''COME fly with me'' sang legendary crooner Frank Sinatra many moons
ago and everyone duly obliged.
Saudi Arabian Airlines extended an identical invitation in Scotland
recently when they embarked on a recruitment sortie, if that's the
correct aviation parlance.
It is the first time that the airline, which operates worldwide, has
ventured north of the border when seeking to fill key posts. Word is,
that it won't be the last either.
Having previously recruited flight attendants, or stewardesses as they
are more widely known, in Ireland and England, the airline, which next
year celebrates its 50th anniversary, placed employment advertisements
in several Scottish newspapers.
The result was nearly 800 applications received from all corners of
the country, and from which 230 females were eventually shortlisted.
Following interviews in Glasgow, the numbers were reduced further,
eventually arriving at the final 35.
Last week, the girls left Scotland for the Saudi Arabian capital city
of Jeddah, where they will now undergo an intensive six-week course to
gain their licences and become qualified flight attendants.
The first two weeks of the course will involve aviation safety
training. They will then spend the remainder concentrating on airline
presentation and practicising the other duties which go with the job.
Having qualified, the girls will embark on a three-month probationary
flight assessment period, involving domestic flights and latterly
working on the international routes to Europe, America, Singapore and
Bangkok.
The airline has a total cabin crew compliment of nearly 5,000, the
majority of staff coming from Europe. They receive a starting salary of
#10,000, tax-free, of course, plus other perks such as free
accommodation.
Mr David Hunter, Saudi Arabian Airlines manager for Scotland,
confirmed that the quality of the recruits north of the border had
greatly impressed the airline.
He said: ''In some ways it was a stab in the dark as the airline had
never recruited staff from Scotland before, although there was no
particular reason for this.
''To be honest we expected a good response although the final numbers,
approaching 800 applications, was remarkable. It was a hard task
whittling down the applications to reach a shortlist of 90 girls.
''When it came to the actual interviewing stage, we were stunned by
the quality and attitude of the girls. I think everyone involved in the
recruitment was astounded.
''The Scots girls all came across as being very level-headed,'' Mr
Hunter continued, ''Their educational qualifications were also far and
above other parts of the country.
''We normally look for a minimum of five 'O' grades. But the vast
majority of the applicants we had from Scotland were offering 'H' grades
and, in some cases, degrees and HNC qualifications.''
Such were the high standards, in fact, that the airline is likely to
repeat the exercise later in the year. ''In the circumstances, it would
be foolish to ignore the quality of the applicants available in
Scotland,'' he added.
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