Cabin-crew basic training standards may be unified across Europe, with staff issued with certificates of "professional competence", if a proposed new directive is approved within the European Union (EU).
The new concept, being mooted within the European Parliament, would require states to approve training organisations, their courses and curricula before allowing them to award certificates.
Course content would have to include a minimum set of subjects, including water-survival, fire and smoke training and passenger-handling. Criteria for medical fitness would also be laid down.
National transport officials met in Brussels at the end of October to discuss the possible content of any new directive, and airlines have been asked for their comments.
Ahead of the Brussels meeting, doubts had already been raised within the UK, with the British Air Transport Association warning of increased costs and the risk that crews could simply hop to a new airline after expensive training.
Source: Flight International
