As recent events have highlighted, that’s in part due to the rigorous safety training of flight attendants. Here’s a snapshot of what that training looks like, based on the experience of current and former crew members.
What flight attendant safety training is really like
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), flight attendants cannot legally work on an airplane unless they have “demonstrated to the pilot in command familiarity with the necessary functions to be performed in an emergency or a situation requiring emergency evacuation and is capable of using the emergency equipment installed on that airplane.”
At its core, that means that before any flight attendant takes to the skies they are required to undergo extensive safety training that typically lasts between four and six weeks—plus a recurrent training each year.
Flight attendant training resembles a high-stakes reality show, with each new-hire reminded daily that their employment with the airline is contingent on passing the program. The anxiety in the training room is high: Who will make it? Who will be cut? Any time a pair of in-flight instructors walks into the room, it’s usually to deliver the news that one of the new-hires has been let go. And just like eviction night on TV, the others don’t get to say “good-bye.”
Though the training material can vary from airline to airline, every program must meet the standards set by the FAA; a large portion of the curriculum is dedicated to replicating emergency scenarios and testing flight attendants’ reactions. Each class of recruits is expected to memorize the location and use of emergency equipment on every aircraft type the airline flies. While some airlines have just one aircraft type, others have upwards of ten. Flight attendants are also trained in CPR, self defense, first aid, and most critically, executing emergency evacuations commonly referred to as “door drills.”
During door drills, flight attendant trainees sit in an aircraft simulator on a jump seat next to the emergency exit door, just as they would in real life. As they prepare for landing or take-off, an instructor will announce a randomly selected emergency scenario, ranging from the plane fish-tailing on the runway to a water landing. The instructors can also add in real-life curve-balls during the drill: just before the flight attendant is about to open the emergency exit, they may be told there’s fire on the opposite side of the door, debris blocking the exit, or the door has failed to open. The drill doesn’t end until the evacuation is successfully completed.
Emergency evacuations, like the one perfectly performed by the crew on the Japan Airlines flight, requires flight attendants to assess situations quickly, operate the emergency exits, and guide passengers to safety in a calm and orderly manner. They are trained to keep calm under pressure and communicate, a skill that is invaluable during unexpected incidents. These high-pressure drills are designed to make evacuation procedures second nature—and are a stressful and eye-opening experience for new hires, according to Chicago-based flight attendant Stephen Michaels.
