Pan Am Graduates First Flight Attendants
On April 28, 1999 Pan American Airways Corporation reached another milestone in its effort to revitalize the historic airline with the graduation of its first class of new flight attendants, all of whom were trained at Pan Am’s Portsmouth, New Hampshire headquarters. Among the graduating class of thirteen women and men, most of whom are from the local area, were several former employees of other airlines, and one student with a unique background.
At a time in life when many others find themselves in the midst of a less than active retirement, former Portsmouth mayor Eileen Foley showed no signs of slowing down as she successfully completed the classroom work, first-aid, CPR and aircraft emergency training. Foley and her classmates will now begin a brief period of on-the-job training by flying with veteran in-flight personnel in order to obtain their required initial operating experience.
Pan Am’s Director of In-Flight Personnel, Jean Jensen, noted that “we are very pleased with the quality of the people who want to join our team and, while not everybody ultimately gets their wings, those that do exemplify the best that Pan Am and New England have to offer.” Pan Am President Dave Fink, speaking at the graduation ceremony, reminded those in attendance of his comments last December, at the dedication of Pan Am’s maintenance facility, that “the quality of the available workforce is one of the major reasons why the airline has relocated to New Hampshire.”
A second class of flight attendants has also since completed the required training under the direction of Pan Am course instructors Harriet Hameetman and George McPeek.
Article by John Nadolny