flight attendant vs decorative hostess

[E-flight]

Hey everyone, with the Sentient takeover of TAG/AMI, now seems like a good time to get the conversation about the role of the Flight Attendant, and the value a well trained, experienced, true professional can bring to any flight department, in emergency management and even in ordinary circumstances. It justifies our presence in the cabin. Many great flight attendants are aslo wonderful hostesses, but they offer more than someone who is SOLELY a hostess. When the pilots get busy handling unusual operations, they simply DO NOT HAVE TIME to also ready the cabin and brief the passengers.
What say we get this conversation started--how we are defined will affect the bottom line for a lot of us.

[E-flight]

So, given that definition, an operator who puts someone onboard in the role of a flight attendant is opening themselves up legally if that person lacks the necessary training to perform the expected safety related functions? What I mean is, if in the eyes of the passengers, it is a flight attendant, and has duties assigned, the passengers should reasonably expect that that person can perform first aid, put out a fire and evacuate an aircraft, etc?

[CD]

Here are some links where this issue has been discussed on the site in the past:

The Third Crewmember (http://www.corporateflyer.net/forum/showthread.php?t=88&)
Crewmember Certification (http://www.corporateflyer.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1324&)
Licensing? (http://www.corporateflyer.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2445&)
Improper Loading Caused Crash of Corporate Jet In Teterboro (http://www.corporateflyer.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2009&)