Growing together - Kapers

10
Anita Frei
Claudia Gander Bättig
Experiences of two
M/Cs cross-trained to ARJ
Dear colleagues
Let us introduce ourselves:
My name is Anja Frei and I am one of the 90
M/Cs who were downgraded and cross-trained
to ARJ last October.
Before I am going to share some of my experiences
of the ARJ with you I would like to
explain some personal matters:
When the cutting down of the flying corps
became evident last summer we received the
notice letter of change for our M/C duty and
at the same time we were informed about the
conversion training to ARJ which was planned
to follow. I did not expect everything to
proceed so quickly. Although I had been able
to learn about the Crossair philosophy and
culture for the previous two years and although
I had the greatest respect and awe for
the former Crossair F/As (for me the S/Cs
were role models in how they made the announcements
by heart standing in the cabin) I
was emotionally shaken. I had my doubts,
too, regarding the different culture and I was
uncertain about our colleagues’ reaction in
cabin and cockpit.
Now, there were exactly two possibilities: I
would either keep my insignia or I would
have to look for a new challenge. Very soon I
was certain that giving up my M/C duty was
out of question. In other words I started to
like the idea of cross training to ARJ.
My name is Claudia Gander and I belong to
the same “group” as Anja. I am pleased to let
you know about my personal thoughts with
which I dealt last October.
I was in doubt, talked to lots of colleagues.
Soon it became clear for me that I wanted to
keep my M/C duty even if this meant only on
SH…. M/C is and remains to be my favourite
job.
Emotions were high: On the one hand side I
remembered that I used to like to fly with
Crossair as PAD – for the delightful service,
small but nice – and I had gained a lot of
valuable experiences with F/As from the continental
fleet in my work as expert for the
professional exam.
On the other hand there was the unknown
and the anger of not being able to choose.
I originated at the international Swissair with
so much know-how and reputation. In this
instance I defined once more as very ex-
Swissair – the same thing must have happened
to our Crossair colleagues. Shortly before
the training course I flew to Frankfurt and
had a closer look at my new A/C from the
inside. It seemed that I was never going to get
used to those strange doors and the narrow
galleys. But I experienced a very professional
flight. OK, I encouraged myself: “Go for it….
But then do it right!”
So we ended up in the transition course ARJ
at the beginning of October.
We started the morning very confidently. But
as it happens so often, reality appeared to be
tougher than theory.
In this first course we tackled many problems
which we presented to our superiors and
received plenty of support from everywhere.
This encouraged us to continue.
The introduction flights were smooth. We
were given real cordiality and warm welcome
by our colleagues. Everyone tried – and this
with success – to approach one another with
respect. We found no reasons for our sorrows
and worries. Soon we were excited about the
pleasant rotations – Nice, Prague, Berlin
night stops - …
Now, where the aircraft was concerned we got
to know a different philosophy than on the
Airbus:
(Statement of Dep. Fleet Chief ARJ Andreas
Siegenthaler: We must not forget, that AVRO is a
completely different aircraft than Airbus. It was
originally designed as a freight aircraft that served
“soft-field runways” and managed extremely
steep approaches. This project was developed for
commercial aviation and AVRO was then developed
as regional jet (RJ) suitable for short runways
with very steep approaches (e.g. Berne,
London City) with a high efficiency (get many pax
in and out). It is very successfully used worldwide.
For reasons of technical aspects such an
aircraft cannot be handled in always the same
way like very other plane. Therefore there might
be different procedures. But this is what makes it
unique and very interesting. I suggest that every
F/A takes the opportunity to experience an
approach to London City Airport on a cockpitjump
seat.)