CBC Archives

Ask students to brainstorm a list of careers connected with the airline industry. Have them share their lists with the class and create a class list on the board. Have students copy into their notebooks any careers they omitted. Then ask students to place a star beside any careers they are interested in pursuing.

Direct students to the topic Turbulent Skies: The Air Canada Story on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Have students explore Clip #4 and complete the Venn diagram on the download sheet Changing Career Qualifications. In the circle on the left they describe the qualifications for becoming a flight attendant in the past, and in the circle on the right they describe the current qualifications for becoming a flight attendant. In the middle section, they should record qualifications that apply to both periods. Students will find additional information for completing the second circle by visiting Air Canada, Careers, Flight Attendants at http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/career/attendants.html.

Have students share their completed diagrams with the class. Ask:

What was your initial reaction to viewing the clip? To the requirements for flight attendants early in the history of aviation?

What business reasons might there have been for some of the earlier requirements?

Why do you think things have changed?

How do you think other careers in aviation have been affected by change over time? Why?

Students can work in small groups to investigate one or more of the airline industry jobs that they indicated earlier they were interested in pursuing. Using the information they find, students can create a resume for any of the jobs available in the airline industry.