your eyes will get red. I had a looooooot of those and there is some appeal to it: they are silent and generally quite smooth, simply because pax are sleeping! No shouting and complaining and requesting and all that chaos happening during the day. But when you work all night long and hit the bed at 8am in the morning, you're most likely to lose the whole day sleeping and wake up just for dinner. Then your eyes might get an additional shade of red. 👀

REFUELING is simply loading gasoline into the aircraft tanks.

REJECTED LANDING/TAKE OFF  or ABORTED landing/take off is when for some reason it is not safe to land/take off, so the pilots decide to abort it. If it's rejected landing, than they will do a GO AROUND and make a second attempt. After that diversion is possible. If it's rejected take-off, pilots will abruptly stop the aircraft until it is safe to do so.

RETURN TO FIELD is an emergency situation that occurred after the take-off, so it is advised to return to base for safety reasons.

REST day is a day free of duty dedicated to rest after a long duty time such as ULH flight.

ROUTE is the path selected to reach certain destination. Many factors will be taken into consideration when deciding the route, such as weather conditions, jet streams, vicinity to land and closed airspace.

ROSTER is the flying schedule and it usually comes out once a month. So that is the furthest a flight attendant can plan their personal life accordingly.

RUNWAY is that strip of land where aircrafts take off and land. Not all the runways in the world can take all the aircraft types. It depends on the position, length and material it is made of.

SEATS FOR DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL is a command given by the Pilots to the Cabin Crew before take-off/landing and it means that the aircraft is about to take-off/land, therefor even the Crew must be seated.

SECTOR/LEG is a flight from A to B. One flight = one sector.

SENIORITY on board is quite important because it will set immediately who is the leader and who needs to listen. It might not be so relevant in a normal situation, but it will be in emergency.

SERVICE FLOW is different for every single airline. They will decide, based on the length and timing of the flight as well as the destination and passenger profile how often and what will they be serving during the whole flight. Example: for flights going to or from India there are likely to be many Asian Vegetarian or Hindu meals requests, on Italian flights pasta, Korean flights congee, Chinese flights noodles, generally Asian flights rice and noodles. Got the idea?

SFS Senior Flight Supervisor is the second in command in the cabin, after the Purser.

SH/MH/LH/ULH short (up to 3h) - medium (up to 7h) - long (up to 10h) - ultralong (more than 10h) HAUL flights. So yes, it is about the length of the flight.

SLIDE RAFT is that device attached to the aircraft door that inflates in case of emergency. You will use it to quickly slide out of the aircraft on ground or in case of ditching it will be used as a floating raft/boat in the water.

SOP standard operating procedures. When these are followed, everything runs smoothly.

SPECIAL MEALS are Cabin Crew nightmare 😅 Just kidding, but when the number starts being significantly high it does cause some disruption, both to the length of service and to the patience of both pax and Crew. Oh I almost forgot... I'm talking about those pre-booked meals for special needs like gluten free, diabetic, non-lactose, child meal (these are never to high in number) and all kind of vegetarian, kosheer, raw, jain, blain etc.

STATION INFORMATION is the relevant information that Crew need to be informed about before going for a certain flight regarding the destination where they will be flying to.

STD is simply scheduled time of departure.

SUITCASE is the big Crew baggage that goes in cargo. You will wonder why the heck do they need a big suitcase for a 24h layover right?! First of all, the small trolley is most likely full with items that are mandatory to carry for work: manuals, spare uniform items, shoe polish, beauty case, thermos or a favorite mug, on board shoes for the ladies. But the suitcase is vital if you intend to go for shopping like all the Crew usually do, weather its fashion shopping in Italy, France, Spain or USA, cosmetics in Korea, fruits in Asia or grocery all around the world. Do you want gifts and souvenirs from your flight attendant friend or family member? It takes space.

STANDBY duty is a reserve duty when the crew needs to be ready in a short amount of time on call. It is like a lottery and you are most likely to get a shxxxy flight that someone called sick for. But sometimes you might get lucky and be sent to a tropical island. So you better pack everything in your suitcase: from winter clothes to the bikini! There is home and airport standby. During the first one you can sleep, watch movies or read, do whatever you like in the comfort of your home, as long as you answer that call (from Crew Control!). Airport standby is usually shorter and you go to the airport in uniform ready for duty and wait in the Crew lounge for a call. If you didn't get any call during the standby hours, the rest of the day is free!

TAXI is that on ground movement of the aircraft when it is positioning on the runway for take-off or exiting the runway to reach the parking position. No taxis involved! But you still need to REMAIN SEATED please.

TOC/TOD top of climb and top of descent is when the cruise starts/ends. It means that the aircraft finished climbing to reach the cruise altitude or is starting the descent for landing.

TRASH COMPACTOR is that device that smashes all the trash to make it compact and reduce size. Otherwise where are we gonna put all the rubbish collected after the services?

TROLLEY is the small carry-on bag taken on board.

TURBULENCE is the unsteady movement of the air that causes the aircraft to shake. It can be predicted and unpredicted. Pilots will tailor the route to avoid it as much as possible, so if you happen to have a severe turbulence, that was most likely unpredicted, meaning the instruments weren't able to detect and forecast it. Severe means that if you're not fastened, you are going to literally fly and hit the ceiling. That is why it is a good common use to keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you're seated and above the blanket, so that Crew won't disturb you if you are sleeping.

TURNAROUND is a ultra-short, short or medium haul flight when you will be coming back to base the same day. No layovers or fancy hotels, just a short stay on ground to allow to the cleaners to reset the aircraft, catering to load the food for the return sector and Crew to do the security search.

UM unaccompanied minor is a child under 18 who is traveling alone. Ground staff will hand the UM along with the documents to the Purser who will do the same reverse at the reached destination.

UTC Universal Time Coordinated or GMT Greenwich Mean Time is internationally adopted as time of reference in aviation. It is referred to solar time at the Greenwich meridian. It is vital in the communication between the pilots and control towers in order to avoid misunderstandings.
If Greenwich is 0, western European countries have gmt +1 in wintertime and gmt+2 in summertime. Some middle eastern countries don't change time through the year, so Dubai is always gmt +4. New York being behind the Greenwich meridian, is gmt -4 in summertime and gmt -5 in wintertime. Got it?

WHEELCHAIR and the Jetbridge Jesus: a funny closure to our journey through aviation terminology. What am I talking about? Specifically about those cases of people needing a wheelchair and highloader service to get on board, but at the end of the flight miraculously can walk, or better run and be the first ones out of the aircarft! How is that possible? Obviously it's a miracle, they have been touched by Jesus...but some haters would say they only requested the wheelchair service to skip the lines on the gates and airport controls and get that extra legroom seat. Who to believe?!

Dear readers, if you have any further questions or need more clarification about the aviation terminology, don't hesitate to contact me!

Aviation Terminology A-L

Even if you are English native speaker, in the aviation academy you might find yourself learning a lot of new terms and not understanding a word at the very beginning. Most of this terms are common to all airlines, but there are some slight differences from airline to airline, especially in commands. If you are a flight attendant wannabe, this article will come very handy!

ABP (able bodied passenger) is a passenger who can potentially help the crew in case of emergency.

AIRBRIDGE is that passage looking like a tunnel that you use to reach the aircraft from the gate. If you reach the aircraft by bus, then you will be using stairs instead.

ALL ATTENDANT CALL is an onboard call that all the minimum crew has to answer over the interphone. It is used to communicate some important information.

ALTITUDE is the height measured from sea level. In other words how high in the sky you are!

ARM/DISARM DOORS AND CROSSCHECK this is a command at the beginning/end of the flight that means preparing the doors for the flight (arming) or for arrival (disarming). What exactly are you arming/disarming? Simply put, the evacuation system. What about crosschecking? Well since the action of arming/disarming is very important, the procedures require the Crew to check on each other, so that everything is done properly.

ATC (air traffic control) is a system designed to give assistance to the aircraft in order to manage aircraft flow and prevent collisions.

ATTENTION CREW AT STATION this is a command coming from the pilot and it is calling upon the maximum attention of the Cabin Crew in case of some abnormal event. The minimum crew shall all go to their respective stations and wait for further instructions.

BLOCK HOURS/FLYING HOURS are the effective number of hours spent in the air, excluding the working time on ground at the airport.

BOARDING COMPLETED means that all the passengers are on board and it is also the right time for you to look for an empty seat around you! Even though in the Covid-19 era you are most likely to have it anyways!

BRACE BRACE if you hear this, well it's an emergency! Follow the Cabin Crew instructions, it is for your own safety! And do brace!

BRIEFING/DEBRIEFING The first one is the mandatory meeting that all the airlines have before the flight. Initially Cabin Crew and Flight Crew are talking separately, but finally they will join and discuss important matters like the route, altitude, weather forecast, station information, but also passenger profile, service  and any relevant information for that specific flight. Debriefing is at the end of the flight and it only happens in case there was some special event like a medical emergency or any other kind of emergency.

BULKHEAD is a divider between the cabins. It is made of plastic and it is also holding the ceiling. Usually passengers with children sit there because a baby bassinet can be attached to that wall. It has extra legroom, so pax with medical condition can also sit there, as long as it is not next to the exit.

CALL BELL is the most hated button on board by the Cabin Crew 😅 The reason being is because too often it is overused. We are happy to help, but don't make us run up and down the aisle for silly requests such as dropping the empty plastic glass that perfectly fits in the seat pocket in front of you. Also if you have more than one request, shoot everything in one go. Preparing 3 cocktails at the same time is easier than 1+1+1 and going up and down for each. Get the point?

CC stands for Cabin Crew, or shortly Crew. It's a modern way of calling Flight Attendant.

CLEAR TO OPEN DOORS means that all the preparations for the disembarkation are completed: aircraft is in the parking position with engines off, airbridge or stairs are connected and the ground staff is ready to receive the passengers.

CARGO is the belly of the aircraft and that is where all the luggages are stored. Most of the airlines have airplanes that operate only cargo, which means no passengers on board.

CHARTER airline is a low cost airline operating generally short distance and by offering less service, the price is cheaper. The main cut is operating from smaller, peripherical airports instead of the main ones, choosing low peak hours that are less connectible to other flights and not giving free service on board.

CHIME is the sound of notification that you can hear in the cabin and it is mainly meant for the Cabin Crew. Interphone chimes, communication systems chime. Every chime has its own meaning, so that Crew can easily and quickly understand weather it is an emergency situation or it is a passenger asking for water. It's a selection of ding-dongs that on some flights can get quite disturbing if passengers abuse that call-button. It is important though for the Crew to keep their ears on alert at all times because they will understand a lot from every chime.

CHOCKS ON/CHOCKS OFF is useful in calculation the exact amount of hours spent in the air. From the moment the chocks are released (OFF) to the moment they are put back on (ON). Chocks are brakes on the aircraft.

COCKPIT/FLIGHTDECK is the small cabin from where the pilots fly the aircraft, at the very front of the airplane. It is the place on board with the best view, the #viewfromtheoffice kind of pride. It is also a place where Crew hide to take a 20 min nap on those airplanes that aren't generous enough to build in a CRC (see next). It is a perfect confessional spot, with the comfortable chairs, a blanket, snacks and pitch black if needed. If only the cockpit could tell all the stories it has heard and seen...
PS- even though it might make you think about "a pit for fighting cocks", there is no known reference to any... cock fighting.

CRC (crew rest compartment). This is something you will see in your life only if you become a Flight Attendant because it is a restricted area for Crew only! And that is where the Crew are resting by taking turns on those never ending ultra long haul flights. And no, after a 17h long flight we do not flight back straight away. We are not robots. 👀 (just answering a FAQ)

CREW CONTROL is the office responsible for the flying schedule and roster changes. It is the most feared telephone call you can get 😅

CROSSCHECK means that every Crew duty linked to safety need to be double-checked by another Crew in order to stay safe at all times. It is a tiring job and we are not robots, everyone can make a mistake. Just think about how tired you are after a trip, even when going for vacation. Then think if you didn't get the chance to sit and rest, maybe not even eat on that  flight. Then think about adapting to a different time-zone. Then think about going back (to base) after roughly 24h. Altitude, pressure, time zones, night shifts: it all messes with your body. Better get someone crosscheck your work.

CRUISE is that period spent in the air from A to B, climbing and descent excluded. It is the safest part of the journey so you might just seat back and relax.

DEADHEADING No worries, nobody is dead! It designates the Crew who is traveling as a passenger because they are most likely to operate on the return sector. This happens when there is an aircraft change due to the different load of passengers or when a crew is sick outstation, so they need to be replaced.

DECOMPRESSION is a loss of pressure in the aircraft. From the moment all doors are closed on ground, cabin gets pressurized in order to allow us to breath normally at high altitude. If there is a loss of pressure, there will be an emergency descent to a level where it is safe to breath and a possible diversion to the closest airport.

DEICING is a procedure that allows aircrafts to fly even in the winter time under the very low temperatures. Technically the wings get sprayed with a chemical that will prevent icing.

DELAY is any lateness in the airline industry.

DITCHING is an emergency landing on water. Remember the film Sully from the famous real case of landing on Hudson River? That is ditching.

DIVERSION is when there is an abnormal event that prevents you of landing on the scheduled airport of arrival, so a diversion is organized in flight to another nearest airport.

DOMESTIC FLIGHT is a flight within the borders of the country where the airline is based.

DOUBLE-ENDING, nothing weird! It only means that 2 crew are going to work on the same cart, helping each other and therefore being faster.

EASA →European Aviation Safety Agency

ENGINE FAILURE is when the engine stops working. Don't worry, the aircraft has a 3h autonomy to fly with 1 engine only, so you will most likely have a diversion to the nearest airport.

EQUIPMENT is any emergency and medical tools available on board: fire extinguisher, gloves, oxygen bottles, survival kit, medicines, automated external defibrillator, megaphone, emergency locator transmitter etc

ETA →estimated time of arrival

ETD →estimated time of departure

EVACUATE if you hear this, just think about saving your life. And your bags are not worth your or other peoples life. So drop everything and run out of the aircraft!

FEET not the smelly ones, but the unit of measuring the altitude. Bigger aircrafts go up to 40.000ft

FERRY FLIGHT is a flight with NO passengers on board. It happens rarely, but I did get the chance to experience it and it is cool! Only Crew on board, performing safety duties, but no service, except among ourselves. In my case we had to return an empty aircraft back to base because we had a diversion due to lightning striking, but I'll talk about that more in a separate story.

FINAL APPROACH is when should be seated with seatbelt fastened and all your luggages stowed, seat upright, tray table stowed, armrest down, window blinds up. In one word, secured for landing.

FREQUENT FLYER is a passenger  that flies often on the same airline, therefor has some perks out of it, like special discounts on duty free, possibility to collect miles and use them for an upgrade etc

GALLEY is the kitchen on board. That is where all the fun happens!

HATRACK is the overhead bin used to stow the luggages.

HOMEBASE/OUTSTATION. Homebase is the city where the specific airline is based. Wherever the flight is bound to, it will return to base. Outstation is any other station, in other words the destination you're flying to.

INBOARD/OUTBOARD the aircraft is a quick way to designate the position of something in the aircraft. If it is inboard, it is where those middle seats are. Outboard is where the windows are. It goes without saying, it is only used on wide body aircrafts (the ones that have more than 1 aisle).

INBOUND/OUTBOUND Crew are the Crew flying respectively back to the base and out of base.

INFANT is a child of less than 2 years. They need to be on parents lap during take-off and landing (secured with the special infant seat belt) and can use the basinet for sleeping during the flight.

INTERPHONE is the on board phone that the Crew is using to communicate among each other. It only works on board.

JUMPSEAT is a foldable chair where the Crew is sitting during take-off and landing. It is for Crew use only and it is located at every station/aircraft door.

LAYOVER is an overstay in the destination of arrival. Every flight longer than 5h has a layover, but in Covid-19 era these regulations have changed. The Crew go in the hotel and are free to explore for the duration of the layover that might be minimum (just enough to rest) or even couple of days long. Back in the golden age of flying layovers were sometimes a week long. Imagine that! A mini vacation every time you go for work!

LOCAL TIME is the actual time of the place where the Crew is, or the time of the destination the Crew is speaking about.

...to be continued!

PS - here is a fun video of some tips during the recruitment day and some more aviation terminology: