Student Pilot's and epaulets...?

I am a corporate pilot flying a King Air 350. When my boss suggested we start wearing pilot uniforms with a sport coat, I started browsing for a new job. I guess years of flying dirty freight planes and staying in cheap hotels while wearing the monkey suit makes me allergic to them.

My boss was pretty excited to be flown by some well dressed monkeys. I described for him what its like to have to wear it around town and answer stupid questions. I described why the plane we fly is perfect for our mission profile, (many 24 minute flights to spend a day in a Podunk FBO where it is 100+ degrees most days) and a pilot uniform is not. I suggested when we have a jet and flight attendant and go to an FBO that will service the potty, then I will wear the monkey suit.

I think a pilot uniform is appropriate depending on the mission profile. Wearing them at a flight school is just a silly display of inappropriate grandeur.

When I have done maintenance ferries, I have worn shorts t-shirt and flip flops only to discover flip flops for cross wind landings is not mission profile appropriate. I would like to wear my pilot shirt with a kilt just to see the reactions in the FBO, don't think the boss will go for it though.
 
FlyingScot said:
When I have done maintenance ferries, I have worn shorts t-shirt and flip flops only to discover flip flops for cross wind landings is not mission profile appropriate.
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I have worn flip flops many times foflying in strong winds. The difference between you and me is when I climb in the plane, the flip flops come off so they don't get in the way. I found out like you that they just don't work all that well. So I end up flying barefoot.
 
David White said:
The epauletts arent as bad as CAP and their flight suits.
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Well as member since '92 we are required to wear them A) Because CAP is the USAF Auxillary and the USAF pays for us to fly SAR. and B) to be covered by insurance while in the A/C

I get that there are members who just slap it on and go fly and are an embarrasment, but there are plenty of us out there that take pride in both the presentation and wearing of not only the flight suit but the uniform as a whole.

Oh and the flightsuit is WAY more comfortable then any other uniform I have had to wear.


As far as flight school CFI/Students wearing the pilot shirts with stripes and all, I worked at one of these places for a year. In the florida heat and humidity flying Pipers (not known for their ventellation) I asked why we had to wear them and the response was that the airlines who sent the students over thought it looked professional and managmenet thought the students would feel more motivated if it made them "feel" like a airline pilot. Other then making corporate/airline guys look at you funny at an FBO I dont think they really boosted much of anything except excessive body sweat.
 
David White said:
How does a flight suit have anything to do with insurance? I need to call my insurance company and tell them if I wear my magic underpants I want more coverage.
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According to CAP and USAF legal beagles, if one is hurt or killed while performing their duties in a CAP aircraft (which are bought with USAF $$) and not in an approved uniform (doesn't have to be the zoom bag) at the time, benefits will be denied. To date, this has not happened, largely because no one wants to be the first test case.
 
I did my training in Arizona and the only dress code at my mom and pop 141/61 school was to wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Theory behind this was if you were to go down in the middle of the desert, you would have something the protect your legs and feet from desert scrub.

Now, when flying around the different Arizona airports, I would see the Oxford and Lufthansa guys in their uniforms and think how dorky they looked.

Then I moved to Europe and here it is the norm to wear a pilot shirt and slacks at a minimum for post-PPL training. Aerial work and helicopter companies largely wear flight suits of matching colors.

Some schools have the epaulette thing going on, and I met two young lads wearing a single stripe. It really made them feel like they were at the bottom of the totem pole.
 
I started caring about this topic once, then The Simpsons came on tv and I...I...blaaarrrggargagrgaarerrrrgg......
 
Haha, man a lot of you guys are so self conscious! Granted, I'm not in that world yet - at least as far as you guys. The flight school I train at makes the instructors wear a uniform, but I don't have to wear one.
 
Students wearing them is silly. Once you're employed, you wear what your employer requires you to wear. I don't whinge that the bossman where I work doesn't want me wearing my super greasy, ripped hangar gear when flying his passengers. I just put on my nice Carhartts and company logo hoodie. If wearing epaulets as a CFI at a place that requires them is that big of a deal to you, find somewhere that doesn't require it. When I was leaving my CFI job they were looking at switching from logo polo shirts to the monkeysuit. The unanimous reaction from instructors was "no way!". I think they eventually settled on a long sleeve logo blue button up shirt with optional tie.
On the other hand, making freight pilots (especially prop trash) wear the monkeysuit seems pretty asinine to me. I worked a summer at an FBO where the Ameristar guys were always making freight drop offs and I always thought the captains hopping out of a Lear or DC9 in shorts and Hawaiian shirts were my heroes.
 
Hubbs said:
It's the CAP, say no more.
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Meh...as a customer it's a little strange being given a uniform. But those of you complaining "OMG, my employer is making me wear a uniform!" are a bit ridiculous.

There are a lot of things I don't like doing at my job. But that's why they give me money. A uniform does not make a professional employee. But it certainly gives the appearance. And that appearance is what helps being people in the door.

Very similar argument to "I can't believe they won't hire me with visible tattoos! I wanna express myself!" If it is that important to you, maybe this is the wrong industry.

For the right pay/work rules, I'll fly in the swimsuit from Borat is that is what my employer wants.
 
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