AIR HOSTESS

Young city denizens seem to be penchant about the aviation industry. Nattily draped in western formals – tidy shirts with skirts/formal trousers and a scarf around collar - gals and gals are eagerly attending training session on personality development, grooming, English speaking, swimming, aviation and foreign language at the airhostess / steward training academies.
One of the aviation academy students, Neha Juneja, 17, said, “I am keen on being placed with an international airlines. I didn’t want to waste six-seven years on formal education. So, after higher secondary, I decided to join the training academy.”
Kamal Saini, the centre head of an airhostess training institute, said, “Good salary and glamour is what everyone longs and both these are attached to the aviation industry. We coach them in grooming sense and professional language to beat high-competitive rounds of interviews. Expertise counselling is a regular feature.” These academies also provide on-flight training to all aspiring students.
Manbir KaurVirk, a student preparing to join the industry, said, “I have gained tremendous confidence after jining the training academy. Public speaking is no more a challenge now.”
After the privatisation of lucrative aviation industry and relaxation in the retirement age have added to the craze. Branch Manager of another city-based airhostess training academy Mithlesh Singh said, “Surprisingly, the response from Chandigarh that’s famous for its psuedo-liberal mindset is not as great as Punjab and Himachal. From remote areas as Sirhind people are sending their daughters for training after higher secondary. Chandigarhians believe graduation is a must.” He adds, “It’s a remarkable change. We all read about a divorce case everyday. Probably, now people want daughters to make a career and be prepared to boldly face life through thick and thin.”
Somehow, aviation service industry is still considered to be a career for girl. The ratio of girls to boys joining the institute shows a major difference. Even these academies prefer calling them as the airhostess academies, though almost every commercial flight has stewards to attend to passengers. V