‘I was a cabin crew Virgin & after a crash course I was still no OUR REPORTER LEARNS THE hostess ROPES ON BRANSON’S AIRLINE with the mostess’
WITH my hair swept into a neat up-do, I was one slick of red lipstick away from feeling like a proper air hostess.
And after a quick trip to the uniform store I definitely looked the part, kitted out in the red Vivienne Westwood jacket and skirt of the Virgin Atlantic crew.
But although I had the clobber and make-up, I was far from ready to cope with highflying businessmen or families heading off on holiday.
First stop was safety training.
WITH the summer holidays now in full swing, we sent ★
out to Gatwick airport to see if she has what it takes to join Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew.
During a packed day of training our wannabe trolley dolly ★
also picked up plenty of top tips to make sure mums and dads can get their break off to a flier…instead of seeing their stress levels skyrocketing.
I gamely grabbed a mock seatbelt and life vest and gave my best impression of a cabin attendant. I was told I had the “Virgin flair” but my focus on life-preservers wasn’t so good.
Some 88% of air emergencies happen with no warning, so the crew are drilled to react to a crisis at lightning speed. As I
took my place at the top of a blow-up safety slide at the firm’s Gatwick base I was told the cabin must be evacuated at a rate of one passenger every second in a crisis.
For me, it was a thrill-ride but in the stress of an emergency in the middle of the ocean it would be a different scenario entirely. I felt more at home handling the drinks and food trolley, although managing to serve spirits, mixers and trays of hot grub to passengers while keeping up my friendly chatter, was quite a challenge.
Later, during our medical training, I was schooled on the aircraft’s high-tech Tempus IC, known as the “doctor in a box”.
It was reassuring to see the amount of professional help the crew can draw on even at 42,000ft. The machine takes readings which are sent to a ground-based doctor for advice.
Cabin service supervisor Simon Cowley told me: “The training takes six weeks, and involves almost daily exams, so it’s a real challenge before you even board a plane.”
My day’s try-out proved I might have a head for heights, but brought me back to earth with a bump. I learned I’d never make it as a trolley dolly. PROFESSIONAL: Felicity shows off her cabin crew skills, from evacuation drills to giving emergency survival instructions and performing mouth-to-mouth