First Flight Attendant

May 14, 2009

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Profile America — Thursday, May 14th. The comfort of air travel took a big step forward this week in 1930 — when United Airlines hired the nation’s first airline stewardess. Ellen Church tended passengers on a flight from San Francisco to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The criteria for the job were that she could be no older than 25, no taller than 5 feet, 4 inches, and weigh no more than 115 pounds — and be a registered nurse. The idea soon caught on, and being a stewardess became one of the most sought-after jobs for young women. Today, of course, the proper term is “flight attendant,” and they are a vital part of the U.S. airline industry. In 1930, there were just under 500 airliners in service. Today, that number is more than 8,000. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 268
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 769
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1042
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html