What Do The Working Days Of Flight Attendants Look Like

July 12 is the World Civil Aviation Flight Attendant Day, which is celebrated by representatives of one of the most romantic professions in the world, better known to us as stewards and stewardesses.

Photographer Brian Finke spent two years traveling the world and documenting the lives of flight attendants. He studied the everyday lives of flight attendants of Delta, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Hooters Air, Southwest airlines. Then he switched to foreign ones — Air France, Qantas and British Airways. In London, the photographer visited a school where they study their future profession. Brian then traveled east — Air Asia, Thai, Tiger, ANA, Japan and Cathay Pacific—and completed the journey with Icelandair Airlines. The result of his work was a book called “Flight Attendants”.

Brian’s co-author on the book, Alix Brown, believes that Finke’s photography style is neither nostalgic and romantic, nor overly realistic. The women in the pictures appear at the moment of performing movements and actions developed to automatism — they demonstrate safety rules, smile and wave, as if in an advertisement.

And if sometimes a slightly surreal image flashes, it is perhaps because no matter how familiar we have become to travel by plane, flying and everything connected with it will always be awe-inspiring.

In the photo: flight attendant Roshayati.

Becoming a flight attendant is quite simple. To get into training, it is enough to pass an interview and a medical examination. A month—long theoretical course, 30 hours of flying as an intern, and that’s it. Few people do not complete an internship: it is unprofitable for a company to dismiss such employees because of the cost of training and uniforms.

Knowledge of English and certain external parameters are important for flight attendants. But the idea that a flight attendant should be a model is a myth. Only height and weight are taken into account.

In the photo: Roshayati, AirAsia airline.

Height — so that you can get luggage for short passengers. And the weight is so as not to overload the plane.

In the photo: flight attendants of Air France airlines.

Most people enter the profession for the sake of money and the opportunity to travel abroad. There are almost no romantics now. They are often arranged by acquaintance, but this does not give any privileges.

In the photo: a Hooters Air plane.

During the training, flight attendants are taught a lot — from the design of the aircraft to delivery. There is a special room where situations are simulated and trained. You definitely need to be able to swim.

Pictured: Sarah, Hooters Air.

They teach you how to handle inadequate passengers. For example, if a person is violent, flight attendants should first ask him to calm down. Then — to give a written warning. And if this does not work, they can tie it with a seal — this is such a rail on a trolley, outwardly unlike a means of protection. How to hit is also taught: with the edge of the palm on the chin.

Pictured: Ava, a flight attendant for Cathay Pacific Airlines.

Hairstyle, nails — everything should be in order. Before the flight, at the briefing, the flight attendants are always examined: the suit must be clean, the makeup must be appropriate. Sometimes they are removed from the flight. So, one flight attendant took off her coat at the briefing — and only then noticed that she had forgotten to put on a skirt.

Pictured: Christie, Southwest Airlines.

There have always been more flight attendants than stewards. But sometimes girls are not taken on the flight. For example, if they are transporting deportees. Or the whole plane is occupied by the football team.