DEAR DIANA

"I have a strong interest in becoming a flight attendant. I read your book, specifically the chapters on Air Quality and Radiation. I started to seriously doubt whether I should go into this field, yet it still feels like it would be right for me. In your opinion, would a person's health be significantly affected by a 5-10 year career as a flight attendant? I am 30 yrs old, in good health, and am a positive and spiritually open person. I plan to buy your book as a reference, and to show it to other employees in the field. I've been checking out several F/A message boards on the internet and people seem to basically enjoy the job, in spite of its toxicity. I care both about my happiness and health and want to pursue a path that would bring the travel benefits and pay of a flight attendant but not the toxicity. Do you know of any other careers in travel that would provide that? Any advice or suggestions would be extremely helpful and greatly appreciated." -William Suphan

DIANA RESPONDS

Dear William,

Thank you for your letter. Regarding, whether a person's health could be significantly affected by a 5-10 year career as a flight attendant, there is hidden toxicity just about everywhere in our world -- in our food with additives and pesticides, in our clothes with fabric sizing and detergent residues, in our water with bacteria, molds and fluoride.

No one can avoid accumulating toxicity even if she lives away from cities and car fumes. With wind and acid rain there is nowhere on earth free on toxins.

For myself, I try to follow my heart. It's as if we are all stuck in the woods, in one way or another, and the way out is individual and personal -- activated by desires and feelings. I think the "way out" of this mortal mess has been characterized in literature by the crumbs scattered by Hansel and Gretel to find their way out of the woods and by the ball of yarn used by Theseus to find his way out of the Minotaur's maze.

If you "see" yourself serving on airplanes, then try it out. What have you got to lose? It will certainly be a learning experience, and if you don't like it, the crumbs you find on airplanes may lead you to something you feel even more passionate about. Perhaps next time you're at an airport, ask a couple flight attendants how they like flying. Ask the older ones. As far as other jobs where travel is required, perhaps you could get into sales for a large company. At least, then, you won't be staying in crummy hotels as flight attendants do. (In my day it was different.) Good luck and please let me know how your travel plans pan out.

FROM READERS

"A flight attendant is responsible for presenting his or her bare throat to the nearest Islamic fundamentalist for immediate slashing. After a decompression, flight attendants will continue to perform 15 minute walk-throughs until he or she loses consciousness. If the flight attendant is unable to perform his or her walk-throughs due to excessive blood loss, the flight attendant must inform all non-bleeding-to-death flight attendants, so they may pick up the slack. A flight attendant will have his or her pay 'docked' according to 'actual flight time', not 'scheduled flight time'. As soon as the aircraft hits the nearest famous landmark building, and goes up in a flaming pyre, the flight will be considered 'landed' and the flight attendant's pay will be adjusted accordingly. A flight attendant will be responsible for breathing the same contaminated air as everyone else in a vacuum packed tube. The company will, at its discretion, pack said tube with anyone who ponies up $199.99, regardless of the transmittable diseases they are carrying. New for 2003! SARS has been added! A flight attendant will continue to enjoy massive doses of radiation free of charge. The company gladly makes this benefit available to all flight attendant, in the sincere hope that most of them will succumb to a variety of radiation-induced illnesses, thereby limiting their ability to retire and drain the company's meager resources."-- A flight attendant

"It's quite interesting (ironic) that I ran into your site on the net. I was doing a search on finding info on becoming a flight attendant. I've been thinking about this -- until I read all your information. I work in what I and others perceive to be a sick building (this has not been proven, but it is surrounded by petro-chemical plants) and interior chemicals (we are a medical college with labs, etc.) permeating the system. My desire is to get OUT of this bad environment. So, I read your info, now I'll really have to reconsider."-Susan Brooks

"My wife has been a flight attendant with AA for 18 years (last five, international), and we applaud your efforts to educate the public concerning the insensitivity of the air carriers relative to the health of passengers."-- name withheld

"I am extremely impressed with Flyana.com. I have found it a very good source of information. I am also a flight attendant for USAir based in Pittsburgh, so I can totally relate to everything you write.:)" -Anita Potte