Spirituality In Cabin Crew Safety And Emergency Training: A Study Of Qatar Airways
Monarch is happy to announce the recently authorised research proposal by PhD Candidate Ms. Ramona Condrache. Her research focuses on the important issue of Spirituality in Management (SIM) and how it may add effectiveness to the training of cabin crew members especially in emergency situations that might have critical life concern.
The Research
Spirituality in aviation safety and emergency training for cabin crews represents an untapped potential to enhance emergency preparedness and efficiency. Traditional training primarily emphasises technical skills and procedural responses, often neglecting the psychological and emotional aspects of emergencies (Kim, Yu, & Hyun, 2022). By integrating spiritual tools and techniques into emergency training, it may be possible to improve decision-making under stress, strengthen resilience, and foster a supportive team environment (Giacalone & Jurkiewicz, 2010).
The aviation working environment presents challenging factors related to physical, emotional, and mental health (Griffiths & Powell, 2012; Kumari & Aithal, 2022; Preston, 2022; Roderick, 2023), which can hinder the efficient handling of emergencies (Filipieva, 2012). Embracing spirituality may provide a holistic approach to addressing these challenges and offer the potential for comprehensive preparedness.
Human error has historically accounted for a significant portion of aviation disasters (Kharoufah, Murray, Baxter, & Wild, 2018), with more than 70% of accidents occurring during critical phases of flight—specifically takeoff, approach, and landing (ICAO-GASP). This indicates that pilots and the cabin crew often lack the time needed to think deeply and make appropriate decisions (Kim, Jo, Oh, & Feng, 2024). Given the challenges of the work environment and the constraints on time, incorporating spirituality into aviation training from the outset could aid in the transition of employees from previous jobs and living environments to these new roles.
From the perspective of a crew member, the contemplated research examines the spiritual tools and techniques that an instructor might incorporate into their coaching portfolio, as well as the considerations, benefits, and limitations associated with this process.
The Researcher
Ms. Ramona Condrache is a Dual PHD / Doctor of Applied Leadership Combined Program Candidate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and International Economic Relations from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania. At present, she is a Cabin Safety Trainer and Service Director at Qatar Airways in Qatar. Previous to this, she held the position of Housing Officer at Qatar. Ms. Condrache’s academic interest surround the effective use of spirituality in management and how it may be used to create a more human-centric approach to management. Her research in specific focuses on the effect that spirituality training within a high risk scenario environment affects measurable outcomes.