EPTAviation.com - SACAA ACCREDITED CABIN CREW MEMBER & FLIGHT ATTENDANT TRAINING

Enroll on any one of our cabin crew member licensing courses commencing on either the 7th or 21st of Jan or the 4th or 18th of Feb 2013 and stand a chance of winning a return flight to either Durban or Cape Town as well as a cash meal voucher. Terms and Conditions apply.

EPT Aviation Training places the utmost value on the role that our learners will display in the workplace. We pride ourselves in having the relevant accreditations from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the Transport, Education & Training Authority (TETA) and from Education, Training and Development Practices (ETDP). EPT Aviation Training is also listed in the Aviation Training Directory of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). All interactions our learners have with customers and colleagues must be a memorable experience and hence all our training programmes have customer service elements.

Our training courses have been designed according to SACAA regulations and according to SAQA Unit standards where applicable. Training and assessments are conducted by qualified trainers who are also registered Train the Trainer, Assessors, Moderators and Designated Examiners. We have the capability and the flexibility to adapt all our courses to suit your organisational needs.

Our Skills Development Programmes focus on making the entire learning experience exceptional, therefore we integrate our training with many hours of practical experience. Strict systems compliance training is blended with professional passenger handling skills. Potentially complex situations, activities and behaviours are anticipated and we ensure that our learners know how to resolve these situations effectively.

Our training methodology, extensive experience and the fact that we see our learners as valued customers allow for knowledge to be imparted in a caring, honest and professional manner. Combined, our extensive management and trainer experience exceeds over 200 years of flying, training and recruitment of personnel for South African Airways. Our staff members are the key to our success as they always go the extra mile.

Our aviation related courses are presented throughout the year in a friendly learning environment and are conducted by professional trainers who have trained for South African Airways, BA Comair, Emirates, and various Charter Companies as well as for many other National and International Organisations. We strive to maintain an on-going relationship with each of our learners even after qualifying from our organisation, and we provide the necessary support as they advance in their flight attendant career paths. Our classes never exceed 15 learners per trainer which allows for individual attention.

EPT Aviation Training started out as an aviation training organisation specialising in cabin crew member (flight attendant) licensing training, however our success as well as public demand has allowed us to increase our scope of training into many soft skill areas.  Our learners bear testimony to the success of our training programme, many of whom are currently employed by some of Africa’s leading aviation organisations.

How it all started…….

Western Airlines (1928) and Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) (1929) were the first US carriers to employ stewards to serve food on an aircraft.  Prior to the first airhostess being employed, pilots at times, acted as cabin crew members.  The first female airhostess was a 25-year old registered nurse named Ellen Church who was hired by United Airlines in 1930.  Other airlines followed suit hiring nurses to act as air hostesses or flight attendants on most of their flights.  In the United States, in the 1930's this career was one of the few which allowed women to apply.  This led to 2000 women applying for 43 positions with Transcontinental and Western Airlines in December 1935. Today it is still a sought after career.

This career was initially referred to as Cabin Boys, Stewards/Stewardesses, Flight Attendants, Air Hosts / Hostesses and since becoming a professional licensed career, it is now referred to as "Cabin Crew Members".

CHOOSING THE RIGHT AVIATION TRAINING ORGANISATION

The cabin crew member licensing course involves demanding and strenuous training which includes fire fighting, emergency evacuations, aviation medicine, dangerous goods, decompression, ditching, survival, security and many other modules.  This process normally takes an average of 6 weeks to complete and the purpose of this training is to prepare you to efficiently handle any situation which could occur on board an aircraft.

Licensing training is undertaken by individuals who wish to apply for a position as a cabin crew member with an airline operator.  When airline operators advertise crew positions, they have been known to advertise these positions for “licensed” cabin crew members.  Thus individuals often stand a better chance of getting a position as a cabin crew member when they are in possession of a crew license.

The benefits to airline operators hiring licensing crew members is that the duration of their training can be decreased substantially and operators are then not accountable for paying their medical assessments, SACAA examination sittings, licenses etc.

Even though airline operators hire licensed cabin crew members, these crew members will still be required to undertake additional training when the join an airline operator to ensure their own standard operating procedures are followed.  The duration of this training will vary from operator to operator. 

There are many Aviation Training Organisations (ATO’s) in South Africa and you are advised to carefully select the one you choose.  Check the credentials of the company you chose to do your training with. Suggestions and warnings include:

Prospective cabin crew members are required to undergo x-rays and a medical assessment which forms part of the licensing process.  Have this medical done prior to enrolling for training as this will avoid you paying training fees with an ATO which are normally not refundable should you be found medically unfit.  Also check cost of the x-ray and examination prior to committing to a specific laboratory and Doctor.

Ensure that the price you are quoted by the ATO is inclusive of all modules and requirements to complete the licensing process.  These charges include:
•    Aviation Medicine Training
•    Dangerous Goods Training
•    Fire Fighting Training
•    Security Training
•    Swimming Lessons
•    South African Civil Aviation Authority Examination
•    South African Civil Aviation Authority License’

Aviation Training Organisations can NOT guarantee employment.  Airline operators advertise, interview and employ their own crew, so be cautious of an ATO who “gaurantees employment”.

As many individuals aspire to be cabin crew members it is advisable to attend an ATO who assists individuals with interviewing skills and compilation of CV’s, photographs for their CV’s and cover letters.  This will assist the applicant in being better prepared for the interviewing process as many of these learners will be attending their first ever interview.

Airline Operators want well groomed individuals who pay high regard to personal hygiene, make-up etc.  Choose an ATO who has knowledge of what Airline Operators require from their crew with regards to grooming and who offer a grooming course module.

Beware of ATO’s who promise “want to be pilots” a better chance of getting into an Airline if they first do the cabin crew member licensing programme.  No extra recognition is given to pilot applicants if they are cabin crew members.

Do not pay for information sessions on cabin crew member training as the syllabus is available of the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s website or you can attend free information sessions with some ATO’s. It is also a good idea to get this information through blogs, Facebook pages or making contact with learners who have attended the training.

FACILITIES

EPT’s primary training facility is based at DENEL NORTH, however, we also present training at client venues.  Our premises are located in a 24 hour security facility with easy access to public transportation

Our training facility at DENEL North is equipped with:

• Eight large air-conditioned/heated  training rooms
• Equipment and practical training tutorial room
• Offices
• Tea area for learners
• Outdoor leisure area
• Secure parking area

CERTIFICATION

On successful completion of each training module learners are issued with a certificate confirming competence.  Learners attending the licensing training course will be issued with a SACAA cabin crew member licence on successful completion of their training. Some of our soft skill training modules require submission of projects after classroom training prior to being assessed as competent.

BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

EPT Training has a Level 4 BEE rating however this is currently being upgraded to a Level 2 rating.