Delta Airline Flight Attendant Training

Prospective Delta flight attendants must first attend the airline's initial flight attendant training school.

Delta Airlines, which is headquartered in Atlanta, is currently the world's largest airline by size. This means it has a number of large employee groups, including the flight attendant workforce. Delta flight attendant hopefuls must first attend airline-specific initial flight attendant training. Airline training schools are located in Atlanta and in Salt Lake City. Other training for a Delta flight attendant will occur on a regular basis once she's hired and flying regularly.

Significance

The primary job of a flight attendant is safety-related.

Delta flight attendants are both customer service specialists and vital members of the air crew. In reality, federal flight attendant rules and regulations have to do with their passenger safety role. The airline adds to their duties by having them see to the comfort of passengers. These attendants are the public face of the airline. How well they perform their assigned jobs has a large impact on the success or failure of Delta as an airline.

Types

Delta flight attendants go through a variety of training courses.

There are several types of flight attendant training that Delta attendants must go through. The first is what the airline calls Initial Flight Attendant Training. Once they pass initial training, recurrent and specialized training will occur. This includes advanced customer service courses and special emergency procedures. As flight attendants grow more senior and seek promotions, other courses are required. The most common of these is known as Flight Leader Training.

Features

Initial Flight Attendant Training includes the basic theory of flight.

Topics at the Initial Flight Attendant training course include basic theories of flight. More importantly, prospective attendants are trained extensively in safety concepts. Subjects such as first-aid and emergency situations are explored fully. Only later do comfort and service training come into play. Recurrent training addresses updates to emergency and first-aid procedures and any industry or company changes. Attendants who become flight leaders also receive additional training. This training is divided into domestic and international operations.

Flight Leader Training

International Flight Leader Training emphasizes issues particular to international flight operations.

As Delta flight attendants become more experienced, they have the opportunity to become flight leaders. These leaders are airborne supervisors, in effect. Delta Flight Leader Training comes in two different versions. One is for flight leaders working flights within the U.S., the other for those working international flights. International training emphasizes long, over-the-water flights and how they're operated. Also, it teaches new flight leaders the paperwork, safety and security issues particular to international operations.

Expert Insight

Delta initial flight attendant training takes five weeks to complete.

New Delta flight attendant candidates must first make it through Delta's training course. They also need to be at least 20 years old and possess a GED or better. The course takes five weeks to complete and training sometimes takes place seven days a week. In addition, a 90 percent test score average is required to graduate. The course can be rigorous and there's no guarantee of hire until an opening for an attendant arises.

References

• Delta Airlines: "Delta Flight Attendants: The Best in the Sky"
• Delta Airlines Blog: "Becoming a Delta Flight Attendant (series)"
• Fab Job: "Become a Flight Attendant"
• Delta Airlines: Delta Stats and Facts
• Delta Airlines: December 2009 Traffic Report

Resources

• The Article Writer: "The Original Eight: Genesis of the Modern Day Flight Attendant"