Sky-high flights of fantasy

A childhood dream of being a flight attendant takes Amber Hudman around the globe.

From her days as a primary school student on the Gold Coast, 26-year-old Amber Hudman knew the career path she wanted to follow.

It soared skyward, to about 12,000m above the ground. While classmates showed more interest in the playground, Hudman was taking regular domestic flights for holidays with her mother “to find out some more about being a flight attendant” .

That dream was realised soon after leaving high school when she secured a job with international airline Emirates, flying to international cities, some she hadn’t heard of, before her 20th birthday.

“I thought the flight attendants looked really pretty then when I was a child,” she recalls.

“Now, I look at young girls of that age and wonder what they think of me in my uniform.”

Hudman’s career path began when she received a diploma in tourism at TAFE.

But it was her sheer determination not to take “no” for an answer that led to her flying days, and she’s now one of 300 cabin crew with V Australia jetting across the Pacific, flying from Sydney to Los Angeles.

“I was about 11 years old when I decided I wanted to be a flight attendant,” she says between flights at the Virgin Blue terminal of Sydney Airport.

“My primary school Japanese teacher showed me how interesting other cultures and languages were.

“From then I just wanted to be a flight attendant. I thought it would be an amazing job and 15 years later nothing has changed.”

After receiving the tourism diploma, Hudman asked friends what prerequisites were needed to become a flight attendant and they suggested she surf the net.

“I put together a CV and went on almost every airline website to apply,” she says.

“I think I approached six or seven airlines and got a few responses.”

However, it was Emirates that gave her the break she was seeking and for five years she served the Dubai-based airline before returning to Australia.

“I heard on the grapevine that Virgin Blue was going to launch V Australia, so it was time for me to come back and apply,'” she says.

The gender mix among V Australia’s cabin crew is fairly even 60 per cent females to 40 per cent males, some married with young children, others with children old enough to leave the family nest.

“There are others who are newlyweds,” Hudman says. “And there are singles like myself. The right man hasn’t come along yet.”

While the diploma was handy, she says the official requirements to becoming a flight attendant were straightforward.

“You have to be 18 years and over to serve alcohol, have a certificate in the responsible serving of alcohol [four-hour online program] and senior first aid certificate [two-day course],” she advises.

A second language was not necessary, but Hudman says it was a bonus.

“I don’t really speak Japanese fluently any more,” Hudman says. “And I didn’t include it in my resume but it has come in handy on the odd occasion.”

Hudman also explains there was no restriction on height, but adds that flight attendants need to be tall enough to reach the overhead locker for the safety equipment.

“We also have to be strong enough to swim 50m fully clothed,” she says. “And you have to be able to push 50kg, the weight of the door.”

All is covered in a six-week training course at Virgin Blue’s Brisbane headquarters.

“Fail and you get another chance to do it again,” she declares.

Asked what she enjoys the most about her role, Hudman replies: “Sometimes it feels like I’m on a holiday. I definitely love the feeling that I don’t have to get up at the same time every day to work in an office.

“Each day doesn’t feel like Groundhog Day. I know I’m going to serve meals. The rest of the day is a surprise.”

Hudman says because of her job the world had expanded for her and so too has her appreciation of the work put in by the cabin crews. Her preference is to work in the galley, checking the food and drinks, a job that needs plenty of preparation before passengers board.

While serving on the aircraft is intense, Hudman reveals there is a 3 1/2 hour window for her to get a rest.

” The job can be exhausting but it’s definitely rewarding,” she says.

As for advice for anyone wanting to become a flight attendant?

“It’s not impossible. If you’re determined enough it’s easily achievable and very enjoyable,” she says.

“I’ve met people from 100 countries. My goal now is to visit 100 countries.”

How to be a … Flight attendant

Qualifications
You have to be 18 years and over, but the HSC isn’t required nor is airline experience. V Australia calls for applicants with customer service experience.

The Responsible Service of Alcohol and Senior First Aid Course and Certificate can be organised at numerous accredited places. For details of accredited agents and online sites, checkout the NTIS website, www.ntis.gov.au

Cost
Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate is $95, the Senior First Aid Course and Certificate $175.

From the inside
If you have a dream, chase it. But as Amber Hudman (pictured) explains, you must be determined in realising the dream.

“I put together a CV and went on almost every airline website to apply,” Hudman says.

“I think I approached six or seven airlines and got a few responses.”

In the end it was Emirates that gave her the break she was seeking and for five years she served the Dubai-based airline before returning to Australia to take a role as flight attendant for V Australia flying regularly to the US.