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Pursers and Flight Attendants (NOC 6432)DescriptionAirline pursers and flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew members during flights. Ship pursers attend to the safety and comfort of passengers aboard ships. Airline pursers and flight attendants are employed by airline companies. Ship pursers are employed by tour or cruise boat companies. Example Titles
Classified Elsewhere
DutiesThe following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:
SkillsPursers and flight attendants should enjoy dealing with the public and have the following skills and abilities:
Employment Requirements
Terms & ConditionsPursers and flight attendants work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, as the airline business is always in operation. The union agreement usually establishes the total daily and monthly working time. The schedule of work is based on seniority, the flights assigned, their duration, and location. The length of a shift varies but can last up to 14 hours. Attendants usually fly 65 to 85 hours a month and spend about 50 hours a month on the ground preparing planes for flights, writing reports following completed flights, and waiting for planes to arrive. The work is physically and mentally demanding. Attendants spend most of a flight on their feet. They must move awkward galley equipment and lift up to 25 kilograms. The work environment on airplanes is a pressurized climate with recycled air. For this reason, attendants are not allowed to fly when they are ill with head colds or ear infections. Occasionally, pursers and flight attendants may be required to deal with turbulent flights, jet lag from time zone adjustments, and disruptive passengers. New recruits are more likely to start out working on reserve status or on call. Most pursers and flight attendants are women (85%). The majority of the positions are considered to be full-time (87%). The airlines provide hotel accommodations and an allowance for meal expenses for the periods when pursers and flight attendants are required to be away from their home base. Discount airfares are an attractive benefit. Earnings$40,000 per annum - starting $65,500 per annum - average $100,500 per annum - high Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available. Education / Training
Career PathsWorkers in jobs requiring personal customer service skills may be interested in these occupations. Flight attendants may advance to supervisory positions such as purser (in-flight supervisor), passenger or flight service director, or training instructor. In order to move to ground support positions flight attendants may need upgrading in computer skills and other fields. Experienced flight attendants may move to various other occupations involving contact with the public. OutlookEmployment prospects for pursers and flight attendants are expected to be limited in the period 2010 - 2014 The number employed in Manitoba in 2008 is estimated at 205 but will drop to approximately about 80 in 2009. The closure of the Air Canada flight attendant base, the largest employer in Manitoba, will significantly reduce the size of this occupation as most of these employees will have to relocate or accept layoffs. In the future, those seeking to work with larger airlines may need to leave the province to pursue this career. Employment in the airline industry is affected by the economy, global trends, and world events. A buoyant economy, rising incomes, and increased leisure time among an ageing population increase the demand for air travel. Prospects may improve late in the outlook period as business travel increases and more Canadian firms develop a stronger international presence. Members of this occupational group are concentrated in Winnipeg (80%), although some positions are based in Brandon and Northern Manitoba. Almost all (100%) are employed in the Transportation and Warehousing industry. Employment by Age Group
Employment by Industry
Employment by Region
Employment by Gender
Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification
Employment by Visible Minority
Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census. Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...
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