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Air transport has never run many graduate training programmes and is still not recruiting staff at any level in large numbers. Many graduates will join airlines as cabin crew or ground staff and work their way into management or, alternatively, gain experience in other businesses before moving into airline work.
There are very many ways to work in an airport environment including airline, airport and retail management; security, customs and immigration; despatch and customer service.
PROFILE: Air Cabin CrewInvolves: Taking care of passengers during flights. Demonstrating safety procedures. Serving meals & drinks to passengers. Selling Duty Free Items. Dealing with emergencies. |
PROFILE: Commercial PilotInvolves: Flying planes for commercial airlines (passenger or freight), planning flights to take account of aircraft load, weather conditions, etc. |
PROFILE: Air Traffic ControllerInvolves: Maintaining radio & radar contact with a number of aircraft at one time. Instructing them to move as required. Helping them to land & take off safely. Providing information on weather conditions & visibility. |
Sector Briefing: Transport Sector www.prospects.ac.uk/links/TransportSB

If you have been to an interview or assessment centre recently please fill in our interview report form to help other students.
True Stories from Flight AttendantsOccasionally, airline attendants make an effort to make the "in-flight safety lecture", and their other announcements, a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported: "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane..." "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation, and in the event of an emergency water landing, please take them with our compliments." "Smoking in the toilets is prohibited. Any person caught smoking in the toilets will be asked to leave the plane immediately." As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Washington National, a lone voice comes over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella...WHOA..!" "As you exit the plane, please be sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses. Last one off the plane must clean it." And from the pilot during his welcome message: "We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry...Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight..." Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what ya'll are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendants' fault...it was the asphalt!" Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal." An aircraft landing is simply a controlled collision with a planet. Definition of the jet age: breakfast in Rome, lunch in Paris, dinner in London, bags in Singapore. |
They may test a candidate's ability to handle pressure with tactics such as "I've not been impressed with anything you've said so far, so you've got five minutes to change my mind". (BA)
A cleaner at a small airfield came early one morning to clean a plane and saw a book “How to Fly an Aeroplane for Beginners: Part I” on the pilot’s seat. He opened the book and started reading, “First press the green button on the right to start the engine.” Well he did this and was surprised to hear the engine start. He flipped to page 2 where he read "Press the blue button to start the aeroplane moving along the runway." He did this and lo and behold the aeroplane started moving. He turned to page 3 where it said "Now press the red button to take off." Tentatively he did this and amazingly the plane took to the air. He gently moved the joystick and the plane started circling. He was having a great time but decided to land the plane before anyone noticed. He turned to the next page and read "To find out about how to land aeroplanes, go to your nearest bookshop and buy part 2. |
Trainee Air Traffic Controllers (TATC’s) come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some have joined us straight from school, college or university, while others have a background in areas such as retail, customer services and the forces. To be eligible to apply students are only required to be at least 18 years old at the date of application, have at least five GCSEs, or equivalent, at Grade C or above, including English and Maths and have the Right to Work in the UK. * (subject to medical and security checks).
Last fully updated 2012
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