CABIN STAFF REHEARSING SAFETY DRILL IN PLANE; SAFETY DRILL IN SWIMMING POOL WITH LIFE-RAFT; PREPARING MEALS.




Initials AA/V/CT/ES



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Background: AIR AFRIQUE KEEPS ITS STAFF ON THEIR TOES WITH AN ANNUAL REFRESHER COURSE. THE FLIGHT STEWARDS AND AIR HOSTESSES GO BACK TO SCHOOL ONCE A YEAR FOR A 12-DAY COURSE TO BRING THEM UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST EMERGENCY DRILL, AND METHODS OF PREPARING AND SERVING FOOD.

EMERGENCY DRILL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF AN AIR HOSTESS'S WORK. NATURALLY SHE HOPES SHE'LL NEVER HAVE TO USE IT. BUT SHE MUST HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN HER ABILITY SHOULD A CRISIS ARISE.

KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEST SAFEGUARD AGAINST AN EMERGENCY AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF AIR AFRIQUE ARE CONSTANTLY KEPT UP TO DATE IN THE LATEST EVACUATION METHODS.

THE CABIN CREW MUST ALSO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE SHOCKED PASSENGERS PERHAPS FLOATING IN THE SEA. SURVIVAL AT SEA IS ALL PART OF THE AIR HOSTESS'S BUSINESS AND THE HOSTESSES PRACTICE IN LIFE-RAFTS ON A SWIMMING POOL.

ALL CABIN STAFF IN AIR AFRIQUE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST AID, AND EVEN MIDWIFERY.

BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER ASPECTS TO THE AIR HOSTESSES WORK. SHE MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK CLEARLY OVER THE AIRCRAFT'S PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM, BE ABLE TO LOOK FRESH AFTER LONG FLIGHTS WITH DIFFICULT PASSENGERS, AND BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS.

HER MAIN TASK, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IS IN FLIGHT, IS TO HELP PREPARE AND SERVE MEALS TO THE PASSENGERS. WHILE OTHER HOSTESSES ACT AS PASSENGERS, THEIR COLLEAGUES SERVE THEM MEALS, AND EVEN COCKTAILS. IT'S ALL PART OF THE AIRLINE'S SERVICE.