Does it help to become a pilot?
 

Is it beneficial to work as cabin crew prior to pilot training ? for raising funds etc, as well as to gain experience....

Is it favored by employers at interview, or frowned upon ?

Thanks,
Alex

Alex

my previous employer had an excellent policy of giving current employees, whether on the ground or in the air, a crack at interview for FO positions when the recruitment window was open. As a result I've flown with loads of people who've worked as despatchers, ops, crewing, loaders, check in staff (and even a guy who worked in licencing at the CAA) as well as Cabin Crew. The beauty of this was the people were well known to us, had taken on board a good can do attitude and were likely to fit in very well. I can only recall one guy who, on making the transition, subsequently made a complete fool of himself down route on a night stop and was asked to leave.

If you can find any niche in aviation to pay the bills, gain experience and start a network of contacts, then go for it all you've got. Enjoy it for itself, not just a means to an end.

Finally if you find it doesn't suit you, then move on. The last thing you want is a reputation for whingeing. Down route the same few names crop up.

Enjoy, as they say.

Does it help to become a pilot?

Not from my experience:(

It may give you an insight into the shift-work lifestyle, company cultures, etc, but that's about it. Some pilots were CC before pilot training, but it's not that common.

IMHO, it's unlikely to be frowned upon. However, it's unlikely that it will go too much in your favour. (Not too many employers like those described by Nubboy).

My 2c.

My employer just gave 10 FO spots to current non flying staff so whilst not common, it most definitely does happen.

Thanks for your responses guys,

I've never had much of a desire to be a CC, but just wondered if it was a possible way to "get your foot in the door".

I have worked with people doing this and it can be quite annoying working alongside someone who has no interest in being cabin crew and just uses it as an opportunity to chat to flight crew about their next move. While I appreciate everyone has a goal and its great to have ambitions, bear in mind some people have chosen cabin crew as their career and take it seriously.

Alex..

Another way to get your "foot in the door" is to get a job in a maintenance organisation as I did. Was in charge of the parts store and swept the floor and was lunch boy as well.

Learnt a lot having engineers to ask questions, especially when doing theory subjects and also made a lot of contacts for when I was finally able to look for a flying job.

Hope you enjoy your flying career as much as I did. :)

Emeritus

It depends on the company you are with. Some believe in growth from with in, some will place you with the street hires.

I agree, but not everyone is the same. I became cabin crew knowing that I wanted to one day become a pilot. I still give the job my every effort and I got everything out of the role I could including a promotion to purser. I have learnt so much from being cabin crew which I hope will help make better decisions as a pilot. There are some CPs and FOs who I would love to see spend a few weeks as cabin crew.

Do it, work hard, show some respect to your peers and give the job your full attention. Your work ethic won't go unnoticed and who knows, your airline might recruit you as a FO in the future..

There are blokes I know of who were railroaded into CC dept
for 6-8 months till pilot slots opened up.

Only advantage was being streetwise to the duties of the girls
down the back at any point during the flight and CC SEP was
ingrained in them more than what is taught to us about what
they do. FOs who formerly did stew work could easily take on
emergency duties of the Purser if she was rendered incapable
of doing them.

Advantage? Maybe. You could always say at the interview you
have observed tech crew duties, responsibilities etc and know
exactly what you're getting into.

You'd probably do better to go into Flight Ops or even Crewing. Sitting in there will give you more opportunities for problem-solving.
I work in Ops and we've got many pilots who started out working in here whilst studying. Seems to be a more usual route in than being Cabin Crew in my limited experience.

Alex.....

I qualified back in 2009 when flying jobs were not exactly in abundance. So, I applied to Thomson and ended up on a summer contract with them until I got a job working at a sim centre.

Having worked on the ramp for 6 months between my CPL and IR (to take a break from training, earn some cash and enjoy the outdoors for a few months), it seemed the next logical choice.

The TOM crew at my base were fantastic. Gave me lot's of time in the flight deck between sectors or for take off and landing where possible. And many hours sat in there when others were chatting while the pax were asleep on long night flights home.

I learnt a lot and had a great time. I could have gone back to a fairly lucrative accounting / finance job on a contract basis but chose to earn less than 1/3 of the money doing the trolley dolley thing to enhance the CV.

I can't recommend it highly enough. Let's face it, with only a few hundred hours in the log book, you need something to talk about at an interview other than the standard stuff. Showing that you're a well rounded individual who's seen a bit of life and thrown yourself into aviation won't do you any harm and trust me, it's a bloody good laugh although extremely hard work.

Having done all those little bits, I appreciate it when someone make me a coffee, I appreciate it when a loader grabs my bag out of the hold for me, and I appreciate sitting in my seat on the 757 in the knowledge that I worked my way up from the bottom.

Sorry if that sounds a bit mushy but having done it, I'm a huge fan of seeing all side's to an industry, not just the nice bit's.

As other's have said, Flight Op's, Crewing (although that really is a thankless job) will all benefit you in the long term. But in the short term, cabin crew is great fun!

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Cheers

2W2R :ok:

It is easier to become cabin crew than get a job in operations. Having done both I would say they are of equal benefit. If you get a job as CC there is nothing stopping you from arranging with your operations department a few hours or even days of shadowing of the ops room which is a great experience.

Good luck!

Thanks for all of your replies guys,

It sounds like it could be a worthwhile possibility.

@2 Whites 2 Reds - it sounds like you have my dream job ! Flying 757s for a British holiday airline.

I did it.
the result??
I lost my beautiful life as cabin crew (cannot go back now) and I lost my money and I don't have any job as a pilot considering the situation in europe..... the most stupid area in the world for aviation.....

It can help, certainly from a networking perspective. Many pilots have aviation interests outside of their employer and I have benefited from discounted hire rates to get my hours up. You also work with pilots who are on the panel for recruitment and selection so it can certainly can't hurt.

I have always wondered who caters for freight pilots when flying- is it the loadmaster or do the pilots take turns in brewing:sad:

I think it's a good way in. If you do do it then make sure you have the right attitude. Give it your all and don't think that something is below you just because you're a trained pilot and are destined for 'better' things.

Now I'm on the other side of the door I see one or two crew trying to work their way up and their attitude toward working in the cabin is pretty poor and that they some how are too good to be in the cabin. I've also heard some current crew saying that one or two people over the years have had he wrong attitude, that they are above the job and it annoys crew and certainly won't go unnoticed with the flight deck.

I used the job to network to get a job as an instructor which I did and it just so happens at I was in the right place at the right time that my airline started an internal scheme and the rest is history as they say.

I think it certainly helps, I would not have got my current opportunity had it not been for my cabin crew experience. I felt it gave me a lot of strong examples for competency based interviews, and also it was the best job I could have ever had as an 18 year old, I thoroughly enjoyed my time doing it and do often miss it.

I would echo fa2fi's comments. Having the right attitude is imperative for success, certainly do not think it is below you as that attitude will become obvious to your colleagues and you will become unpopular very quickly. Although I was never a qualified pilot whilst flying as crew so my perspective may be a little different. There were a fair few qualified guys and girls flying as crew, most were fine and a pleasure to work with. I know a few FOs and Captains where I was started as crew.

Good luck