The job of a flight attendant attracts many with the opportunity to travel, but entering the profession is not easy. Candidates must pass a competitive selection process, medical examination, training, and internship. We studied the requirements of Uzbek airlines, the selection procedure, and training programs, and also spoke with Sheridam, an active flight attendant at Uzbekistan Airways.
Four airlines in Uzbekistan regularly recruit flight attendants: Uzbekistan Airways, Qanot Sharq, Silk Avia, and Centrum Air. Some carriers are willing to train candidates without experience, while others only accept active flight attendants with work experience. Selection conditions, candidate requirements, and the list of documents vary, so before applying, it is advisable to check the current vacancy on the airline's website.
Requirements depend on the airline, but most Uzbek carriers have similar criteria. They assess age, education, language skills, physical parameters, health, and appearance. For example, Uzbekistan Airways for candidates without experience requires: Uzbek citizenship, age 18 to 25, at least secondary education, proficiency in Uzbek, Russian, and English, meeting height requirements, and health allowing work on board. Visible tattoos and piercings on exposed body parts are not allowed. Knowledge of foreign languages besides English can be an advantage.
The first stage of selection is submitting documents. Uzbekistan Airways uses its own resume template, which can be downloaded from the official website. The resume is filled out on a computer and sent along with other documents. At Qanot Sharq, the list of documents differs: copy of passport, copy of foreign passport (if available), education document, standard application form, and full-length photo.
Sheridam, flight attendant at Uzbekistan Airways: "At the document submission stage, it is important to carefully read the airline's requirements. Even small mistakes in the application or an incomplete package of documents can lead to rejection before the interview."
The selection consists of several stages. First, candidates send their resume and documents to the email address specified in the announcement. After preliminary screening, they are invited for an interview, where the commission evaluates compliance with corporate requirements: height, physical fitness, appearance, clear speech, communication skills, stress resistance, and ability to handle non-standard situations. They may also ask questions about the history and geography of Uzbekistan and test language proficiency. The final stage is passing the medical flight expert commission (VLEK).
Before training, candidates must undergo VLEK, a mandatory medical examination that determines whether a person can work as a flight attendant. Doctors assess general health, vision, hearing, cardiovascular and nervous systems, and identify contraindications. VLEK includes examinations by a therapist, surgeon, dentist, neurologist, otorhinolaryngologist, psychiatrist, and narcologist, as well as laboratory and instrumental tests.
After successfully passing the selection, candidates begin training. The main accredited training center is the Training Center of Uzbekistan Airways LLC, located near Tashkent International Airport. Its programs are approved by the Aviation Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan and comply with international ICAO and IOSA standards. Training includes: aviation safety, aircraft structure, actions in case of fire, decompression, and other emergencies, emergency evacuation, first aid, dangerous goods transportation rules, crew interaction, and passenger service standards. Special attention is paid to practical training on simulators.
Upon completion of the course, candidates take exams and receive a flight attendant certificate. Then they undergo an internship and are only then allowed to fly independently. As experience accumulates, flight attendants are assigned categories and can become senior flight attendants or instructors. Income consists of salary, number of flights, flight hours, category, and various allowances.
Source: kun.uz