Checking In
Sunny skies
By Tania Moffat Kim Kizney, cabin safety manager at Sunwing Airlines, has the greatest office in the world.
air, with a panoramic view of the world. Tat, combined with attending to passengers excited about their winter va- cation in the sun makes my day enjoyable and rewarding. “Even after two decades of flying with seven different air-
W
lines, my passion for my work remains as strong as it was for my first flight,” says Kim. Sunwing Airlines is a charter airline that flies passengers
to foreign countries, so the cabin safety manager’s role is somewhat different than flying domestic flights. “My day actually starts the night prior to a flight. As a cabin safety manager I am responsible for assigning positions to each of my cabin crew. I prepare a briefing on safety and service procedures to review with the flight attendants prior to the flight to verify their proficiency. Next, I prepare all docu- mentation necessary for the flight and destination. Each country has its own unique requirements that must be ad- hered to and any deviation can result in unnecessary delays or penalties,” explains Kim. On flight day she meets with the captain and first officer to ascertain if there is any additional information or instruc- tions relevant to the flight that she needs to know. She then reviews any corporate notices that may impact the flight and completes a briefing and Q&A with her cabin crew to en- sure everyone is up to speed. Prior to boarding she must ensure all safety equipment
64 • Winter 2015
orking for Sunwing Airlines is a pretty fly job according to cabin safety manager, Kim Kizney. “I have always told my friends that I have the greatest office, 35,000 feet in the
and catering supplies are on board. She is responsible for communicating with the ground agents to obtain a pas- senger manifest and any additional instructions regarding passengers with special needs before allowing the flight to board. Ten, before take-off, Kim completes a final safety check to ensure the cabin and passengers are secure. Once airborne, Kim supervises the cabin crew, assists the flight attendants and completes all corporate and govern- ment documents in preparation for arrival at the flight’s destination. After the passengers have deplaned and the aircraft has been groomed, she starts all over again for the return flight home. Kim works, on average, nine to 12 flights per month, jet- ting away to destinations such as Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Florida. Her flights can leave early in the morning, or during the afternoon, evening or night, depending on the destination. Each shift can last between 10 and 14 hours. “Since we don’t work a typical nine to five day, transition- ing between day flights and night flights on a regular basis can be difficult. Early morning flights also take their toll. Although a flight may not leave until 7 a.m., my wake-up time is 3 a.m., and my work day will continue until 8 p.m. that night. Flight delays or medical emergencies can add stress to a normal workday,” shares Kim. Yet Kim’s enthusiasm for her job remains high. “When I was six years old my parents took me on a trip to Hawaii. Tat was my first flight and it ignited my passion for fly- ing. At the age of 19, I seized my opportunity. A new char-
The Hub
Photo supplied.
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