CFI Who Wears Shorts
- Thread starter Beech90
- Start date
crazyjeep
Well-Known Member
Im down in Houston, Pilots shirt, Black Tie, and Black Pants. Yes, Pants. I think it hit 103 degrees today. Wish I could wear shorts.
A Life Aloft
Well-Known Member
I still don't understand why you think that makes a professional pilot who flies charter or corporate look like a tool. A pilot's uniform would include epaulets would it not? Why do you believe that they should not wear a complete pilot's uniform?
swisspilot
Well-Known Member
From what I understand:
Uniform...no -> does not make you look like a tool
Epaulets...yes -> they do make you look like a tool
A Life Aloft
Well-Known Member
My question is still, WHY do epaulets for a professional charter or corporate pilot, make them look like a tool? I haven't received an answer to that. In other words, what is the reason that it makes them look like a tool?
wildfreightess
Well-Known Member
Depends on the student. For a discovery flight, you should wear a parachute and act horrified when your student shows up without one.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
Believe the question asked in this post was about CFI's.
Uniform basically exists to make passengers feel more comfortable. Person operating the ship looks like a pilot? Must know what he is doing!
CFI's don't deal with passengers, they teach people to be pilots. How they dress has nothing to do with how to operate a chickenhawk.
And I do giggle when I see anyone in uniform looking threads engaged in primary flight training on the ramp. I do have "pilot clothes," but thankfully have only been required to wear them once.
dasleben
That's just, like, your opinion, man
A Life Aloft
Well-Known Member
I understand that the thread subject is about CFI's and their clothing for work.
My question is a response to this statement, which has yet to be answered:
swisspilot
Well-Known Member
I kinda want to hear this. I'm a charter pilot who wears epaulets.
same here
Mike H
Well-Known Member
I kinda want to hear this. I'm a charter pilot who wears epaulets.
if a paycheck goes with the epaulets, I don't really care what somebody else thinks they look like
TwoTwoLeft
o- - - - - - -l
Mullets on the job? Been there done that.... Good thing you can't read what's on my shirt...
z987k
Well-Known Member
Even worse I'm a freight pilot that wears them.I kinda want to hear this. I'm a charter pilot who wears epaulets.
So maybe I resent this a lot. It was 109 today and I'm sweating my butt off because we're wearing completely inappropriate clothes.The reason I don't like epaulets is because they are for the armed forces...something earned. I feel like the only reason to wear them is for someone's ego. It just screams "I'm a pilot".... no you're a tool.
Also, IMO, a polo or a nice button down shirt is 1000x more professional looking.
A Life Aloft
Well-Known Member
Yet you stated earlier, that epaulets were only fine for airline pilots to wear. Now you are saying that they are only for members of the military. So I am confused now. And you do not believe that other professional pilots performing certain types of flying, who have flown thousands of hours for many years and are rated in various types of aircraft, some even flying internationally, along with their years of training and education have not earned the right to wear them, but only airline pilots have. Interesting and perplexing. Since uniforms are only worn at work, and in an aviation setting, i.e., at the airport, FBO, ramp, hangar, office, aircraft, etc. and the person wearing them is a pilot, how does this scream that they are not a pilot, but they are instead, a tool? Also interesting that you think a polo shirt looks more professional than a uniform shirt with the epaulets and a tie for some professional pilots to wear. I imagine that a jacket and hat are totally out of the question then. Does one get to wear a little sign on that polo to designate the F/O or the Captain or does that not even matter either? Maybe just a little plastic tag with a smiley face that says, Hi, my name is Frankie would be okay though. Just trying to understand your mindset on this subject.Even worse I'm a freight pilot that wears them.
The reason I don't like epaulets is because they are for the armed forces...something earned. I feel like the only reason to wear them is for someone's ego. It just screams "I'm a pilot".... no you're a tool.
Also, IMO, a polo or a nice button down shirt is 1000x more professional looking.
TwoTwoLeft
o- - - - - - -l
In all seriousness... There's nothing wrong with a nice pair of slacks that fit well, nice shoes and a polo. When in doubt, in aviation, you can really do no wrong with that combo. Unless your required to wear a uniform... Overdressing looks just as bad as underdressing.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
sneakers, shorts and floppy hats are required to fly in the gliders I teach in
Shoes/boots with heels are not allowed. Even long pants are a bad idea.
The only time I have seen a monkey suit in a piston single has been picking someone up ending a 121/135 trip. Which is fine for them, but if there were room to change in the plane, they would.
TwoTwoLeft
o- - - - - - -l
Yeah, just use common sense. When I'm teaching I wear shorts when its hot, jeans when it's not. When I wear a t-shirt, it's aviation related... Looking neat & clean and smelling good goes a long way. No one wants to sit 2 inches away from you if you smell like you just did a 30 mile ride on your mountain bike.
When I'm doing my other job... If I have a charter it's slacks & white company polo. If I'm out in the field doing god knows what, then it's dress for the environment and be comfortable without looking like a total slob.
When I'm doing my other job... If I have a charter it's slacks & white company polo. If I'm out in the field doing god knows what, then it's dress for the environment and be comfortable without looking like a total slob.
It's amazing how much people over-think this stuff. As a CFI, I don't think anyone ever cared what I wore so long as it wasn't grungy. Straight casual, shorts and a t-shirt, was the norm, and none of my students or fellow instructors cared. If you're hot and uncomfortable in the plane, you're not going to be as focused on what's going on. I think "uniforms" for CFIs are one of the most ridiculous things ever conceived, especially the tie and epaulats. While being a CFI is somewhat of a "profession," the realities of the situation dictate dress other than business casual. It's absurd to insist on wear clothing that is clearly not suited for the environment just for the sake of looking "professional." You're in a small space with no a/c and generally inadequate air flow, adapt!