Look on the website of any airline or just Google around and look for information about flight attendant training. The emphasis is universally on lots of days off, travel to exotic places, and the like. There is no pitch about "help fight terrorists: or "rescue people from burning planes." By contrast, while the day-to-day existence of the average beat cop is pretty mundane, the attraction to the job and the emphasis of the training is the dangerous aspect.

Again, none of this is to denigrate the FAs. They aren't recruited or selected based on the emergency aspect of their duties. But, again, if that was really even a significant portion of their job, one would think the average FA would be a 6 foot, 185 pound man rather than a 5-5, 135 pound woman.

I live in a big East Coast city

Q: What % of officers are involved in a felony arrest in any given year

A: 3%

I'm not saying that being a police officer is the same as being an office clerk and if you misinterpreted my comment that way it's because I wasn't expansive enough, cyber slacking and all that. What I'm trying to convey is that there's no reason to denigrate the job training of FAs because they don't need to do CPR on every flight or alert the FAA to arrest abusive passengers.

Are they first responders,no, they're not waitresses either. Especially the guy ones. You deserve to get coffee spilled on you on your next flight though.

That's pretty much true of supervisors who don't go out in the field. Neither the proposition or the conclusion are true of patrolmen.

The idea that FAs are "first responders" or "emergency personnel" is a post-911 fiction. Indeed, if it were true, the airlines would be quite derelict in hiring the obese, the old, and tiny women as the modal worker and dressing them in skirts and heels. If their main job is to deal with emergencies, then we should be hiring the same kind of people we employ as soldiers and cops. We don't for a reason: Their main job is passing out snacks.

And the waitresses were the targets?

'I would note that their jobs are virtually the same on a day-to-day basis:
'However, only a few flights ever require an emergency response. On most flights, attendants follow the same routine.'

On most days police officers shuffle papers, take phone calls and look at computers. Few are ever invovled in emergency situations. So their job is essentially the same as an office clerk.

Restaurants are probably as likely to face a terrorist attack as airplanes, if not more so. See, for example, Car bomb hits Karachi restaurant.

Moreover, while I don't deny that FAs have somewhat more training and theoretical responsibility than restaurant servers, I would note that their jobs are virtually the same on a day-to-day basis:

Career: Flight Attendants

Flight attendants keep airline passengers safe and comfortable.

The main job of flight attendants is to keep passengers safe and evacuate them in an emergency. They receive special training for this part of their job. However, only a few flights ever require an emergency response. On most flights, attendants follow the same routine. Before each trip, the captain informs them about the weather and any special passenger needs. Attendants greet passengers, verify tickets, and help passengers locate their assigned seats. They also help passengers store their luggage in the overhead bins. In addition, attendants answer passengers' questions about the flight and the airplane. Before the plane takes off, attendants demonstrate how to use safety equipment. They also check that passengers are seat-belted and luggage is properly stowed.

During the flight, attendants serve beverages and meals. They also operate movie and music systems. Attendants collect money for special beverages and headsets. Flight attendants help passengers to be as comfortable as possible. They distribute reading materials, blankets, and pillows. After the flight, attendants help passengers leave the airplane. They keep flight records and write down any problems that occurred during the flight. On smaller airlines, flight attendants may clean the passenger cabin.

Occasionally attendants give first aid to passengers who become ill. So that they are prepared for these situations, attendants keep first aid kits stocked. They also make sure other emergency equipment is in working order."

And it's not like the flight crews disabled the hijackers on 9/11.

'People get shot at bars and restaurants on an all-too-regular basis.'

Having to do with what? Like I said call me when the next terrorist plot involves hijacking the corner diner. I'm sure wearing a short skirt serving shots at the local blood bucket has it's risks but unless you're the owner or the bouncer I don't think it's part of the job to intervene.

None that I know of are "SHARP"

And, sure, flight attendants spent three minutes demonstrating how to put on a seatbelt and an oxygen mask--although some airlines now just show a video instead. Commercial airplanes almost never crash or catch fire. Face it, FAs' main job is to hand out snacks.

And how is that "condescending"? What's wrong with being a waitress?

Tell me the next time a terrorist hijacks the corner diner and cuts a few waitresses throats. Also tell me the next time the server at the Outback demonstrates and assists on how to use safety equipment or escorts you to the emergency exit in case of a fire. Could you pssibly be more condescending?

Flight attendants are, when it comes down to it, waitresses. We don't ban people from entering bars and restaurants with scissors.

Oh, wait...

A new plan by the Transportation Security Administration would allow airline passengers to bring sci

Maybe it's from the whole throat slitting thing.