Flight attendants or cabin crew (also known as stewards / stewardesses, air hosts / hostesses, cabin attendants) are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights.
The job of a flight attendant revolves around safety to a much greater extent than those of similar staff on other forms of transportation, such as ships or trains. Flight attendant on board a flight collectively form a cabin crew, as distinguished from pilots and engineers in the cockpit.
Prior to each flight, flight attendants attend a safety briefing with the Pilots & Purser. During this briefing they go over safety and emergency checklists, the locations and amounts of emergency equipment and other features specific to that aircraft type. Boarding particulars are verified, such as special needs passengers, small children travelling as Unaccompanied Minors or VIPs. Weather conditions are discussed including anticipated turbulence. Prior to each flight a safety check is conducted to ensure all equipment such as life vests, flashlights and firefighting equipment are on board, in the right quantity, and in proper condition. Any unserviceable or missing items must be reported and rectified prior to takeoff. They must monitor the cabin for any unusual smells or situations and maintain certain precautions such as keeping doors disarmed or open during fueling on the ground. They assist with loading of the carry-on baggage, checking for weight, size and dangerous goods. They then must do a safety demonstration or monitor passengers as they watch a safety video demonstrating the safety features of the aircraft. They then must do a “Crosscheck”ensuring tray tables are stowed, seats are in their upright positions, armrests down and seatbelts fastened prior to takeoff.
