WEBVTT Kind: captions; Language: en 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:19.000 The airplane, symbol of our mastery of the skies, is spanning oceans and 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:24.000 continents in ever-dwindling hours, bringing new hope to the people of the world, 00:00:24.001 --> 00:00:31.001 new horizons to industry, and new careers to youth. For air transportation 00:00:31.001 --> 00:00:35.001 has proved itself a vital factor in the social and economic life of modern 00:00:35.001 --> 00:00:40.001 civilization. It is a rapidly expanding industry embracing many trades and 00:00:40.001 --> 00:00:46.001 professions, an industry employing thousands of persons. For example, to keep 00:00:46.001 --> 00:00:52.001 each airliner in the air today, over 100 workers are needed on the ground. Many 00:00:52.001 --> 00:00:54.001 of these are engaged in office work. 00:00:54.001 --> 00:01:00.000 This number, the reservations department, comprises a specialized group. It is 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.000 here that flight schedules, rates, reservations, and related subjects are 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:09.001 communicated directly to the public by telephone. The work is interesting but 00:01:09.001 --> 00:01:15.001 requires tact, salesability, and a pleasant, well-modulated voice. Another 00:01:15.001 --> 00:01:22.001 reservations job is at the ticket counter. Here, however, the duties include the 00:01:22.001 --> 00:01:27.001 direct personal contact with the public. As in many departments, the work is 00:01:27.001 --> 00:01:32.001 handled in ship, for around-the-clock service characterizes the industry. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:41.000 The welfare of the passenger is of 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:46.000 paramount importance. To care for his needs, men known as transportation agents 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:53.000 are employed. Well often gained their experience in previous 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:58.000 jobs such as cargo agents, reservations representative, or similar work. 00:02:01.001 --> 00:02:06.000 Through on-the-job training, they learn how to prepare flight movement reports 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:10.000 and coordinate the dispatching of passengers, mail, baggage, and freight. 00:02:11.001 --> 00:02:15.001 Transportation agents also contribute to the safety of the airline operations by 00:02:15.001 --> 00:02:20.001 determining the proper weight distribution of cargo. The operation of an airline 00:02:20.001 --> 00:02:25.001 requires countless messages in order to coordinate all departments. This is 00:02:25.001 --> 00:02:31.001 generally done by teletype and radio. Many of the teletypists are women, a large 00:02:31.001 --> 00:02:36.001 number of whom obtain their training in commercial schools. Accuracy and speed, 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:42.000 as well as the knowledge of airline codes, is necessary. Although important, 00:02:42.001 --> 00:02:46.000 their work does not require the extensive training demanded of the radio 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:52.000 operator. In addition to operating, he must be able to maintain and repair radio 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:57.000 and telephonic equipment. He must hold a radio telephone second-class license or 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:01.001 better issued by the Federal Communications Commission. The radio operator keeps 00:03:01.001 --> 00:03:06.000 in close touch with planes in flight, advising them on such things as operational 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:11.001 details and weather conditions. Using weather balloons and various recording 00:03:11.001 --> 00:03:16.001 devices, the United States Weather Bureau gathers nationwide climatic information 00:03:16.001 --> 00:03:22.000 and sends it via teletype to airlines throughout the country. The information is 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:27.000 then charted, analyzed, and interpreted into weather forecasts by the airline's 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:32.000 meteorological departments. This work requires specialized college training and 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:38.001 unusual accuracy and judgments. But the key figure in all flight operations is 00:03:38.001 --> 00:03:42.000 the flight superintendent. He is the man who decides whether 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.001 the planes will fly or not. 00:03:44.001 --> 00:03:49.001 He releases all planes on his division, follows their progress in the air, and 00:03:49.001 --> 00:03:55.000 keeps the captains or pilots advised of conditions affecting their flight. The 00:03:55.000 --> 00:04:01.000 flight superintendent, together with the crew, is in detail. This exacting work 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:06.000 calls for a pilot who is also a qualified dispatcher certificated by the Civil 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:11.000 Aeronautics Authority. In addition, he must have an accurate knowledge of 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:17.000 communication facilities. His responsibility is great, for he coordinates all 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:23.000 flight operations to achieve these objectives, safe, swift, and dependable air 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.000 transportation. But the safety of operations also depends upon the proper 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:32.000 maintenance of planes. For this reason, many skilled mechanics must be employed. 00:04:32.001 --> 00:04:37.001 Their work is highly specialized, and those who direct or supervise such work 00:04:37.001 --> 00:04:42.000 must hold a federal government certificate and rating, depending upon the type of 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:46.001 work they do. For example, mechanics qualified to supervise work on general 00:04:46.001 --> 00:04:51.000 maintenance, including dismantling, welding, or fabricating, must hold what is 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:57.001 called an A, or aircraft certificate. Others who supervise and approve engine 00:04:57.001 --> 00:05:02.001 work only, are required by the Civil Aeronautics Authority to hold an E, or 00:05:02.001 --> 00:05:07.001 engine certificate. But no matter what their chosen field may be, regular 00:05:07.001 --> 00:05:13.000 apprenticeship courses or equivalent technical schooling is required. However, 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:17.000 planes need more than mechanical attention, for they must also be washed, 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:22.000 cleaned, and polished. This general utility work calls for no special training, 00:05:22.001 --> 00:05:28.000 and is done by fleet service helpers. Thus, only through regular and thorough 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:31.001 maintenance can the airlines provide the service and schedules 00:05:31.001 --> 00:05:33.001 upon which the passengers depend. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:39.001 The arrival and departure of planes is regulated by dispatchers in the control 00:05:39.001 --> 00:05:45.000 tower. These men serve as traffic coordinators, keeping congestion at the field 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:50.000 to a minimum. They are employed by the federal or local government, and must hold 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:55.001 a certificate which signifies their knowledge of air traffic regulations. For 00:05:55.001 --> 00:06:00.000 those young men who enjoy working out of doors in all kinds of weather, there are 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.001 opportunities as ground crew members. Fast work in refueling and servicing of 00:06:04.001 --> 00:06:10.000 planes is required. Ground crewmen, as well as cargo handlers, need little 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:15.001 training, but should be able to maintain simple records. Cargo handlers must know 00:06:15.001 --> 00:06:20.001 how to load cargo properly, according to its destination. In other words, what 00:06:20.001 --> 00:06:27.000 comes out first should be loaded last. Yes, there are many workers essential to 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:32.000 air transportation, but throughout this number, the flying crew is perhaps the 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:37.000 most colorful group of all. An important and familiar part of this crew is the 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:43.000 smiling hostess, or stewardess, who anticipates the needs of every passenger. A 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:48.001 hostess must be a person of charm, as well as capability. To qualify on most 00:06:48.001 --> 00:06:55.000 airlines, she must be healthy, single, and between the ages of 21 and 28. She 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:59.001 must be between 5 feet 2 and 5 feet 6 inches in height, and of normal weight. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.001 Girls who are accepted receive special training in the rudiments of flight 00:07:04.001 --> 00:07:11.000 regulations, air routes, meteorology, and aeronautics. To be eligible, at least 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:15.000 one year of college or three years of equivalent business experience is 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:20.000 necessary. A knowledge of foreign languages is becoming a definite asset with 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:27.000 increasing worldwide air routes. When the passengers are aboard, the ground 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:34.001 crewmen clear away all service equipment in preparation for the takeoff. One by 00:07:34.001 --> 00:07:39.000 one, the huge engines roar into action as another giant of the air prepares to 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:46.000 thunder down the runway. Many workers in all kinds of jobs have coordinated their 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:58.000 efforts to make this flight possible, but without the skill and intent but a 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:03.001 small number of all airline employees. Their qualifications are high. Perfect 00:08:03.001 --> 00:08:08.000 health is essential. They must have hundreds of hours in the air and an intimate 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:13.000 knowledge of aeronautics and related subjects. The competition for this work is 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:18.000 extremely keen, and only those with unusual ability and experience can expect to 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:24.000 find employment. The majority of job opportunities are to be found in airline 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:29.000 passenger service. However, freight and air express services are expanding 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:34.000 rapidly to meet an increasing demand for swift transport of medicines, perishable 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.000 foods, furniture, and hundreds of other products. And in the future, this branch 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:43.001 of air transportation will offer employment possibilities for pilots as well as 00:08:43.001 --> 00:08:49.000 many others. But opportunities in air transportation are not restricted to large 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:54.000 airline organizations. Many small companies and individuals maintain private 00:08:54.000 --> 00:09:00.000 planes, providing transportation or feeder service between local points. In work 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:05.001 such as this, there are jobs for pilots, field managers and airport engineers, 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:20.000 mechanics and helpers, CAA control them. But the need of training and education 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.001 for the better positions and higher paying jobs cannot be overemphasized. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:29.001 Colleges and specialized schools throughout the country maintain facilities for 00:09:29.001 --> 00:09:34.000 teaching different phases of air transportation. The armed forces offer 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:38.001 exceptional opportunities for young men to acquire skill and experience in many 00:09:38.001 --> 00:09:45.000 aviation jobs. Technical books, trade magazines, and government publications 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.000 provide current information and trends in air transportation. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:54.000 And airlines from coast to coast maintain training programs for all types of work 00:09:54.000 --> 00:10:00.000 vital to this expanding industry. But obtaining employment will not be easy. 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:05.000 Competition for jobs is great, and the total number employed is comparatively 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:11.000 small. However, the industry makes up for this by the variety of jobs it offers. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:17.000 Individual qualifications are a deciding factor. And if you want to learn and 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:22.001 earn your living in a youthful and romantic industry, air transportation presents 00:10:22.001 --> 00:10:27.000 a challenge and an opportunity for your life work.