Singapore Airlines gave a special tour to invited media guests to their training facility located in Singapore and I felt privileged to be among the group. We were able to experience the flight attendant safety training, cabin crew procedure training and the flight simulators.
The slides are not for fun. This hybrid of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 is to teach cabin crew how to evacuate an airplane.
We first entered a large room that looked almost like a play ground with slides, but it was all business. This is where cabin crew learn and get re-trained on safety protocols. There were a number of different interior mock ups and the most interesting was the hybrid slide trainer. This was a unique set up with a Boeing 777 in the front and an Airbus A380 in the rear. The aircraft is used to allow flight attendants to practice evacuating passengers and jumping down the slides themselves. Inside the mock up, the interior was made up of earth-toned seats, with half of it being wider than the other half. The emergency doors had LCD screens located in the windows to simulate what might be on the other side (ie fire, debris) and the flight crew must react accordingly. Other mock ups in the facility allow cabin crew to practice opening emergency doors, escape from crew quarters and learn the proper operations on different aircraft.
Instructors are able to set up a number of different scenarios for flight attendant training.
The larger hybrid airline cabin is able to be filled with smoke to simulate an emergency situation (see an example from when I visited AirTran). There is a control panel that lets the instructor set up a scenario and the flight attendants must react accordingly. I was hoping to have an opportunity to take a slide down, but decided on the stairs instead.
The water is calm in this photo, but during training, instructors can make waves in the Singapore Airlines training pool.
After coming down the stairs, we went into the pool training facility, where flight crew are required to practice jumping into the water with their uniforms. The pool is able to simulate waves and rough conditions, providing an additional challenge for the new trainees. Much like the slide trainer, the interior has a full cabin set up, giving as much realism as possible to an actual water landing event.
Singapore Airline's Airbus A380 flight simulator has a Star Trek like command chair for the instructor to create almost any scenario possible.
The training facility also operates seven aircraft simulators that cost between $12million and $30million. Singapore Airlines leases time on the simulators for other airlines as well, except the Airbus A380 since they need all the time on it as possible. The A380 simulator is unsurprisingly big and although it is a massive beast — she flies like a champ. The simulators have full motion giving pilots realistic g-forces during landing, take off and maneuvers. Instructors are able to sit in a command seat behind the pilot and co-pilot to create dangerous situations at airports around the globe. Before pilots take a spin on the larger simulator, they are able to practice the proper procedures on a much more simplistic (and cheaper) Flight Training Device.
New Singapore Girls learn how to work the economy section at the training facility.
Even though safety is the most important aspect of a flight attendants job, a large portion of the facility is set up to teach flight attendants how to take care of their customers. Down a long hallway, there are multiple mock-ups to let new employees learn customer service for economy, business and first class passengers. Interestingly, part of their training includes greeting facility guests with a warm welcome. It is quite impressive to walk by a group of 25+ new flight attendants and have them all welcome you to the training center.
Looks and proper grooming is important to Singapore Airlines. This room, new hires learn how to look professional during long flights in a low-humidity environment.
First impressions are important and Singapore Airlines makes sure their entire flight crew look professional. Even though the male crew won’t be wearing any make-up, they still go through the full training to learn how to keep their skin from getting too dry and how to assist their female co-workers. There is a classroom dedicated to make-up and scents training and another for flight attendants to practice walking properly.
Singapore Airlines is known for their high-end service and it takes quite a bit of work to accomplish. Besides basic training, flight crew are required to return for additional and advanced training. Even though the facility might look like fun and games, everything done there is for either customer service or safety. Both are very important aspects to running a successful airline and it seems to be working quite well for Singapore Airlines.
CHECK OUT ALL 30 PHOTOS OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES TRAINING FACILITY
Do you know if the same things are done with US airlines? I’m specifically referring to the water/pool training. For some reason (money) I find it doubtful.
Thanks for the interesting story.
Rich
All airlines have some sort of training facility and I believe it is required for every crew member to do water training. I do not think that all of them are as sophisticated as Singapore Airlines.
David
I do believe that all US carriers have what we at DL called a “ditching pool”
I am looking at the photo of the trainee flight attendants looking in to the plane mockup. Is the woman in the center of the photo holding a baby or a doll? Whichever it is, do you know why? Are they allowed to bring their babies to work? Thanks for your reply, Dorothy
Good eye. She is holding a baby doll and is about to play a passenger. I heard the trainer tell her to “be difficult.”
She is to play a scenario where she will be a demanding mom and other flight attendants will be judged on how they react. I didn’t get to stick around to see how it turned out.
David
Correction: not all US airlines require water training, or have a ditching pool. I’m a flight attendant at one of those airlines.
There is a classroom dedicated to make-up and scents training
They do and here is a photo of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/airlinereporter/5953053566/in/set-72157627228578486
David
Hello,
I would like to become a flight attendant. I am 24 years of age. And I live in the UK. But I don’t know the procedure to apply for this role. Do I have to have certain certifications for this job? I want to become one of them so much , I can say that I am desperate to become one. Do I need to study one of these online Cabin Crew Courses, before applying for the job? The training courses that the airlines give to their new crew members, are they being charged for the training or is it free of charge? And another thing, is there any training that involves jumping off a certain height, like a parachute training?
Regards
Selin
Hey Selin,
With most any other job, you have to make sure the airline is hiring for flight attendants. Most of the airlines you will find that they have a Career section of their website where you can apply. Most will train you after you are selected to fly with them.
You need to train jumping off one of the escape slides. You will also practice jumping into the water, but nothing like jumping out of a flying aircraft.
David
Hi,
I meet a guy from this club last friday, his name is Sharky or Shah, claim that he is a steward from Singapore Airline. i admit that is really cute and charming and he can dance well too. He attracted my attention. Surprisingly he came up to me in an hour later and dance with me and i was so happy & enjoying it. After awhile he me make an offer to me. Telling me that he will be flying of to Melbourne on Sunday 20/5/2012 and he love to see me at Melbourne. And he can take care of me bring me around. And he will charge me at $800 per day for his companion and services.
It actually really turn me off and i feel so angry and insult by his behavior. it never happen in my life before!! it this how SQ Crew being train and is this a platform for them to offer their gigolo services?
Hope this email will bring it to your attention.
Yuki Onna
Hey Yuki,
I would probably assume that your little friend that you met really does not work for Singapore Airlines. The airline goes through a rigorous screening process and it sounds like someone who is willing to sell their time (and presumably body) for $800 probably wouldn’t make that cut.
Sounds like he might be the type of person who would lie about his occupation.
David
Hi David,
Thanks for the reply. I hope it is not trying to protect your crew. Because he did show me his SQ Id card. And he mention it to me with flashing this Id card he’s able to entitle for discount at lots of places, eg: eatery, clubs and hotels!!
Hope you can really look into this issue.
Regards
Yuki Onna
Well, I have to point out that I am not with the airline. I am a journalist who covers airline and Singapore Airlines was one of them.
I would imagine that the card might be a fake or he got it from someone. If he truly does work for the airlines and he is looking to use the airline to try and trump up other, iffy business, he is obviously not a great guy.
David
sir now i am of AME in bangalore so can i traing to singapore airlince
I want to be part of this growing industry. I’m a fresh grad from the Philippines.I hope you could give me some tips sir regarding this. I don’t know where to start and I know in myself that I need to improve a lot of things. Thanks anyway for writing this article. God bless 🙂
Hi,
In Houston, TX and in London, I went with my previous company for a day to Continental’s & BA’s training facility respectively. Do you know if Singapore Airlines is also conducting one day training sessions for non-SQ staff (review safety position, open evacuation doors, evacuate plane filled with smoke, jump on the slides, what to do in case of ditching, put life vest on, etc.)?
Who can I contact?
Best regards,
Matt