The Surprising 1945 Standards for Flight Attendants in Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo has been a hustling and bustling city for decades.  Before the military air base was built, the city was already an airline hub.

In 1929, Amarillo became a hub for Western Air. Their regular air service began May 29, 1929.  The flight was a 12-passenger Fokker trimotor plane on a round trip flight from Los Angeles to Amarillo.

Read More: Echoes of a Forgotten Era: Amarillo's Air Force Base |

After the commercialization began, a woman by the name of Ellen Church wanted to be a pilot.  However, women were not allowed to be commercial pilots until 1973.  Church was a nurse and came up with the idea that it would be a good thing for nurses to be on board during flights.  This was the beginning of the stewardesses (now called flight attendants) on flights.

This now brings us to 1945 when commercial flights were booming and more and more people are choosing to fly to their destinations.  A help wanted ad appeared in the Amarillo Globe News for a TWA Air Hostess.

What Were the Requirements of a Flight Attendant in the 1940s?

• Age: 21-26
• Height: 5'2 - 5'6
• Weight: 100 - 130 pounds
• Education: One year of college or a Registered nurse
• Other: Must be single and have good vision.

Let's note that the interviews took place at the historical Herring Hotel, which is now an empty shell sitting in downtown Amarillo awaiting a revival.

A lot has changed since 1945 when this ad was originated.  In 1971, the US courts ruled that airlines could not discriminate against men, and therefore men were allowed to become flight attendants.

Read More: It Just Got More Expensive To Fly Out Of Amarillo, Texas |

What are the Current Requirements to Become a Flight Attendant?

• Age: most of the airlines require an age of at least 20, some are 21 while others are 18. They don't specify an upper range
• Height: Most require a height requirement of 5'2 - 6'
• Most airlines don’t set a specific weight requirement for flight attendants because it can be seen as discriminatory. However, there are some physical abilities needed for the job. Flight attendants need to fit comfortably in the jump seat, walk down the aisle without bumping into seats, reach up at least 74 inches and lift carry-ons overhead, and lift at least 50 pounds.
• Education: While college or being a nurse is no longer required. A high school diploma or GED, and some college is encouraged.  Some airlines also require a year in the customer service industry.

As with all professions, this is one of those jobs that has evolved and changed with time, and who knows what the future holds for flight attendants. This likely is one of those jobs that will not be taken over by AI.