General Information
Corporate aviation was established and had a profound mark in aviation shortly after World War II. At the end of the war, a large supply of military transport aircraft and veteran pilots became available to the civilian market. This environment required that aircraft interiors support the business person by providing anonymity, total comfort and office-like amenities.

In the early days of business aviation, chief pilots and aviation managers usually had a male flight mechanic/technician in the back of the aircraft. This person provided the dual role of the mechanic and service person who could meet the needs of passengers during the mission. During this time, there was no real emphasis on elaborate "specialized" food services and culinary experiences. As the aircraft interiors became increasingly detail oriented so did the need to have a third crewmember that could accommodate and support the customer/client needs and special requests. By the 1980's, it was apparent that the corporate flight attendant/third crewmember needed to be "corporate specific" trained for emergency and first aid incidents as well as have culinary and food service experience. (This information was provided by Susan C. Friedenberg of Corporate Flight Attendant Training)

Position Description
A corporate/business aviation flight attendant works on private, noncommercial aircraft.

Working Conditions
While full-time flight attendants who fly for major carriers find themselves in the same environment each time they fly, the corporate flight attendant is always acclimating and adjusting to a new workplace environment. On a day-to-day basis, a corporate flight attendant may find themselves interacting with many corporate cultures and personalities of a corporation. Corporate aviation gives the passenger the ability to operate within a non structured time frame that can be changed at any given moment. It is a world of total flexibility, function, and organizational methods implemented to accommodate any business traveler. Because of this work environment, the corporate/business flight attendant must possess a number of personal and professional qualities.

While a corporate flight attendants main objective is passenger safety, other responsibilities typically include: pre-flight and boarding duties, interacting with the flight deck crewmembers to ensure safety, galley and food safety, wine, champagne and hors d'oeurve presentation, plating and garnishing food, napkin folding, table setting and very personalized first class service.

A flight attendants responsibilities are not limited to in-flight duties. Pre-flight preparation may include: acquire informaiton about the upcoming flight, what type of aircraft will you be working and what amenities are on board, where are you traveling, who are your passengers and their likes and idslikes, would your female passengers like a bouquet of fresh flowers, know what they like to eat and order and receive catering, should alcohol beverages be served and what brands? This is just a sampling of what your research should consist of. It is important to do your research prior to each flight because the circumstances may change.

Typical Requirements and/or Experience
Today, many corporate/business flight attendants should have prior training in the following areas: safety and emergency including CPR, AED and first aid, inflight cabin service, food catering, and FACTS Training.

Qualities a corporate/business aviation flight attendant need to possess include: high degree of safety and service, flexibility, organizational skills, creativity, personal accountability, integrity, interpersonal skills, taking direction, resolution skills, confidentiality/discretion, constant professionalism, attention to detail, thinking "out of the box" and good manners.

It is mandatory for today's corporate/business flight attendants to respect and protect the privacy, confidentiality and security of your elite passenger(s).

Education
Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Today, many companies also prefer that applicants hold a college degree. Training in the following areas is also helpful: safety and emergency including CPR, AED and first aid, inflight cabin service, food catering, and FACTS Training

Marital Status
Married and unmarried men and women, with or without children are eligible. Persons who are widowed or divorced, also are eligible.

It is the policy of most aviation companies to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Most aviation companies are strongly committed to this policy, and believe in the concept and spirit of the United States law.

Most aviation companies are committed to assuring that:

All recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, and other employment related programs are provided fairly to all persons on an equal opportunity basis without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law;

Employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action;

All personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, training, and participation in social and recreational programs are administered without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law, and;

Employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have exercised any right protected by law.

Most aviation companies believe in and practice equal opportunity and affirmative action. All employees are responsible for supporting the concept of equal opportunity and affirmative action and assisting the company in meeting its objectives.

Most aviation companies maintain Affirmative Action Plans for minorities, women, disabled persons and veterans.

EEOC has jurisdiction of the prohibitions against employment discrimination codified in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. These laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age and disability.

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) enforce the prohibitions against federal employment discrimination codified in the CSRA. The OSC will defer those bases of discrimination under EEOC's jurisdiction to the respective federal agency and its EEO process. The CSRA also prohibits employment discrimination in the federal government based on marital status, political affiliation and conduct which does not adversely affect the performance of the employee, none of which are within EEOC's jurisdiction. Moreover, the law defines ten other prohibited personnel practices in the federal government, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the OSC and the MSPB. See Prohibited Personnel Practices at http://www.osc.gov/ppp.htm.

Additional information may also be found on the the EEOC web site located at http://www.eeoc.gov/

Wages and Benefits
Salaries and benefits can vary. For an updated look at salaries in the aviation industry, view the Avjobs.com Salary Report.

Where the jobs are and who hires
The corporate/business flight attendant works on private or business aircraft. Corporations, government, royalty and wealthy individuals all hire flight attendants.

Whether your changing jobs or changing careers, you have come to the right place.  At Avjobs.com, We help People Get Jobs!  Avjobs.com is the number one resource for job seekers who are looking for a career in the aviation and aerospace industry.  Along with our fresh list of current industry openings, we provide the tools and resources to perform a successful job search and give you an advantage over your competition.  In today's job market, that's more important than ever.

Avjobs.com does the legwork for you!

Opportunities for Advancement
Aviation plays a prominent role in our economy. With corporate travel on the rise, new opportunities will be available. Today, smaller "reliever" airports are being upgraded to serve general aviation traffic being relocated from congested airports.

Outlook for the Future
With corporate air travel is on the rise, the need for corporate/business flight attendants will remain stady. However, these positions are typically very hard to find.

To view the latest industry opportunities, become an Avjobs.com Member today! Click here to get started!

Training
To locate educational facilities with programs related to this position, search AVSchools. AVSchools makes researching and finding an aviation college, university, flight school or professional training facility simple.

Miscellaneous
The following content was written and provided by Susan C. Friedenberg of Corporate Flight Attendant Training

A corporate/business aviation flight attendant works on private, noncommercial aircraft. As corporate air travel increases, so does the demand for a more business-oriented environment. While full-time flight attendants who fly for major carriers find themselves in the same environment each time they fly, the corporate flight attendant is always acclimating and adjusting to a new workplace environment. On a day-to-day basis, a corporate flight attendant may find themselves interacting with many corporate cultures and personalities of a corporation. Corporate aviation gives the passenger the ability to operate within a non structured time frame that can be changed at any given moment. It is a world of total flexibility, function, and organizational methods implemented to accommodate any business traveler. Because of this work environment, the corporate/business flight attendant must possess a number of personal and professional qualities.

Why would a business aviation flight department use a corporate flight attendant?

Their full-time flight attendant is either on vacation, over crew duty limits, ill, on personal leave, or in emergency/first-aid training class. Their aviation department only uses corporate contract flight attendants. 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. They only use a flight attendant onboard for international trips or just for customer trips. Their department uses a corporate contract flight attendant as part of an international crew change point as an augmented crew operation. 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 should ask a corporate flight attendant prior to utilizing his or her service? When were you last through emergency and first aid/defibrillator training? (Obtain copies of all training certificates.) Are you experienced on our type aircraft? Do you have culinary skills and are you good with food presentation? What is your daily rate for international, domestic and stand-by days? Do you have a cancellation policy? Do you have a daily rate for extensive aircraft shopping/stocking prior to a trip of great length (international/road show)? Do you do aircraft consulting work for newly delivered equipment and what is your daily/weekly rate for this work? Do you have a current passport? Are your immunizations current for specific travel? Do you carry a paging device/cellular telephone? Do you have a current aviation ID card, such as Universal, Air Routing, or IBAC? Do you have reliable transportation to and from our facility? Do you have a "to go galley kit" equipped with galley amenities (if the company has just had its aircraft delivered)? Do you speak a foreign language (if applicable to the company's operation)? Do you have a credit card for travel expenses until reimbursement? Other recommended requests or discussion topics during an interview include:

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. 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. 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). Discuss your department's in-flight dress code and preference. This information was provided by Susan C. Friedenberg who has been active in aviation for 33 years. Ms. Friedenberg created a training curriculum for business aviation and has been conducting the Corporate Flight Attendant Training class successfully since 1999. Susan started her aviation career in 1970. She spent the first 15 years of her aviation career flying for American Airlines and then Capitol Air. She has been a corporate flight attendant for the last 18 years flying both as a contract flight attendant with a coast to coast clientele and now as a full time flight attendant. Susan is the Chief Flight Attendant for American Standard Companies out of Teterboro, New Jersey.

Please visit AVSchools. to learn more about Corporate Flight Attendant Training

If you have a question about Corporate/Business Aviation Flight Attendant topics or, for further information, contact Susan at 215-625-4811

For questions about job availability, please contact Avjobs directly.  Students of Susan's Classes are referred to Avjobs for employment assistance.

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