10 Fascinating Jobs That Keep Planes On-Time | Insider Business

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Chefs at SATs prepare diverse meals for Singapore Airlines passengers, ensuring quality, safety, and authenticity through specific cooking processes. Emirates flight attendants must adhere to strict grooming standards, maintain physical fitness, and understand passenger preferences across different backgrounds.

Insights

  • 1. Chefs at SATs develop diverse menus for Singapore Airlines, taking 9 to 12 months to create a single dish, catering to different cabin classes and departure cities with options like Japanese, Chinese, Singaporean, and Western meals.
  • 2. Emirates Airline operates over 180,000 flights annually, managed by 21,000 flight attendants and pursers who must meet specific requirements like fluency in English, no visible tattoos, and maintaining strict grooming standards, with attendants progressing from economy to first class based on expertise and passenger knowledge.
  • 3. Air traffic controllers at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport manage 909,000 flights yearly, undergoing rigorous training for up to five years, earning an average of $145,000 annually, focusing on efficiency and safety in directing flights through takeoff and landing with specialized lingo and technology.

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Recent questions

  • How do chefs at Singapore Airlines prepare meals?

    Chefs at Singapore Airlines prepare meals for economy, business, and first-class passengers at the largest catering facility within Changi Airport. They develop hundreds of new menus annually, with dishes taking 9 to 12 months to create, offering diverse cuisine types like Japanese, Chinese, Singaporean, and Western meals. Menus vary based on departure cities, with options tailored to different cabin classes like First Class Suites and Premium Economy. Before cooking, chefs undergo a thorough hand-washing process and air shower to prevent contamination within the facility. Over a thousand workers handle up to 1,000 menus daily, starting meal preparation 24 to 36 hours before flights, with tasks divided into stations like salad, dessert, and hot kitchen sections.

  • How do Emirates flight attendants progress in their careers?

    Emirates flight attendants like Siti Nuraslin start in economy class and progress to first class, working an average of nine long-haul flights monthly lasting 6 to 16 hours each. They must maintain physical fitness, wear specific makeup, and adhere to strict grooming standards, including natural makeup, specific jewelry, and nail polish guidelines. First class attendants must know passenger preferences, have an expert understanding of the first-class menu, and communicate effectively across different backgrounds. Emirates cabin crew speak over 60 languages, with staff from 140 nationalities, and perform standard duties like safety checks, in-flight service, and post-flight cabin checks. Flight attendants receive a base pay of around $32,000 annually, free housing in Dubai, 30 vacation days, one free flight yearly, and discounted tickets for friends and family.

  • What is the role of TSA canine teams?

    TSA canine teams are deployed nationwide, with starting pay for handlers around $43,000 per year. Dogs are trained to use their natural sense of smell to find objects, starting with their favorite toy. Different breeds like Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers are trained due to their cognitive and olfactory abilities. Dogs are trained to detect explosive scents through repeated exercises and rewarded with toys. After 6-8 weeks of training, dogs are paired with handlers who must meet specific criteria. Handlers and dogs graduate as a team after 24-32 weeks of training and are deployed to mass transit sites across the US.

  • How do air traffic controllers manage flights at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport?

    Air traffic controllers at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport manage 909,000 flights yearly, communicating with pilots for safe landings and takeoffs within a five-mile radius and 4,000 feet above the airport. Controllers undergo rigorous training for up to five years, earning an average of $145,000 annually, with a focus on efficiency and safety in directing flights through takeoff and landing. They use specialized lingo and technology to ensure safe and efficient air traffic flow, sequencing planes for takeoff and landing, with a focus on minimal talking and maximum capacity.

  • How do airlines ensure cleanliness during flights?

    Airlines like Delta have implemented a thorough cleaning process, with cleaning time varying based on plane size. Flight attendants have changed routines to ensure cleanliness perception, offering passengers water, snacks, and hand sanitizer. Delta Airlines blocks middle seats and recirculates air every 2-6 minutes through HEPA filters. Workers use an EPA-approved disinfectant similar to Clorox to sanitize planes, killing pathogens including coronaviruses. Despite the impact of the pandemic on the airline industry, airlines are taking extra steps to ensure customer and employee safety, avoiding layoffs but implementing unpaid leave.

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Summary

00:00

Singapore Airlines Catering: Crafting In-Flight Excellence

  • Chefs in Singapore prepare meals for economy, business, and first-class passengers at Singapore Airlines' largest catering facility within Changi Airport.
  • SATs, the catering partner, develops hundreds of new menus annually with a dish taking 9 to 12 months to create, offering diverse cuisine types like Japanese, Chinese, Singaporean, and Western meals.
  • Menus vary based on departure cities, with options ranging from chicken and rice to smoked trout salad, tailored to different cabin classes like First Class Suites and Premium Economy.
  • Before cooking, chefs undergo a thorough hand-washing process and air shower to prevent contamination within the facility.
  • Over a thousand workers at SATs handle up to 1,000 menus daily, starting meal preparation 24 to 36 hours before flights, with tasks divided into stations like salad, dessert, and hot kitchen sections.
  • Meals are partially cooked to prevent overcooking during flight, with flight attendants finishing the cooking process using residual heat in aircraft ovens.
  • Batch cooking is prevalent, with chefs preparing hot food for different cabin classes, ensuring authenticity and food safety through precise cooking and cooling processes.
  • After cooking, meals are assembled into foil containers within 35-45 minutes, ensuring consistency and quality through photos provided to chefs and flight attendants for plating.
  • Newer aircraft models like the A350s, A380s, and 787s offer improved cabin conditions, pressurized at lower altitudes and higher humidity levels, enhancing passengers' taste experiences.
  • To ensure food quality during flights, chefs avoid dishes that don't travel well, focus on halfway cooking, and use ingredients like shoemaker juices and ginger to combat taste bud sensitivity changes in the air.

15:41

TSA Canine Teams: Explosive Detection Training Program

  • Bach and Gary trained for 16 weeks at the TSA canine training center in San Antonio, Texas.
  • The TSA National explosives detection canine program graduates over 300 dogs and 150 handlers annually.
  • TSA canine teams are deployed nationwide, with starting pay for handlers around $43,000 per year.
  • Dogs are trained to use their natural sense of smell to find objects, starting with their favorite toy.
  • Different breeds like Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers are trained due to their cognitive and olfactory abilities.
  • Dogs are trained to detect explosive scents through repeated exercises and rewarded with toys.
  • The program's roots date back to 1972, with the creation of the FAA explosives detection canine team.
  • Dogs are trained to detect various scents based on intelligence, with a focus on specific explosives.
  • After 6-8 weeks of training, dogs are paired with handlers who must meet specific criteria.
  • Handlers and dogs graduate as a team after 24-32 weeks of training and are deployed to mass transit sites across the US.

31:11

Emirates Flight Attendants: Duties, Requirements, Rewards

  • Emirates Airline operates over 180,000 flights annually, carrying around 60 million passengers, managed by 21,000 flight attendants and pursers.
  • Requirements for Emirates flight attendants include a minimum age of 21, a height of at least five foot two, fluency in English, and no visible tattoos while in uniform.
  • Flight attendants like Siti Nuraslin start in economy class and progress to first class, working an average of nine long-haul flights monthly lasting 6 to 16 hours each.
  • Attendants must maintain physical fitness, wear specific makeup, and adhere to strict grooming standards, including natural makeup, specific jewelry, and nail polish guidelines.
  • First class attendants like Siti must know passenger preferences, have an expert understanding of the first-class menu, and communicate effectively across different backgrounds.
  • Emirates cabin crew speak over 60 languages, with staff from 140 nationalities, and perform standard duties like safety checks, in-flight service, and post-flight cabin checks.
  • Emirates flight attendants receive a base pay of around $32,000 annually, free housing in Dubai, 30 vacation days, one free flight yearly, and discounted tickets for friends and family.
  • Air traffic controllers at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport manage 909,000 flights yearly, communicating with pilots for safe landings and takeoffs within a five-mile radius and 4,000 feet above the airport.
  • Controllers undergo rigorous training for up to five years, earning an average of $145,000 annually, with a focus on efficiency and safety in directing flights through takeoff and landing.
  • Controllers use specialized lingo and technology to ensure safe and efficient air traffic flow, sequencing planes for takeoff and landing, with a focus on minimal talking and maximum capacity.

45:47

"Airline Safety Measures Amid Pandemic Challenges"

  • Sanitizing a plane before a flight is crucial due to close quarters and high-risk transmission areas.
  • Workers use an EPA-approved disinfectant similar to Clorox to sanitize planes, killing pathogens including coronaviruses.
  • Delta Airlines implemented a thorough cleaning process in February, with cleaning time varying based on plane size.
  • Flight attendants have changed routines to ensure cleanliness perception, offering passengers water, snacks, and hand sanitizer.
  • Delta Airlines blocks middle seats and recirculates air every 2-6 minutes through HEPA filters.
  • The airline industry has been severely impacted by the pandemic, with a significant drop in passengers and flights.
  • Airlines like Delta are taking extra steps to ensure customer and employee safety, avoiding layoffs but implementing unpaid leave.
  • The airline industry faces a long and uncertain recovery due to the ongoing pandemic and fluctuating virus impacts.
  • Agricultural specialists like Ginger ensure confiscated food items are properly disposed of to protect against pests and diseases.
  • American Airlines' cargo operation in Dallas handles a massive amount of freight, including live animals, food, and PPE, with strict screening and handling procedures in place.

01:01:03

Airline Cargo Operations and Aircraft Repair Insights

  • Workers have about an hour to load and lock all the ulds and any free loaded cargo before the plane takes off.
  • Cargo off the aircraft is picked up by a runner and taken back to the cargo facility for breakdown and staging based on airway bill number.
  • In 2019, American Airlines cargo moved 122 million pounds of freight daily, but in 2020, due to the pandemic, it averaged only 101 million pounds daily.
  • With a 75% drop in passenger volume, American Airlines cut passenger routes, leading to more cargo connecting through Dallas from Asia or Europe to Latin America.
  • Despite losses, American Airlines plans to continue flying cargo-only flights until passenger traffic returns to normal.
  • Delta Technical Operations in Atlanta is the largest aircraft repair shop in North America, fixing nearly a thousand planes a year with various issues.
  • Engine repair is the most expensive section of Delta Tech Ops, with a hundred million dollars in new facilities in the last two years, focusing on engine disassembly, inspection, and maintenance to ensure reliability and safety.
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