Blog-TOWER OF BABEL

I have a question, “When corporate flight attendants go to retreat, how much stuff are we going to bring with us?”

I just did a big move - my past address, I lived there for 6 years, I am a pack rat. I had 7 flight safety books, and general operating manuals for 8 companies. I had all my old diplomas, all my old NBAA stuff, swag acquired from days gone by from flight attendant conventions, 17 sets of wings, a whole slew of catering menus , some that have closed their doors, uniforms from air force one, my flight suit, combat jump boots. Am i opening up a museum? feels like it. Why do we hang on the aviation memorabilia? Does each and everything means something sentimental? beats me. 

But we save it all until we get to the gates of heaven or hell, where ever you make that emergency landing.

So, I recently flew on a Challenger 604 out of Bedford MA. This aircraft flies 450 hours of charter and 150 hour part 91. This aircraft flies without a flight attendant for 91 trips so I showed up 2 hours prior to clear the aircraft of debris for an 8 passenger trip to Malaga, Spain.

I removed 23 baskets of various sizes, 15 silver trays, 43 small ramekins’, 40 plastic ware rollups from caterers, 30 sugar packets, 24 bottles of diet raspberry Snapple, 10 small cans of Clamato-juice (do they still sell that? and if so, where?), 13 bottles of Red Stripe Beer for Jamaica, 4 large bags of Beef Jerky (BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED THAT MUCH SALT), 12 cans of Mountain Dew, 10 waters with Arabic writing, 25 little jams, 17 extra mayonnaise. You get the drift.

Unless my passengers are going to eat some really weird condiments, there is no need for all of this. It becomes a hindrance, and sometimes a safety hazard. Much of what I mentioned was near safety equipment. It is not the pilots fault; it is just a general "gunk of stock" from many cabin crews, getting on and off. If the 91 owner does not use this stuff, it would be best to take it off and put it in the hangar. Trying to work around all this excess can only slow down a meal service and hinder your sanity and need for order.