310So let’s start with defining the roles of Flight Attendant vs. Air Hostess. A flight attendant is a person who has completed the FAA’s flight attendant training and successfully completed a practical certification test. That person has received an FAA issued Flight Attendant Certificate similar to what pilots and maintenance technicians receive once they have completed training and the practical test for certification.
Many Part 135 operators, in order to save on the time, effort and cost of implementing a flight attendant training program, will place a contractor or employee on board to attend to the comfort of the passengers while leaving the safety briefing and operation of safety equipment to the pilots. Air hostess duties include cleaning, food and catering services and helping with concierge services. They are not trained to open emergency exits or perform any safety sensitive functions and so may not be designated “flight crew”. Due to this fact many times they are listed as passengers on the manifest though recent developments allow them to be identified as “crew” but not “flight crew”.
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