Uniforms at the instructing level

I wore the airline outfit at UND, simply a marketing thing and a revenue thing since a big benifactor (sp?) liked the idea of airline uniforms. Now I truly get a little chuckle when I look in the mirror now and I am wearing a full blown uniform to go fly boxes.
 
The flight school I worked at was 141 but small, and all the instructors wore uniforms, ties, epaulets. This included the chief pilot/owner, who was never out of uniform unless he was working on a plane. I was not a huge fan of it at the time, but I talked to numerous students who had chosen the school over others on the field because we came off as more professional. I know it was mostly a marketing ploy, but it also saved the owner the hassle of making decisions obout whether or not an instructor was appropriately dressed.

Sure, I felt a little goofy getting out of a 1970's 172 in a uniform, but it saved the trouble of deciding what to wear in the morning. And there were other instructors on the field who'd wear flip flops and t-shirts, which to me looked a lot stupider.
 
Almost as cheesy as when I had this "kid" show up in uniform asking for the jumpseat from ANC-SDF many moons ago when I was on the B757. After looking over his credentials I asked what equipment he was flying at his company. His reply..with a straight face, "I'm a Captain on a Cessna 206" Pleeeeze! I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing.

My own pet peeve....Please don't wear an airline uniform to teach as a GA CFI and please don't present yourself as a "Captain" while flying a small single engine Cessna aircraft, unless of course, it has something significant up front that spools up and smells of kerosene. :rolleyes:

I felt awkward when people called me "Captain" while flying a 19 pax Metroliner. I still wasn't that comfortable being called "Captain" flying a B757 or B767. After 18 yrs flying large jets I'm just now starting to feel ok with it but I'd still rather just be called "Bill"...except of course from my f/o's who must still refer to me as "Sir", "My Captain", "Captain Sir" or my personal favorite...."Your Lordship". Has a nice ring to it..doesn't it?!?:p :D

Off the soapbox and back to your regularly scheduled programming.....
 
Who cares, if they're cutting you a paycheck and want you to strap on a few stripes before the flight I don't see the big deal.
 
Airline uniforms to instruct....just say no!!!

I agree with other posters though...it's a pure marketing tool. But it works. When DCA introduced student uniforms, they allowed the students at the college bases to decide whether or not they wanted them. Amazingly enough, they were voted in! Unfortunately a small but vocal group made it clear that they wanted to look like airline pilots...now! From that point on, all students were required to wear and buy that expensive uniform. Just another pointless expense, which I thought would drive away business. But it didn't...a lot of new students seemed to be in love with their blue shirts and stripeless navy blue epaulettes.

I had to wear one at DCA. To make things worse, a tie was required year round. It was the most uncomfortable thing to wear when flying in a C-152 in the Florida heat. The worst part was flying to such places as Naples, FL. I'd pull up on the ramp next to a Gulfstream or Falcon, scrunch myself up into a ball to be able to squeeze out of that sardine can, and then stand around in my more-military-then-airline uniform. I'd order 12 gallons of Avgas, and then walk into the FBO next to the Falcon/Gulfstream/Citation pilot who'd be wearing slacks and a polo shirt. I felt ridiculous.
 
A300Capt said:
... but I'd still rather just be called "Bill"...except of course from my f/o's who must still refer to me as "Sir", "My Captain", "Captain Sir" or my personal favorite...."Your Lordship". Has a nice ring to it..doesn't it?!?:p :D
Click to expand...

I was right there with you all the way up to the "Bill" part. There we will have to part company, I'm afraid. I just can't agree with you on that, 'cause "Bill" just wouldn't suit me, not one bit!

:bandit:
 
I think that as a flight instructor and as an employee if the company you work for madates a uniform wear it. But don't require it for the students....grrrr!
 
I see no point to wearing an airline style uniform.

When I visited schools before making my selection I visited places with a bunch of Nazi Youth looking wannabes wearing airline uniforms and the stereotypical aviator sunglasses. I was totally turned off and scratched them off the list. To me its just trying to portray yourself as something you are not.

Looking professional does not require this type of uniform. A simple polo with company logo is more than sufficient. Students on the other hand should not be required to wear a uniform at all.
 
KBUF said:
At my flight school, we are required to wear a dress shirt and a tie...anyone else work at a school with this requirement? Just curious.
Click to expand...

My personal goal is to fly professionally for my entire career without ever have worn a tie.
 
When I was ATA we had to wear the uniform and it sucked in the summer...Looking back I got many funny looks when walking into a FBO with that on
 
Another thread on this ???? Didn't last months version of this turn into something like 5 pages...

Do CFI (airline) uniforms suck...yup. Unfortunately if the CFI wants a paycheck at the places that require them they are a necessary evil I guess.

Are they a marketing ploy ? Yup, I think so.


Does it matter in the quality of training ? I doubt it.

In the end, who cares ? No one except people on this forum I think.....
 
jrh said:
Then he made a point I hadn't heard before. He said he flew a cross country with a friend one weekend while off the clock, so he was wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals. The line service workers didn't hardly give him the time of day when he pulled up to the FBO. The next day he flew the same trip to the same FBO with a student and they were both in uniform. The FBO staff treated them like royalty.
Click to expand...

I SERIOUSLY doubt they treated them better b/c they were wearing uniforms. They still rolled up in a 152. Did he ever think it might have been a DIFFERENT CREW working the second day? Now, if he's talking about the guys/gals on the inside, they saw the uniform and probably thought they were with a King Air or something outside. To me, that's just pretending to be something you're not.
 
If I ran an FBO or academy that had only topless supermodels as CFI's I'm sure I would find some guy that would complain about their uniform on here...
 
No air conditioner = no uniform, no tie, no epaulets!

Open windows don't count as air conditioner.

There was a school in Fredrick, Maryland I was looking at applying at for a CFI job a while back. They seemed pretty desperate... When I went in the chief was wearing a full uniform along with one of the other CFIs. I hung on to my resume that day.

I refuse to participate in that sort of thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top