Captain Jumbo and Trislander,
I disagree on every point. A CC licence grants a certain level of training. Right now any airline can train its own CC at their standards. Who checks the standards? I have heard just recently a friend of mine who was signed for a safety course he didn't take. Another CC I know changed airline and aircraft, and went on his first flight without having received the Company Manual.
Of course having a licence gives you enhanced status: like having a university degree gives you enhanced status over secondary school diploma. Would you accept the same argument for pilots? Why on Earth do they need a licence? Just for "ego stroke"? Let's accept their word on their training.
Supposed ability to move across Europe to do the same job, Yeah, well theoretically we can do that anyhow
No theorethically you can't, because there are countries (Italy, France, Belgium, Greece) where CC MUST hold a licence, and you cannot work there as a CC without getting it. I have worked in 2 countries where CC need a licence (and still hold it), and 1 where they don't (was the first for me, and wouldn't wish to go back). No need to tell you the ABYSS between the training for licence and a simple airline training.
Why shouldn't CC want to be more professional, and considered as such? It is true in countries where there is no licence CC tend to be considered little more than waiters. This reflects even on the training decided by short-sighted beancounters. Where a licence is compulsory, there are laws to respect and standards to be mantained.
A European Licence would grant the same standard of training and professionality for all European CC, and of course why not some enhanced status and respect in an industry that is depreciating even its professionals
http://www.itf.org.uk/english/civilaviation/
From ITF site an interesting article:
ITF to UK and Netherlands: ‘don’t undermine cabin crew’
The ITF has warned the British and Dutch governments that they are jeopardising plans to set new European aviation standards.
The Federation acted after learning that the two governments planned to water down a European Union proposal to finally provide a way to license and recognise the competence and vital safety and security roles of airline cabin crew.
ITF General Secretary David Cockroft wrote to the two countries’ transport ministers telling them that it was time to underline, not undermine, the importance of cabin crew – especially now when any kind of air rage or even terrorist incident in an aircraft has to be handled by the cabin staff alone, while the pilots have to remain behind a locked cockpit door.
He also asked whether ‘a factor influencing decision makers might be that the affected workforce is largely female compared to their already licensed and predominantly male counterparts in the cockpits, repair stations and towers’.
More details and a copy of the letter to the UK Secretary of State for Transport can be seen at
http://www.itf.org.uk/english/pressarea/may/cabinsecurity.htm
and
UK government ‘jeopardising plane cabin security'
International trade union federation the ITF warned the British government today that it risks sabotaging an EU plan that is close to setting new standards for airplane cabin safety and security.
The ITF has learned that the British government is trying to change a hard fought proposal to achieve a Europe-wide licence for cabin crew that will recognise their training, professional competence and safety and security roles – which are more vital than ever now that cabin doors must be locked in the event of any incident taking place on an airliner, leaving cabin crew to handle it alone.
Despite this the British government has unexpectedly joined forces with Germany and The Netherlands to torpedo a European Commission plan to introduce a cabin crew licence – even though pilots, ground staff, engineers, security staff and air traffic controllers are all licensed.
ITF General Secretary David Cockroft today told UK Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling that the position of the British civil aviation representatives at their upcoming meeting on 25 May in Brussels and at the meeting of the Member States Permanent representatives (COREPER) in Brussels on 28 May will be critical in ensuring that decent standards are both set and verifiable. Instead the new British position is to replace a licence that proves competence with just a record of training, to be provided by the training organisation itself, not by the state or on its behalf.
Writing to Alistair Darling, David Cockroft stated: ‘We find the position of the UK government hard to understand. Over half of all cabin crew worldwide are certificated or licensed. The US is the latest country to introduce universal flight attendant certification, issued by the authority on behalf of the State and vested in the individual. View the letter >>
‘We wonder, therefore, whether a factor influencing decision makers might be that the affected workforce is largely female compared to their already licensed and predominantly male counterparts in the cockpits, repair stations and towers.'
The ITF has made the case for cabin crew licensing to Alistair Darling before. See http://www.itf.org.uk/itfweb/media/statements/02_12_03.html for details.
For more information contact Sarah Finke, direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9258. Email:
[email protected]
International Transport Workers' Federation – ITF: HEAD OFFICE, ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS,Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733, Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871. Email:
[email protected]