Atlanta is a busy city thanks to the important role it plays in aviation. Dark Rush is a flight attendant based in Atlanta who is working on the transition from commercial aviation to private aviation. She has completed her initial training at Corporate Flight Attendant Training and FlightSafety International. For her annual recurrent training, she attends FlightSafety in Savannah, Georgia each May.
Dark has two years of experience flying for US Airways and says it has been an amazing experience. Her highlights include flying members of the military, and helping facilitate a romantic marriage proposal that involved all of the passengers. “Some of my favorite highlights were having repeat passengers ask for me, receiving letters from passengers, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures and places,” she said. Since she is based in Atlanta, she is currently available from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK / KPDK), Fulton County Airport (FTY / KFTY) and Cobb County Airport (RYY / KRYY). In addition to her aviation experience, she holds degrees in psychology and photography from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Being an active member of the business aviation community, you can find Dark attending the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Flight Attendants / Flight Technicians Conference. She is also active on a local level and attends the Georgia Business Aviation Association’s (GBAA) Annual Safety Day, and the Taste of Speed Jet Experience at PDK.
Out of all the places she has traveled to so far, Dark says her favorite destinations are “Colorado; Acapulco, Mexico; Sarasota, Florida; and Alexander City, Alabama. Colorado’s landscapes, with pristine majestic mountains and wildflowers, are so beautiful they bring tears to my eyes. Acapulco, Mexico’s fresh fruits and vegetables, along with beautiful wildlife and Blue Lagoon cliff divers, make it a “fantasy island.” In Sarasota, Florida, where my sister lives, the beaches are soft and cool on the feet since they are made from 99 percent quartz sand. It is no surprise Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota is rated one of the top 25 beaches in the world! Alexander City, Alabama, my hometown, is still my favorite place to visit. With southern hospitality and manners of people in the town, coupled with a beautiful country setting and clear water lakes, Alexander City is a place where it feels as if time has stood still. It is truly ‘Sweet Home, Alabama!’”
For corporate cabin crew members visiting Atlanta, Dark suggests dining at “the Vortex, Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion, Cafe Intermezzo and Atlanta Fish Market.” She recommends “eating at southern restaurants, visiting the Coke museum, floating down the Chattahoochee River (a must!), walking and photographing natural trails, visiting Piedmont Park, and exploring the nightlife in Midtown, East Atlanta and Sandy Springs.” While all of these ideas will keep you busy, Dark says that “in order to get around Atlanta you’ll want to use a car, taxi or MARTA (the subway of Atlanta).”
After all that great advice about Atlanta, we discussed the role of flight attendants and what makes someone great at this unique career. Dark believes it is “the ability to make people feel at home with ease, appreciate different cultures and to ‘fly at the seat of your pants.’” For someone considering becoming a corporate flight attendant, Dark also had plenty of advice on getting started. “Be financially ready, as training is expensive. Be patient, as it may take a while to find a job. Also, be flexible, as becoming a corporate flight attendant is an adventure. When preparing for the job, make sure you know your aircraft, ask any necessary questions and read through your training material. Also, I recommend always having a camera with you and a suitcase packed at all times!” If you are looking for an enthusiastic corporate flight attendant in Atlanta, contact Dark Rush at rush_dark@yahoo.com.
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.
