Plane sailing to career in the sky It may have seats and overhead lockers from a recycled aeroplane, but it won’t be taking to the skies. Instead the hub at Midkent College is one of only two in Kent for training cabin crew. This week students embarked on
“Please take a seat, we will be boarding shortly”.
so said the smartly dressed MidKent airways’ attendant as I entered the club lounge on Tuesday morning before my 80-minute journey to Paris.
I was handed a boarding card and soon seated in my comfy 2b spot dreaming of the eiffel Tower.
The friendly cabin crew came round with in-flight snacks, followed by drinks, a meal and duty free.
But rather than landing at Charles De Gaulle airport to embark on a Parisian adventure, I left the plane and found myself still in Oakwood Park, Maidstone. You see, I hadn’t been flying through the clouds as my surroundings suggested, instead I was in MidKent College’s Mock Plane, used to train hopefuls on an 11-week City & Guilds cabin crew course.
This week was the first time the equipment, worth about £10,000, has been used since its February installation.
It wasn’t all plain flying for our budding stewards who were forced to stay calm when faced by awkward customers, primed by the tutors to play up.
But trainee attendant Catherine Roberts, 17, from ashford, said despite the challenges, the cabin gives a good insight of what the job entails.
“I’ve wanted to be a flight attendant for as long as I can remember, so I love being able to practice and learn,” she added.
The college had invested in the mock plane to give its students a leg-up in the aviation world.
Diane Payne, one of the course leaders, said: “The airline industry is notoriously hard to break into. Thousands apply for limited jobs and people are lucky to get to interview stage.
“The cabin allows students to experience the space and get used to being in that environment. We’re brutally honest and work to improve their manners, posture and appearance. It’s all about providing excellent customer service.”
The diploma, now in its fourth year, is recognised by various companies which the college has formed close links with, including British airways, Virgin and easyJet. Five graduates have already secured jobs with these four, while another ex-student now works for emirates.
James Brook, 18, passed last year and got a job with easyJet.
The teenager, from Grove Green, said: “The course helped me prepare for the interview stage. It gave me an advantage as I knew what to expect and what the recruiters expected.”
The course will be extended to 36 weeks in 2014 and already has around 30 people signed up. For information visit www.midkent.ac.uk