Presently, the guidelines are in place for the training of flight attendants, however, waivers are being granted by Principle Operating Inspectors (POI) that in essence, dilutes the training programs. These waivers are the source of the problem. The creation of a level playing field for the carriers and the professionalization of flight attendants are two additional benefits of certification.

All aviation employees are trained and certified with the exception of flight attendants. AFA believes that this isn't just unacceptable; it's ludicrous. AFA believes the absence of consistency in the training programs for flight attendants has the potential of creating situations that are unsafe for crewmembers and passengers alike. Whether it's an in-flight fire or an evacuation, the a lack of hands-on training created by these waivers places passengers and flight deck crew in at unnecessary risk.

Certification will not only be beneficial to flight attendants and the flying public, carriers will benefit as well. By instituting and enforcing across the board guidelines all flight attendants will have the same training. If a flight attendant would like to work for a different carrier, she or he simply shows the carrier the certificate. This will potentially save carriers the cost of training.

.AFA has been meeting with Democrats and Republicans alike building strong support for this measure. Certification has been well-received and many Congressional offices like the idea and are engaged with the issue. AFA encourages Congress to enact certification language.


Proposed Certification of Flight Attendants

The FAA and Federal Aviation Regulations already require flight attendants to pass FAA-approved safety and security training programs and require flight attendants to be onboard all passenger aircraft w/ 20 seats or more.

● The FAA requires flight attendants to be trained in accordance with FARs that include passing FAA-approved training courses through a series of competency checks and tests, as well as passing mandatory “re-current” training every 12 months.

● Required flight attendant training and responsibilities on aircraft include fire control, first aid, aircraft evacuation and emergency procedures -- making flight attendants the first line of defense for safety in the aircraft.

● Flight attendants are already considered safety sensitive employees and thus must be drug/alcohol tested, are required by regulation to have rest limitations which stipulate duty time limits and mandatory rest periods and are now subject to criminal background checks.

Flight attendants are now tasked with significant additional security responsibilities and training post-9-11.

● Sept. 11 changed air travel forever, and thus changed the security functions of flight attendants forever.

● While previous security and hijacker training was not very sophisticated, comprehensive terrorist, hijacker and personal defense training is now necessary and required under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act.

● Flight attendants are now the last line of defense and will be trained in TSA-approved security programs to defend the cockpit, themselves and their passengers from lethal attacks by suicidal terrorists in the aircraft cabin.

● As the tragedy of 9-11 has shown, the competency and training of flight attendants in their performance of these duties could have a major impact on national security and the safety of thousands of lives in our war against terrorism.

FAA issues certifications to others, it’s time flight attendants are recognized for their training and responsibilities.

● The FAA issues certificates to other aviation personnel: pilots, mechanics, repairmen, dispatchers, air traffic controllers and parachute packers.

● These professionals receive certification of their professional training and competency to perform.

● Flight attendants -- the only majority female workforce in the industry with such a high degree of training, safety and security responsibilities -- deserve similar certification of their professional abilities.

● The cost of implementing such a program will be minimal since the FAA already, by law, oversees the qualifications of flight attendant training programs at each airline, and has systems for establishing certification already set up for other airline personnel.

The FAA should ultimately attest to and ensure the qualifications of flight attendants just as they do for other workers in the aviation safety system through an official certification process.

● Flight attendants play a key role in the security of passengers on aircraft. We are the only trained professionals in the airplane cabin to assist in an emergency or attack -- pilots are now locked in the cockpit in the case of an attack and are not available to assist flight attendants or passengers.

● Certification of flight attendants is a necessary step in improving the overall safety and security of our air transportation system