GeneralAviator From United States of America, joined Aug 2010, 41 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1213 times:
I read an interesting article in Airliner World magazine. According to the article all Hong Kong Airlines flight attendants are now fully Wing Chun trained. The training is required for cabincrew. They have to complete a three hour course before their first flight (and probably continue the training after that). Aparently Wing Chun incorperates close quarters techniques that are desirable for use in small spaces like on an airplane. According to the president of the company the training has physical, mental, and safety benifits. The article is titled "Calmer Cabins" and the author states that Wing Chun is intended to promote inner balance and core strength. The program has become so popular that the training is now offered to all of the internal staff of Hong Kong airlines.
Source: Airliner World Magazine, June 2012 issue, Page 22.
I think this is a great idea. Get paid to stay in shape and be prepared to defend yourself and others. If word got out that cabin crew were proficient in martial arts, it might help deter some people from making bad choices.
m11stephen From United States of America, joined Aug 2008, 1206 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1182 times:
Training F/As in self defense is a good idea IF they are given an adequate and appropriate amount of training. Unfortunately, three hours isn't going to do jack during a serious disruptive passenger or terrorist attack and could make matters worse. Able bodied passengers are a flight attendants best recourse during a severe disruptive passenger or terrorist event and it is important that they utilize them, not just rely on their own, weak self defense skills.
My opinions, statements, etc. are my own and do not have any association with those of any employer.
Mastropiero From Spain, joined Dec 2005, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 892 times:
Quoting m11stephen (Reply 1): IF they are given an adequate and appropriate amount of training. Unfortunately, three hours isn't going to do jack during a serious disruptive passenger or terrorist attack and could make matters worse.
You are absolutely right. While I do think it could improve safety, three hours is absolutely ridiculous. I had Wing Tsun training for more than a year and it is a fantastic selfe defence method. Depending on how serious you train, after one year you might be able to hold your own against a seriously determined passenger. But three hours will not do it, it would only make matters worse, actually. One could get seriously confused by the things he´s been taught and react even worse than without any training at all.
GeneralAviator From United States of America, joined Aug 2010, 41 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 832 times:
Quoting Mastropiero (Reply 2): While I do think it could improve safety, three hours is absolutely ridiculous.
While the article doesn't specify, it looks like the training included a minimum of three hours before the first flight for new employees. It was a short article and did not specify, but perhaps the training is continuous with a minimum of three hours before the first flight for a new employee. If the training were to be continuous, it would be benificial to both the employees and the passengers they serve. I just think it would be cool to get paid to stay in shape and have more tools in your belt to deal with challenges that can present themselves. Also if it were to be a comprehensive training program, it could potentially keep employees in better health overall, which in some cases might lead to lower health insurance rates if insurance companies (when applicable) recognize the company's commitment to fitness.
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