As we highlight Berlin, Germany this week we have firsthand insight into this important European city that will be beneficial to fellow members of the business aviation community. Today we bring you an interview with Nadja oude Voshaar, a flight attendant with 23 years of experience in commercial and one year in private aviation. Nadja has impressive experience and skills, including the fact that she speaks German, French, Spanish and English.
Nadja is based out of Nuernberg Airport (NUE / EDDN), Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA / EDDF), Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH / OMAA), Sharjah International Airport (SHJ / OMSJ), Dubai International Airport (DXB / OMDB) and King Abdul Aziz International Airport (JED / OEJN). Her favorite aircraft is the 777/747 for “the new technology design.” She says that her childhood dream was to work on a 747. Not only has she fulfilled that dream, but she has flown on ATR 42/72, DC 10, Boeing 727, 737, 757, 767, 747, 777 and Airbus 319, 320/21, 330-300/20, 340-300-500-600 and Gulfstream GV so far in her career.
The level of excellence in her service has been reflected in the awards she has received for “Cabin Manager of the Month” and “Flight Attendant of the Quarter – Worldwide” during her career in commercial aviation. Her passion for helping others is also evident in her volunteer work, where she served in the only voluntary Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) Mission during the Iraq War.
Nadja has lived in Spain and the United Arab Emirates and counts both of those counties as two of her most favorite destinations. Also on the list is Bali, which she emotionally connected with for her “spiritual journey and peace.”
Food is always a favorite topic, and Nadja says Italian, Indian, German and Japanese are her favorite cuisines. For her favorite dish, she says “cordon bleu is my favorite when I’m outside of German and returning for a visit.” However, she suggests “schnitzel and curry sausage with french fries or fried potatoes” if this is your first trip to Germany.
For traveling throughout Germany, Nadja says to “drive or buy train tickets. Depending on the season, you will want to visit the major cities – Berlin, Munich, Dusseldorf, Hamburg – to see different lifestyles and people. We have a vast variety of historical sites and museums. If you like castles, you should visit Neuschwanstein. In September, Oktoberfest in Munich is very famous.”
Nadja has faced in-flight catering challenges, but her resourcefulness and ability to tap into her professional network gave her a solution of which the outcome was an aircraft full of pleased passengers. “Two specific instances stand out in my mind. One time on a GV, I placed my in-flight catering order with confirmation for early departure from JED, but the caterer did not show up. So, I contacted a different caterer in JED who knew me and they gave me the best last-minute service because we had a good relationship. Turnaround time was only 30 minutes,” she said. “Another time I had an unplanned trip on a 777 in LHE (Allama Iqbal International Airport) with no in-flight caterer available in Lahore, Pakistan. I had to cater a full 777 by myself and took care of everything down to washing the dishes!”
Switching topics, Nadja also provided tips for starting off a new career in private aviation. “Look at every aspect of where you want to work, starting with the location, she said. “ Business in the United States is different from the corporate world in the Middle East, Far East and Europe. Do you want to work for a private aircraft owner or charter company? If you decide to do charter work, research the reputation of the companies you are considering. Find out of age matters.
When it comes to being a successful corporate flight attendant, Nadja says it takes “empathy, communication, motivation and drive to do the job from the bottom of your heart. You need to demonstrate care and passion.” The next time you are looking for a corporate flight attendant in Germany, contact Nadja oude Voshaar at nadjaoudevoshaar@yahoo.de.
This article is part of a series of interviews we are conducting with corporate cabin crew members; individuals who are not employed by Air Culinaire Worldwide. If you would like to be considered for an interview, which is posted on our blog and all of our social media accounts, please contact socialmedia@airculinaire.com.
