A day in the life of a Cabin Crew Trainer

摘要

The Virgin Atlantic training centre in Crawley, West Sussex is a purpose-built facility housing a plethora of equipment, rigs and simulators that replicate working conditions onboard the airline's fleet. Food preparation galleys, all seating classes, a range of aircraft door configurations, escape slides, crew sleeping quarters, lavatories and flight decks await the trainees. A section of fuselage - with automated doors that once closed create an enclosed passenger cabin for smoke/fire simulation and emergency evacuation drills - is a further focal point. It's week two of the six-week programme involving theory, practical exercises and examinations for the would-be crew of Group 821, led by David Gott, one of Virgin Atlantic's experienced cabin crew trainers, who has worked for the carrier for nearly 30 years (see Box 1). On the day of the author's visit, the cabin crew hopefuls were focusing on emergency ditching procedures, slide/ raft exercises and survival on open water, culminating in a practical drill at the local swimming pool.