training and dressing code

To be a freight dawg, it's gotta be sneakers, sandals or combat boots. Gotta choose!

I've never liked sandals, so that wasn't an option for me. My combat boots, on the other hand, are my most comfortable shoes. Easy choice!

For some reason, my best landings used to occur with a pair of military issued steel toes...;)
 
Guess you folks don't subscribe to the "if you look good, you'll feel good" theory, eh?:D

You can dress casual without dressing sloppy. I suggest that in ANY work related situation, unless you're working as a lifeguard at La Jolla Cove, you do just that.
 
Guess you folks don't subscribe to the "if you look good, you'll feel good" theory, eh?:D
Oh trust me, after loading 2,000lbs and then flying it and then unloading I definetly feel better if I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt vs. wearing pants.

Then again I rarely give a ####.
 
Let me offer the opinion from the other side of the fence: As an "instructor."

When I am standing in front of a class, you better believe I am in business casual. Typically, I will wear dress slacks and a polo shirt, or a dress shirt. No tie, because that is definitely too stuffy. I find that dressing like that, it signifies to the class that I take what I am doing seriously. It also hopefully signals to the class that I respect them; I feel that showing up in jeans and an untucked polo makes it look like I just happened to "stop by" the training center to facilitate the class.

It is proven that things like appearance (dress and hygiene) are big factors in communication.

It does bother me when pilots in the classes I facilitate show up in jeans, t-shirts, or gym shoes. It sends a signal to me that they don't really care about being in class today, nor do they take it seriously. More often than not, their actions and words during the class coincide with my preconceived notion based on their dress. The jeans and gym shoe crowd often is kicked back slouching in their chair, and either is falling asleep or quickly turning into the class clown. It is a broad generalization, but is true more often than not.

This is a career. Training is a major part of what we do as professionals, and it should be taken seriously. More and more, I'm seeing pilots who take their training less seriously, and I'm very afraid it is carrying over into how they operate out on the line. That might be why we see so many crazy variations of the pilot uniform these days.

Contrary to popular belief, training can be fun and relaxing even if you are taking it seriously. I have a lot of fun in the classes I facilitate, even with my dress slacks and dress shirt. Just like line operations, where I have fun and laugh a lot, even though I take my job seriously and do my best to fly the way I am supposed to do.

Just my humble opinion.
 
Let me offer the opinion from the other side of the fence: As an "instructor."

When I am standing in front of a class, you better believe I am in business casual. Typically, I will wear dress slacks and a polo shirt, or a dress shirt. No tie, because that is definitely too stuffy. I find that dressing like that, it signifies to the class that I take what I am doing seriously. It also hopefully signals to the class that I respect them; I feel that showing up in jeans and an untucked polo makes it look like I just happened to "stop by" the training center to facilitate the class.

It is proven that things like appearance (dress and hygiene) are big factors in communication.

It does bother me when pilots in the classes I facilitate show up in jeans, t-shirts, or gym shoes. It sends a signal to me that they don't really care about being in class today, nor do they take it seriously. More often than not, their actions and words during the class coincide with my preconceived notion based on their dress. The jeans and gym shoe crowd often is kicked back slouching in their chair, and either is falling asleep or quickly turning into the class clown. It is a broad generalization, but is true more often than not.

This is a career. Training is a major part of what we do as professionals, and it should be taken seriously. More and more, I'm seeing pilots who take their training less seriously, and I'm very afraid it is carrying over into how they operate out on the line. That might be why we see so many crazy variations of the pilot uniform these days.

Contrary to popular belief, training can be fun and relaxing even if you are taking it seriously. I have a lot of fun in the classes I facilitate, even with my dress slacks and dress shirt. Just like line operations, where I have fun and laugh a lot, even though I take my job seriously and do my best to fly the way I am supposed to do.

Just my humble opinion.

Good points - but the manner of dress has to fit the environment. You'd look like an ass-clown if you showed up to training at my company in business casual. We still manage to keep the training professional. ;)
 
Nothing wrong with looking sharp, gentleman!

I'd generally wear a collared shirt and a tie when I was flight instructing. The others thought I was anal, but my students loved it and knew that when the tie was on, I'm Mr. Taylor, but whenever the tie was off, I was Doug.

My airline requires business casual at the training center. It's really not that big of a deal. Also, APD's wear shirt and tie as well when they're playing "FAA".

I was a frat boy so throwing on a collared shirt and a tie isn't that much of a hassle if need be.

I'm with Chicaga on this one!
 
Like Ian said, it depends on the operation. As an instructor I feel I give the same level of communication and my trainees recieve the same level of instruction regardless of how I dress. During the day, we wear button down shirts and nice pants. When we switch to nights, we go back to jeans and a polo.

If the trainee isn't getting it when you're wearing a 3 piece suit, they're not going to get it if you're wearing boxers.
 
Like Ian said, it depends on the operation. As an instructor I feel I give the same level of communication and my trainees recieve the same level of instruction regardless of how I dress. During the day, we wear button down shirts and nice pants. When we switch to nights, we go back to jeans and a polo.

If the trainee isn't getting it when you're wearing a 3 piece suit, they're not going to get it if you're wearing boxers.

You an instructor at Rick?
 
Small freaking world, this JC.

We ought to have an LCK meet and greet one of these days and have some beers at 6 am. Lot's of us around Columbus these days.
 
Hell yeah it's a small world. Make lots of friends here, they come in handy! :)
 
And also a lesson to not act like an idiot around here - you never know who might be giving you a checkride.

True that. A couple of the 76 instructors at Southernjets are lurkers.

Weird walking into the simulator bay while having someone scream, "Hey! What's up with XXXXXX, is that guy for real or what?" from overhead!
 
I was in ORH one day a couple of weeks ago and saw this pilot walk in, wearing khaki pants, untucked khaki shirt, tennis shoes and his hair looks like he just got out of bed. I think to myself, "must be in that Cirrus or something...some rich guy who can't dress". Then awhile later his pax show up and they get on a PC-12! Pax were dressed in suits and this guy is wearing this? Talk about unprofessional. There is no way in hell that guy would be flying my airplane looking like that.


Hey, that was me. :D I kind of look like Carl too!

I'm going to insist my new employers dress me in the finest silk boxers and suits that money can buy
 
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