A family that works together stays together. For Singapore Airlines Chief Steward Ramli Bin Panachia and former Flight Stewardess Rosmawati Binte Montail, both 53, having two of their sons share the same vocation has made them more close-knit than ever.
For the Ramli family, travelling the world is the unifying factor that holds them together. The family also has a 19-year-old son, and has hopes that the youngest in the household will don the same uniform too, and complete the family portrait.
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When brothers Muhammad Danial Bin Ramli, 26, and Muhammad Danish Bin Ramli, 24, signed up as cabin crew, both Ramli and Rosmawati supported them as coaches – giving them pointers before interviews, and sharing nuggets of wisdom gained from 31 years and six years on the job respectively.
The best advice Ramli has given his sons was to foster camaraderie and forge close bonds with the rest of the crew. He fondly recalls a birthday surprise sprung by his team after a long-haul flight, saying “I will never forget that day.”
“The crew was like family,” says Rosmawati, who still misses flying even though she left the Airline 27 years ago. She keeps in touch with her ‘batch girls’ to this day.
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While being overseas allows freedom, Ramli teaches his sons to be humble and disciplined at all times. One of the many valuable lessons Danial has learned as a Flight Steward is to have patience and empathy towards others. Visiting developing countries, adds the head of household, is “an eye-opener; it broadens our horizons and reminds us of how blessed we are”.
When the family was given a scenario on board a flight, it sparked an animated exchange of ideas and opinions, with each of them sharing what they would do to resolve such a situation. Their discussion provided a glimpse into what daily conversations are like in the Ramli household – lively and vibrant.
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Working in the same industry, for the same company, has given them more things in common to talk about and the brothers, a better understanding of what their father does for a living.
Danial, who, before joining the Airline, had interned as a cabin crew with another airline while completing his studies in civil aviation, says he realised what a challenging job his father has only after his first flight.
“He has never complained,” says Danial on his father’s commitment to service. “I really appreciate his hard work.”
Ramli picked up German as part of crew training in his younger days and had previously served as a German-speaking crew on board the Airline. Being able to speak another language enabled him to perform better service on board. The dedication Ramli has for his profession inspired his two sons to pick up a foreign language as part of their crew training, and they look to him as a role model.
Although it’s still early days in Danish’s career, he already aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps and have a long-term career with the Airline.
Experience a career beyond the ordinary! Visit singaporeair.com/cabincrewcareers to find out how you can join us as a cabin crew member.
PHOTOGRAPHY: FRENCHESCAR LIM
ART DIRECTION: NG SAY LEE
HAIR & MAKEUP: BENEDICT CHOO
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
