Emily’s a frequent flyer

LACW Emily Barr

By LACW Simone Liebelt

LEADING Aircraftwoman Emily Barr has seen more places in a little over a year in the Air Force than most people ever see in a lifetime.

A crew attendant on the special purpose fleet at No. 34 Squadron in Canberra, LACW Barr loves her job, which she began in January 2002.

“You’re away from home a lot, but you get to travel everywhere and get paid to do it,” she said. “Some of the places you get to visit are amazing.”

LACW Barr is one of the small number of CREWATTs in service, with the mustering having a personnel shortfall of about 40 per cent.

Warrant Officer Dave Batic, Airmen Aircrew Manager, said efforts were being made to fill the vacant positions.

Replacing the Flight Steward mustering, the CREWATT belongs to the Airmen Aircrew stream. In addition to trade specific training, CREWATTs complete the same standard aircrew training as flight engineers, airborne electronics analysts and loadmasters. Courses in combat survival, aviation medicine, airmen aircrew, resource management, aircraft conversion, and basic trade training lead to the award of the CREWATT flight brevet.

As a prominent face of the Air Force, CREWATTs serve an impressive VIP passenger list, including Australian and foreign heads of state, royalty and international officials, and visit a variety of destinations around the world. They are subject to varied working conditions, irregular hours and constantly changing scenery, making it anything but a typical job.

LACW Barr recommended the job and while she admitted the lifestyle wasn’t for everyone, she believed it was a great career choice for people on the go.

“The most rewarding part of the job is the travel and the people you get to meet,” she said. “These are experiences that I normally wouldn’t have had.”

For more information on the CREWATT mustering, visit the recruiting web site at www.defencejobs.gov.au or contact WOFF Batic on (02) 4587 2019.

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