CABIN crew at Gill Airways, in Newcastle, have passed a major new test with flying colours.

In what is believed to be the first venture of its kind, the airline teamed up with Tyneside Training and Enterprise Council to produce a tailor-made programme to enable cabin crew to gain a National Vocational Qualification.

Yesterday, the first group of successful cabin crew recruits were presented with their NVQ wings by representatives of the training arm of the North East Chamber of Commerce, in a ceremony held at Gill Airways headquarters, at Newcastle Airport.

Many of the new recruits were taken on because of their French language skills and now work on Air France services from Paris to Helsinki and Gothenburg, as well as on an Air France, by Gill Airways franchise, route from Newcastle to Paris.

Receiving their NVQs were: Corinne Bourdon and Ann Ingram, both from Gosforth; Ruth Pattison, Whitley Bay; Gareth Moore, Newcastle University graduate now based in Paris; Alexandra Besnard, Jesmond; Kim Rashbrook, Stocksfield; Karen Bland, Consett and Christine Ross, Walkergate.

In addition, cabin crew member Alethea Elliott from Consett received her NVQ Assessor's Award enabling her to monitor the progress of recruits' work towards their NVQs within the airline.