(Last updated on: 28/10/2020)

When you decide to pursue a career as a member of Cabin Crew, there are a lot of different skills and things that you need to know to be successful. One of these skills is the ability to swim.

So, do you need to be an expert swimmer in order to become Cabin Crew? Not necessarily. You definitely need to be able to navigate the water, especially in emergency situations, but you can still fulfill your dream of becoming Cabin Crew with basic swimming skills.

Along with other tests and evaluations, you will need to show that you can in fact swim before joining an airline’s crew. Each airline has their own set of standards and expectations but the majority of airlines will test that you can swim a short distance, tread water, climb into a life raft and inflate a life jacket in the water.

Since each airline will be different in their expectations, it is important for you to do your research. Checking out the airline’s website will give you a better idea of what to expect when you go for your testing.

For some airlines, they have real ditching mock-ups that are used to test the prospective cabin crew’s abilities in the water. These ditching modules consist of a slide that ends up in the water where you will be required to demonstrate putting on a life jacket, swimming across a pool, getting into a lifeboat and possibly even rescuing a drowning passenger.

According to the British Airways Cabin Crew website, a member of their Cabin Crew must be able to swim 50 m or 55 yards. Similarly, to become a part of EasyJet Cabin Crew, you must be able to swim 25 m without any assistance and tread water for at least a minute.

If you are thinking about applying to an airline to become cabin crew, but aren’t very confident in the water, here are three tips to help get you prepared.

1. Get in the water.

Go to your local leisure centre as often as you can and get in the water. Float around, swim from one end to the other and get comfortable being in the water. The more comfortable you feel, the better you will be at the swim test.

2. Find out the requirements for the airline and practice them.

Investigate what the requirements are for the airlines you are applying to and make sure you practice the different aspects that you need to know. If you need to be able to swim a specific distance, get in the pool and swim that distance. Make sure you can do it within the time allotted if the test is timed.

3. Practice with the appropriate equipment.

For many airlines, you will need to be able to swim with either a life jacket or be able to at least put one on. Grab the proper equipment that will be used during the swim test and practice swimming with the items. The more prepared you feel, the more confident you will be during the test.

I would love to hear how you got yourself ready for a swimming test! Leave your story in the comments!

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