Flight Attendants are required to attend an annual Recurrent Training – a combination refresher course and job-dependent testing process. The class, mandated by the FAA, can last anywhere from one to three days, depending on airline, variety of aircraft types, and curriculum.
No matter how competent we may be at our job, no matter how many times we have performed our duties, followed safety and security protocol, or administered first aid, Recurrent Training stresses us out.
If only the job was as easy as Flight Attendant Barbie
Why? Because our continued employment depends upon it.
Tell me there’s an emergency and you need a fire extinguishes, I’ll have it for you in nothing flat. Medical emergency requiring oxygen and defibrillator, I’ll be there with it before you can blink an eye. But ask me to diagram my steps on a piece of paper, and I go from action to intellectualizing in the snap of a finger. And that’s where the stress comes in.
I’ve been busy study for the last couple days. I’ve read and re-read. I’ve taken practice tests, and shored up on the changes from the last couple months. I’m prepared and ready to go.
But tomorrow, sitting in class, I’ll still be stressed until that final exam is over. And then I’ll be back to regular scheduled blogging.
Photo credit: mauren veras @flickr
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[...] busy week, and much of my time has been spent offline, studying for and finally attending my annual Flight Attendant recurrent training class. It’s amazing how stressful the week has been, but it’s over for another year, and I still [...]