In-Flight Catering vs Onboard Meal Preparation

In-Flight Catering vs. Onboard Meal Preparation

Mike Linder, of Silver Lining In-Flight Catering Service, breaks it down and explains what CFA’s need to know!

When It Comes To Private Aviation Which Is Best?

If you are a Corporate Flight Attendant in Private Aviation you know how important good food service is, but you also worry about convenience and prep. Let’s face it, as CFA’s we have our work cut out for us onboard. Remind yourself that this is a private charter service, and the client is paying, so give them what they’re paying for! A top rated five star experience where the food isn’t a questionable hit, it’s a definite hit!

Silver Lining’s Mitch Amsterdam - Master Chef and Founder along with Mike Linder - Owner and CEO

Let’s be honest, many times the food is the showcase for guests aboard private aircraft charters. Clients want the best! That means certified chef quality prepared meals, not dishes from your favorite recipes. In fact, not even a recreated recipe you’ve mastered. It’s not to say that you aren’t a good cook. It’s to say, are you a chef? Have you mastered the art of cooking? Are you trained in food safety handling and best practices, and more importantly the safety hazards and restraints of preparing meals onboard an aircraft? I know there are CFA’s with many skills and those who are trained chefs, but unless that is you, think twice about trying to prepare your own meals onboard, and call an In-Flight catering service like Silver Lining. Again, the client is paying for the finest premier service, so why take the chance that your onboard creation goes wrong and that your guests aren’t satisfied. This isn’t a sales pitch for Silver Lining, or VVIP International, so why are we telling you this? We want to share what we’ve learned with other Corporate Flight Attendants who want to learn and will find what we have to share useful. For this purpose we seek advice from accomplished professionals who are current in the industry, like Mike Linder. Mike, who set the bar for Aviation Concierge Service, is highly qualified and accomplished in aviation hospitality.

Mike is a preferred partner of VVIP, and he had no objection to sharing what he thinks is most important for a CFA to know about In-Flight catering and why it’s preferred. When Mike defined the most important aspects of using an In-Flight catering service he broke it down to two main points, food safety and packaging.

These are Mike’s own words:

“Most important points, In-Flight caterers understand the proper packaging that fits best on an aircraft and understand the constraints of storage. Additionally, we understand food safety, how and what food travels best, and how it should taste and look when being presented on an aircraft.”

Mike talks about the dangers of preparing meals onboard for guests. Here’s what he had to say:

“How food is handled and prepared is extremely important to food safety. Working within small areas like the galley does not allow you enough room to properly wash, rinse and sanitize foods that require this. Therefore there is a lot of room for error, and/or cross contamination. As an In-Flight catering service our job is to provide clean, properly handled food to ensure you, your crew, and passengers a safe flight with a great experience.”

Our job as CFA’s is to provide first class service and hospitality, with the primary focus being our guests and their safety. With safety being top priority, CFA’s and guests benefit alike from the use of In-Flight catering. Not only do you ensure the quality of food and experience to your guests, but you also ensure that the majority of your time onboard is spent servicing clients directly and ensuring their safety and needs are met at all times. Time spent in the galley is time away from giving guests the attention they deserve, and if you read between the lines that’s also less time for CFA’s to cover all the other little details that consume so much time, but are essential to top rated five star service.

The Advantages of In-Flight Catering:

“You and your crew can focus on the safety of your passengers, arriving, departing, and In-Flight, while we focus on preparing and presenting the food for a 100% successful flight.” ~ Mike Linder, Silver Lining In-Flight Catering Service

Mike points out one very important fact and feature of In-Flight catering services. They offer 24 hour service, with just about anything available a client could possibly request. They do the work so CFA’s don’t have to and it’s certain to meet the standards. Mike also said the following with regard to the benefit of using In-Flight catering services and how it provides CFA’s with the most convenient option: “We are able to provide you with well presented, well prepared, and properly packaged food that you can either present as is or reheat and/or replate. We also have just about anything requested at our fingertips in our kitchen, or nearby. We have access to it most likely faster and safer than you do, and we have the space to prepare, which eliminates work and a mess onboard.” Considering the advice given from an expert in the field, the VVIP International professional opinion is: never question it or leave it to chance, go with In-Flight catering! Why Risk it?

Pro Tips:

1. Do your research on the catering company where you’re currently seeking services. Domestically or Internationally (this applies to both).

2. If there is a well known catering company that hasn’t let you down, be sure to contact them or other experienced cfa’s who have worked in the area (of your trip) for advice on who is the go to caterer. “Want to be sure not to be disappointed, and or most importantly disappoint your clients.”

3. Send over complete and detailed descriptions of what you’re looking for. Food & packaging.

4. Make sure the time and tail number is listed in BOLD. (If a new company have it arrive earlier just in case).

5. If you can ultimately cannot get a caterer be sure to have back up vendors you can use in the area.

6. Food prep on the aircraft should be limited. Our position is to provide overall excellent service not cook onboard the aircraft.

7. Always have a back up plan and in most cases another plan just for that plan!

Pounding The Pavement, What Today’s CFA’s Need to Know!

Finding a job as a Corporate Flight Attendant isn’t always easy. Some are lucky enough to get hired the first time around, while others unfortunately go through the grueling process of “pounding the pavement”. The key to the hunt is to stay positive and persistent. Don’t read that and say it’s easier said than done. Being negative never gets anyone anywhere. If becoming a Corporate Flight Attendant is the job you want, then it’s only up to you to get it!

We speak for many Corporate Flight Attendants when we say that the Private Aviation Industry is extremely competitive, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for you. VVIP spoke to CFA’s who are either currently working in the industry or actively seeking employment, and they all agreed with two things, that it wasn’t easy, but that it was really worth it. After all, being a Corporate Flight Attendant can offer many opportunities, not to mention it can be a traveler’s dream come true. 

It’s true, the job can come with perks, but getting the job “is no walk in the park”. VVIP wanted to share what we learned from some of the Corporate Flight Attendants we spoke to, and Jazmin Marrero agreed to share some of her experience looking for work, and what she thinks is important for future CFA’s to know. Here’s what Jazmin had to say:

“It is a whole different world and a very small one at that! You have to be persistent and build your network...Let me say this, it doesn’t matter what training you go to, especially coming into aviation with no experience. This is a very competitive industry. So it is not Easy!!! If you're lucky to land a contract trip, that’s your chance to do your best & possibly land a full-time job. What has worked for me is being persistent, but the best way to get in is being referred in by your network.”

We also spoke to Kaelyn DaCosta who said:

“My experience job searching was made a lot easier because I did VVIP. Two months out of my training Lauren (CEO of VVIP) posted in our group forum a bunch of job openings and I applied to them right away. Soon after I was chosen for an interview with a part 135 company and I got the job! Since then I’ve been able to work contract trips and add to my resume.”

Kaelyn reminds us of something very important when searching in today’s job market. Join groups! Social media in this instance can be your friend. Use it to network. As Kaelyn mentioned she used The VVIP group forum where jobs are posted almost daily. Give it a try!

The one thing we think all future and prospective Corporate Flight Attendants should keep in mind is that in corporate aviation the most important thing is to find work in the first place, and that landing a contract job doesn’t always happen right away. We think you should always be yourself, and find ways to make yourself stand out in the crowd. Being a Corporate Flight Attendant takes a lot of stamina, and it isn’t a job for people who give up easily. You’ll have to put in some time and effort, but to help guide you in the right direction here are a few tips we found that may help you get started:

10 Strategies for Job Hunting in Competitive Industries

1. Get relevant work experience

2. Enhance your education

3. Network

4. Customize your resume for each job

5. Build a professional online profile

6. Obtain leadership skills

7. Stay current with industry trends

8. Have good references

9. Volunteer for work experience

10.  Acquire marketable skills, try learning a foreign language.

Sometimes the smallest opportunities to work can arise, a call to help prep and stock the aircraft, or a random call to cover for a flight. Remember every opportunity in this industry is an opportunity and you should never turn one away. It’s a chance to be considered for an open position when one becomes available, and at the least it’s the chance to gain relevant work experience. Take every job you can no matter how small and show them what you’re made of!

We know that sometimes the whole process of job hunting can get you down. You're not alone. We’ve all experienced rough times when we had to take on part time jobs to make ends meet. Times when we applied and were never called, or were called and then rejected. Rejection is never easy. It can even make you feel like you aren’t good enough, or don’t have what it takes. It is undeniably a tough hurdle to get over. Here’s when we say stay positive, and stay focused! 

If you find yourself feeling discouraged it’s time to take a step back and think of your future. Think of the future you planned for yourself and how far you are willing to go to make that dream come to fruition. Ask yourself, did I do my best? Did I try as hard as I could? Am I giving up? If you're finding yourself going through a particularly rough time here are a few things we thought you should consider that we at VVIP have found helpful.

• Create a schedule and set some boundaries for your job search. Structure helps to give our lives a sense of control, which will keep you motivated and keep you thinking positive.

• Stay organized. Create a step by step plan and break down your job search into manageable tasks. Setting up informational interviews, finding contact information, or drafting emails can all be done in steps. Without the chaos you can avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Take time off. You need to take time to relax and get some physical rest. You can’t feel motivated when you're exhausted. 

• Make sure you have some emotional support. We all need someone to talk to who can remind us of our value and talk us through things.

• Know what triggers stress for you. If you can figure out what sets you off you can find more positive ways to cope.

We believe in Corporate Flight Attendants, and we believe in the job. We think the job is attainable, but we don’t think it’s easy, and neither should you. If you think it’s a job where you won’t have to work hard you are sadly mistaken. The hard work starts right away from the time you begin job searching, but the minute you do find a job the benefits come right away for those who like the work they do. If you’re lucky enough to get a job your first time around, congratulations! If you’re still looking we wish you the best of luck and hope you don’t give up! 

No matter what job you do, it’s never easy leaving your children

Real Stories From VVIP Corporate Flight Attendant Moms: Don’t think it can’t be done! 

No matter what job you do, it’s never easy leaving your children. As a Corporate Flight Attendant there has been many times when I personally felt it was difficult, and when I was overwhelmed it felt impossible! As a parent, not everyday is easy. If you are a working mother you know first hand how challenging it can be. Juggling baseball practice and other extracurricular activities prove hard enough, let alone juggling birthdays, holidays, and social events. I personally have watched many women managing families and careers and secretly hoped that would be me, that I could be that woman one day seamlessly living as both mother and working woman. Eventually I realized, I was that woman, perhaps not living her life so seamlessly but I was living life happily, and fulfilled! 

There are moments when you question yourself and your choices, and there are moments when you feel scared and uncertain. Everyday that goes by you convince yourself that what you are doing is for the overall benefit of your family, and every ounce of your being hopes that your sacrifice isn’t in vain. I know now that it isn’t. In fact I think my family and my children are even better off because I work and because I work as a Corporate Flight Attendant. 

Our lives are different, of course! They are our own. First thing I had to do was to remind myself I wanted to march to the beat of my own drum. Second, that I needed to fulfill my own dreams in order to be an example to my children and show them that their dreams are important, that they matter, and that they can achieve them no matter how difficult it may seem. With those two things in mind I continued to strive everyday and haven’t stopped since. I am successfully raising two children, a son who is 14, and a daughter that is 5 months. 

If becoming a Corporate Flight Attendant is your dream, and so is having a family I am here to tell you that you can do both and be happy. Many people would criticize that statement and say, “You’re glamorizing it”, or “You’re making it look easier than it is without sharing the cold, hard ugly truths. Well, here are some of those truths. I spoke to other Corporate Flight Attendant’s, who are also mothers. They shared some of their mommy monologues and insight and here is what they had to say: 

Keysha Singh, her story and “how she does it”! 

Being a woman in aviation is hard, but when others discover you are a presence in this industry, they commend you. However when you’re a mother and in aviation, people seem to be almost distraught by it. A plethora of questions and emotions spill out. Almost always, I politely smile and say something along the lines of “I make it work”, but I rarely have the opportunity to fully and honestly answer that question of “How do you do it?” Today, I would love to share that answer with you. 

Let’s run back a bit. My name is Keysha and I am a corporate flight attendant. I fly from city to city and country to country anywhere from 10-22 days a month. I have gone through two passports in the last 3 years, filling pages with a multitude of visas. I am also a proud mom. I have 3 beautiful children. My oldest is my nephew, he is 14. My daughter is 9 and my little guy is a mere 4 years old. I am busy, but so blessed! 

I am going to fill you in on a little secret, I have a strong support system! When I am flying, my mother mainly cares for the kids, but I have a sister who is very involved as well, and my kids’ dad is very active with them. You see my 2 boys are special needs, and both of them on the spectrum. My oldest is legally blind and my youngest is hearing impaired, so we were never meant to do the “cookie cutter” lifestyle thing. We home school, do therapies, take field trips, go on vacations and enjoy each other’s company. This is how I make it work! Balance. While I’m home, the family has my undivided attention anywhere from 8-20 days straight! We take that time to go exploring our local town to find hidden beach spots, ride our bikes together, check out museums, visit the oceanographic center, go to sea turtle releases and beach clean ups (our family is very passionate about environmental protection and conservation). Do you see the balance there? Sure, I’ll miss some birthdays and Christmas morning is often through FaceTime, but I do this for them. With my work, I can afford to keep my mom home with them and give them the best of myself when I am with them. I may not always be physically home but I am always present and making memories with them. 

“Focusing on your dreams isn’t selfish, rather it will teach your children invaluable lessons in perseverance and determination. It will strengthen character qualities that can’t be learned in school or taught to them by anyone else.” Keysha Singh 

I am very involved with my family but I also take time for myself. It’s very important to book a pedicure with my mom, have game night with my friends, and to just take a day to sleep in. I work hard and I have earned my time to decompress and relax. I want to encourage every mother whose dreams are to travel. You CAN do it! Focusing on your dreams isn’t selfish, rather it will teach your children invaluable lessons in perseverance and determination. It will strengthen character qualities that can’t be learned in school or taught to them by anyone else. We are resilient, strong, beautiful and courageous. With a solid support system as the backbone, I promise that you will go as far as you strive. 

---

Lynne Obaldia,  “Have a thorough plan in place, and a backup for that plan too!”

I struggled for years over feeling immense guilt for pursuing a career that keeps me away from my family. The guilt only grew each time another person asked “Why did you choose to become a Flight Attendant and be away from your kids?” “I don’t know how you do it.” I could always hear the judgment in their voices. But it was never as loud as the judgement I’ve brought upon myself for it, turning me into my own worst critic.

I belong in the sky. Of that, there is no question. But being a single mother to three girls (now 22, 14, and 12), put my dream of soaring the sky on hold for some time. Millions of working women (myself included) face exceedingly difficult life circumstances. Some are single mothers; Many cope with a work life in which good day care is either unavailable or very expensive; school schedules do not match work schedules; lack of family members or support system. I wanted to be a constant presence in their early development, so I waited and when my youngest turned 8, I decided to give it a shot. We spoke about the pros and cons. They knew it was a lifelong dream of mine and they are my biggest supporters, but I often wonder if they support me solely because they know how much it means to me, while neglecting their own feelings about the sacrifices they’ve made in order for me to pursue it. Was I being selfish by following a dream that kept me away from them? They miss me so much while I'm gone! Holidays are hit or miss for us. I’ve missed birthdays, graduations, dance recitals. I have failed to be present at times they’ve been sick and wanted to be nurtured. I’ve even missed a few “first times” and steppingstones in their lives.

My kids do spend a lot of time alone. In doing so they’ve become very independent and don't need me for much nowadays. They always try to handle things on their own, which is bittersweet for me. I love their independence but also miss them needing me. Our family dynamics are far from ordinary, but my girls are undeniably happy, well rounded children. We make an incredible team and they are as proud of me as I am of them! By pursuing my dream against all the odds, I’ve taught them to believe in themselves. To believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. To aspire to be women who wake up and truly love what she does for a living. To live an intensely happy and fulfilled life regardless of what that looks like to others.

I’ve come to realize that I was being too hard on myself. Yes! I go away for weeks at a time, but now I get the opportunity to also be home for weeks at a time. Something my old office job did not allow me to do. Becoming a Corporate Flight Attendant allows me the opportunity to spend more quality time at home and still have a professional career. In my family, we've given new meaning to the phrase "Quality over Quantity". We really look forward to the time I am home. While I’m gone the girls write down ideas of things we can do together when I return. The day after I arrive, we have a “family meeting” where we sit down and catch up on things, we plan our time together, and usually bum it on the couch with takeout and Netflix until we fall asleep. As big as they are now, there is still no better feeling than to have those beautiful (heavy) heads on my lap. When I'm home I try very hard to stick to a routine and schedule when it comes to chores and errands, so that we can spend more time together as a family.

When I'm not going to be home on a specific holiday we schedule our own holiday celebration date. I missed Thanksgiving and spent my birthday alone on the road last year. When I returned, 12 days later, we had our own Thanksgiving dinner and birthday celebration. If I am away during Christmas, they do not open their gifts until we have a video call early on Christmas morning. Our holiday celebrations may be on sporadic dates, but to us, they remain just as special.  

“I struggled for years over feeling immense guilt for pursuing a career that keeps me away from my family..” Lynne Obaldia

My advise to FA moms is:

- Ignore the pressure society puts on us working moms to be "super women" and get it all right, all of the time according to their definition of good parenting. We may not be home to sit down for dinner at 5pm with our kids everyday and that is OK! You're doing a great job.

- Have a strong support system in place. Everything from cleaning services, Nanny's or family members that assist with childcare, to a legal guardian available and willing to assist during your absence with any legal or medical issues.

- Get familiar and friendly with digital communication outlets. Video calls, money transferring applications, electronic signatures, delivery services. They all become life savers at one point or another.

- Have a thorough plan in place (and backup for that plan too) so that you can successfully execute your duties as a Corporate Flight Attendant, meet your client's and employer's expectations while keeping your own peace of mind and still being a phenomenal mom! 

Sharon Rose, “It’s double the work, triple the organization yet tenfold the fun!” 

Home is where the heart is. Be it the sky or people you hold close in your heart. That long metal tube has been my office for so many years and also my home away from home. 

It all started with a dream that eventually came into reality. The love for travel opened a desire for me to join an international award winning 5 star carrier in Doha, Qatar. From working in economy to eventually leading a team of up to 16 crew members as a Cabin Services Director for 8 years harnessed and set a base for what an excellent in-flight service should be. 

So why this job? Well, travel is the best teacher. It’s an eye opener for culture, history, gastronomy, adventure, and a lot more! Not only that, it’s a paid trip to experience all this but also an opportunity to apply myself effectively. Onboard, I’m a security officer, a first aider, a chef, a sommelier and a magician at most! I can’t find myself doing any other job but this. 

“Once the trip is completed- rewards come in full!” Sharon Rose 

From commercial, I transitioned to business aviation through a scholarship for Women in Corporate Aviation in 2011. My extensive experience in leading a team, flying with royalties and VVIPs, so as my solid aviation background and the vast demand in the industry led to the birth of StellarRose Services. It is in-flight management solutions focused but also a community of experienced and new entry flight attendants in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It is also during this period where I started a family and keeping the right balance is my biggest challenge. It’s double the work, triple the organization yet tenfold the fun! 

“I call the time being away from home on a trip paid mommy days off” Sharon Rose 

Being a mom and flying can be hard at times. Long trips can be a bit frustrating when you miss out major events, family gatherings and school activities. Thanks to modern technology, it fills that gap a little closer. However, once the trip is completed rewards come in full! On a 15/15 rotation that other 15 is quality time spent at home catching up on things. If you compare it to a 9-5 work pattern in a month, the 15 days off is spent full time! It ain’t bad at all! This should encourage other moms to pursue their dreams of having a career in the sky. I call the time being away from home on a trip paid mommy days off. Why? Mommy gets to disconnect and find time for herself to develop, improve, refresh and self reflect so she comes back totally recharged and be that superwoman that she is! 

What the data says about children of working mothers: 

Hearing stories from women who have experienced similar moments and feelings can help us evaluate our own feelings and experiences, and more than that, they help us get through. We aren’t alone. We hear how other women have struggled and made it and we become inspired and motivated to persevere in our own way for ourselves. As mothers what we need to hear most by other mothers is that we are doing the right thing, and that it will all work out for the best,because ultimately that is what we all want for our kids, the best! Because we aren’t alone, there is actual research and data on children of working mothers. There is various research that concludes children are resilient, and that they actually perform better as adults when they are the product of a home where the mother was a working parent. 

The Harvard School of Business published an article in 2018, by Dina Gerdman, that states “In earlier research, Kathleen McGinn and colleagues discovered that adult kids of working moms are high achievers at work. Now it turns out they are happy, too.” The objective of this research was to provide mothers specifically, with an understanding in efforts to ease the guilt we feel for working and not being full time mothers. In the article professor McGinn says “People still have this belief that when moms are employed, it’s somehow detrimental to their children, so our finding that maternal employment doesn’t affect kids’ happiness in adulthood is really important.” If you would like to read the full article you can access it here: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/kids-of-working-moms-grow-into-happy-adults

Fulfilling Your Dream is Important For Them and You! 

As a woman in the aviation industry, an entrepreneur, and a mother I know firsthand how important both family and career are. What I would like for other women to know, who dream of careers in aviation and having families, is that it is possible. That they can do it, and that they should never let go of their dreams! Ask yourself, would you rather one day have a talk with your children where you can say, “I lived”, or one where you say “I had dreams and I have regrets”? When I think of what I want most for my children I think of how I want them to have dreams, set goals, have expectations, and to achieve them. By working and achieving my own career goals I feel I set an example for them both as a woman and as an adult. I am setting a tone about work ethic and I am sending a message about the importance of having personal goals and objectives. I want them to know that it isn’t wrong, you do not have to sacrifice them, and that they and family can go hand in hand. 

What I want Future Corporate Flight Attendants to know 

If you're a mother considering a career as a Corporate Flight Attendant you have plenty to think about, but you shouldn’t feel dissuaded because you're a mother. Sure you’ll hear stories, both good and bad, but only you can decide what is best for you! If you are a disciplined person who has the goal of flying you can do it! Figure out a plan that would work for you and your family. Make sure you have a support system in place, and go for your dream. The only real way of knowing is to try.