A pilot applying for cabin crew work

[fly-half]

Hi guys & gals,

At the end of last summer, I qualified with my commercial licence and have been sending out my CV and visiting airfields looking for flying work, but to no avail! I am about to apply on-line for work with BA as cabin crew as I feel I would love to do that type of work. I meet all their basic requirements.

I have learned about the importance of Crew Resource Management and would love to put it into practise. I feel it will make me an all-round better pilot having gained experience in the back! Also, I know it will keep me in the industry and I will eventually get the chance to move into the flight deck, hopefully.

Any comments or advice on this would be appreciated but I would also like to get in touch with any other qualified commercial pilots working as cabin crew. How common is this with any of the people you work with?

Thanks x

[Q-Tee]

ummm dunno whether it would hurt or hinder your future career as a techie....

I have worked for several airlines, and have trained CRM in two .... in my experience, most airlines believe that cabin crew and pilots have different personality types required for their particular roles ......ie pilots are 'technically oriented' and cabin crew are 'socially oriented' .... it s generalisation, but my interaction over ten years as crew has told be that its a pretty good one.

Few people have the personalities to do both well.

the danger i see is that if you aren't the personality type that would make a good cabin crew member, then a poor record in that role would go against you in applying for a pilot role ( a bad wrap in any position within a company, is after all .... a bad wrap!). The other side of the coin is that if you prove to be a great cabin crew member, the company may have doubts as to your ability for the technical role of Pilot.


Just my thoughts, but most airlines do see the roles as having two vastly different personality traits. Otherwise, there wouldnt be ' Crew Resource Management' , it would still be just ' Cockpit Resource Management'


Having said that, I have met pilots who would make great cabin crew, and cabin crew who would make great pilots ..... but generally the ones that are good at either position, are poles apart in their personalities from those in the opposing position !


No offence intended to either party, but my observations

[Bang]

There are lots of cabin crew who are qualified pilots. start somewhere and climb from then on.

Good Luck.

[starbag]

I'm cabin crew and have worked with a couple of pilots in the cabin. Both (femal - not that it has any bearing) were fab - very organised, focussed on safety, and very chatty with the pax. One has gone to fly with GB, the other has left and flies helicopters in her spare time. I think there is a certain personality type that works well in the cabin, but I don't think that flight deck crew are immune from being sociable (too many sore heads on trips have proven that!) Certainly in a small airline like mine, (don't know about BA), flying down the back certainly (if you play the game well) gets you familiar with the top brass, and allows you to develop good connections when recruitment time comes up.

Best of luck

[Dogma]

Could not recommend it.

You would be better off investing any spare time into getting an airline job. Perhaps take a temporary job and have more time to send and follow up C.V and applications.

Good Luck.

[chocolate bob]

I worked as cabin crew for approx a year before eventually landing a commercial flying position. I found it good fun and very helpful when applying for flying jobs.

It showed I was keen to get on in the business and that it would be an advantage from a CRM point of view.

I can also make a cup of tea for the crew on a turn around!!!

Go for it,

C.B.

[alphagal]

ditto biscuit chucker et al, go for it.

It wil give you a greater understanding of what cabin crew do which benefits you and your cabin crew when you become a techie.

word of warning - neither cabin crew nor pilots will want to hear about your flying prowess ad nauseum. cabin crew will feel you are trying to show you are better than them and pilots will feel you are trying to undermine them. Both groups will feel you're a ******.

Have fun!

AG

[qfmike737]

can you crew a cabin?

This is similar to my post on "CAN YOU FLY A PLANE" this is kind of like "Can you crew a Plane Cabin" I have to agree! Theres quite a few cabin crew that can fly!!! This is simply turning right instead of turning left for you. This gives the tech crew a great understanding of what goes on behind the door behind them.

[fly-half]

Thanks so much everyone for your advice.

I hadn't thought about the differing personalities and that's an interesting point. I think that flight crew are changing in that there are less and less ex-military guys out there who can be a bit rigid. Like I said, I feel it will make me a better pilot for having experienced working as cabin crew.

I am excited about it and really want to go for it. It is a relief to have some sort of positive thinking during this time when it is so f g hard to get a flying job! Looking forward to it.

Thanks again.

[Bikerpilot]

Your best bet will be to do a summer season with a charter airline on a temp contract. If you're honest at interview they know you'll be off as soon as you land a F/O 's position.BA probably won't touch you because of this due to high training costs etc.

Or apply to an airline you want to fly for longer term. You can get in, meet all the people including the Ch Pilots and Ops Dir etc.. and it MIGHT be a way in via the back door if you prove yourself as a hard worker etc...

I did 5 yrs in cabin while funding all my training. Yes, you have a much better insight into the cabin side of things and you appreciate the cabin crew.

I don't know your location, but If I was you, I'd apply for GB or Astraeus. PM me if you want. Good luck. BP