Uniforms @ FSA

[Check_Six]

A thread of curiosity...

I noticed a bunch of gritching from posters in the ATP flight school forum about having to wear uniforms in the near future. I personally never had a problem wearing a uniform at FSA as I thought it looked professional, and took away having to figuring out what to wear each morning . I also felt more comfortable during my first few weeks being able to tell apart the instructors, check airman, and chief pilots (by the stripes). I suppose my opinion is a bit biased considering my military school experience prior to attending FSA...

Any thoughts from other previous FSAers?

[DE727UPS]

Uniforms at flight schools is the dumbest damn thing I ever heard of. Are there any airline pilots here that don't agree?

Or don't I get a vote since I'm not from FSA?

Or don't I get a vote since I hate direct track?

Too bad, I voted anyway....

Look, you seem like a nice guy. Student pilots don't need to run around looking like airline pilots. It's just stupid. I just don't know how else to explain it. It's just dumb in a silly sort of way. Makes me laugh in a sad sort of way. But if it really makes you feel better about doing what you're doing, then knock yourself out.

[Baronman]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Too bad, I voted anyway....

As of 9:10am (East coast) you haven't voted...2 votes in favor at this point. Try again.

[sorrygottarunway]

one of my friends from ground school told me about wearing uniforms while instructing. He went on a cross country with a student and stopped somewhere for fuel. Upon asking for fuel, the woman asked him which plane he was flying... "uhhh... the 172 out there." Sans uniform probably would have been less embarassing. Same thing happened when a Gulfstream IV pilot asked him "what equipment he was on." Heck, polo shirts and khakis are nice, but why go all the way to airline uniform? If it's a ploy to get girls, trust me it doesn't work. Even though I'm not that much into girls...

[BoilerPilot2007]

Uniforms for students are rediculous..

[CLR4ILS]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Uniforms at flight schools is the dumbest damn thing I ever heard of. Are there any airline pilots here that don't agree?

Or don't I get a vote since I'm not from FSA?

Or don't I get a vote since I hate direct track?

Too bad, I voted anyway....

Look, you seem like a nice guy. Student pilots don't need to run around looking like airline pilots. It's just stupid. I just don't know how else to explain it. It's just dumb in a silly sort of way. Makes me laugh in a sad sort of way. But if it really makes you feel better about doing what you're doing, then knock yourself out.

MUMBLER.......... We can't hear a word you are saying.


I think your new name should be MikeTV...

[CLR4ILS]

Originally Posted by Check_Six

A thread of curiosity...

I noticed a bunch of gritching from posters in the ATP flight school forum about having to wear uniforms in the near future. I personally never had a problem wearing a uniform at FSA as I thought it looked professional, and took away having to figuring out what to wear each morning . I also felt more comfortable during my first few weeks being able to tell apart the instructors, check airman, and chief pilots (by the stripes). I suppose my opinion is a bit biased considering my military school experience prior to attending FSA...

Any thoughts from other previous FSAers?

Actually, the uniforms were nice to wear. FlightSafety does not have your typical weekend warrior coming through the ranks. Everyone I knew there was corporate or airline bound. The uniforms put everyone on the same page and on a level playing field. not to mention they look a heck of alot more professional than some guy showing up in his holy jeans and shoes.

Dress codes at professional institutions are a good thing. The dress code also did not allow for guys wearing earings and crap like that. I believe it also stated that one should be of good personal hygiene (you know, not smell like a$$ or B.O.).

Being able to identify the instructors and head of stands etc. was nice as Check6 said. Overall, great experience....

ILS

[Baronman]

I think that the uniforms go with the rest of the structure in Flight Safety's programs. It's definetly not intended to be a chick magnet. In addition much of the administration at the academy is ex-military and they seem to be keen on the idea of uniformity.

If you want to get down to it, what's the point of wearing a uniform at all as a pilot? Do you make better decisions, hit your touchdown point every time etc?
Hey, I'm sure many freight dawgs wear jeans and a polo to work, why does UPS force you guys to wear the brown leisure suit/uniform ;-) I doubt the packages feel better seeing a professional looking aviator up front.

Maybe it's something as vague as "getting into the zone." Putting on the uniform (even as a student) and it's time for business.

Just wondering is it silly that guys at the merchant marine academy here in NY wear uniforms?

[Theotokos]

Uniorms are cool but I actually have this friend who wanted to go to an acadamey just because of the uniforms. I mean he just suddenly said he wanted to be a pilot because he saw the cool uniforms. I did not want him to go to school with me in the first place, but especially over somthing stupid like that. Eventually I decided Honaker Aviation local, and he asked me one day, after deciding NOT to become a pilot, "Do they have uniforms at Honaker?" I told him nt and he looked into CAP just to be able to wear uniform and was trying to get another friend and me to join. I was like no, I am not joining. He was all like, "The uniforms are cool though." Then he decided against it. Obviously he has mental issues. Besides I told him, "Look you do not want to move far from home. What if there is a job that requires you to be based at LAX?" He said he would take a flying job closer to home in Kentucky. I tried to tell him that the only pilots based in Louisville are UPS and even then that is not a gurentee. He only wanted to become a pilot because of the unforms. Uniforms are cool, but what a stupid reason to go to an expensive flight school and become a pilot. Especially since you have a phobia of living far from family or alone.

[DE727UPS]

"As of 9:10am (East coast) you haven't voted...2 votes in favor at this point. Try again"

Tounge in cheek, it was. I voted with my keyboard much to my esteemed wannabe colleague Cleared4ILS's chagrin.

Oh well.

UPS makes us wear uniforms because we are professional pilots. The definition of which is getting paid to do the job. Student pilots are not getting paid to do a job. They are flying a 152. Stepping out of a 152 in a uniform looks silly...but that's just me.

As an aside...the other day I deadheaded on an MD11 from ANC to Seoul. By top of climb, the flight crew had all changed into jammies and a t-shirt....and the jammies MATCHED. Me and the Capt got a hoot out of that. So much for uniforms. If it were up to us, it would be a jeans and tennis shoes operation.

"Uniorms are cool but I actually have this friend who wanted to go to an acadamey just because of the uniforms"
"He only wanted to become a pilot because of the unforms"

HAHA. There's a guy who should be going to FSA.

[747Heavy]

What is your problem?, why do you even bother wasting your time putting your fingers on the keyboard!!!

You must be the most miserable person in the world!, everything you seem to post on here is negative! And quite honestly I find some of your comments quite snide.

What is your vendetta against Flight Safety?!!

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by 747Heavy

What is your problem?, why do you even bother wasting your time putting your fingers on the keyboard!!!

You must be the most miserable person in the world!, everything you seem to post on here is negative! And quite honestly I find some of your comments quite snide.

What is your vendetta against Flight Safety?!!

No more coffee for YOU!

New nickname for Don; Snidely Whiplash!

[DE727UPS]

"You must be the most miserable person in the world"

Why would you say that?

"And quite honestly I find some of your comments quite snide"

Are you talking about me stating my opinion about student pilots wearing uniforms or something else? My opinion on that isn't soley directed at FSA but someone from FSA started a thread in the FSA forum, so I can see how my comments might seem directed at FSA. Just to set the record straight, I think it's dumb to see a student pilot, from ANY school, getting out of a 152 in a uniform. There...how's that?

"What is your vendetta against Flight Safety?!!"

I wouldn't call it a vendetta, really. I mainly don't like Ab Initio and simply don't think going FSA is worth the high cost. Do you?

As I have stated before, I think FSA turns out a fine CFI that will be well equipped to take on the world and work their way up the ladder. Those loan payments are gonna be hell, though....

[DE727UPS]

"No more coffee for YOU!"

Mwwhahahaha....

I'm off to Starbucks in Taipei, you guys better watch out.

[CLR4ILS]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

"As of 9:10am (East coast) you haven't voted...2 votes in favor at this point. Try again"

Tounge in cheek, it was. I voted with my keyboard much to my esteemed wannabe colleague Cleared4ILS's chagrin.

Yeah, I wanna be just like you..... you freakin doorknob.

I can't believe Doug made you a moderator on this site......

[DE727UPS]

"freakin doorknob?"

Is that bad?

"I can't believe Doug made you a moderator on this site......"

Why is that? I'm one of the few major airline pilots who's willing to spend his time here, I started flying in 1978, and have been intersted helping folks with their aviation careers since long before JC was invented. I have a good posting history and have shown an interest in bettering this site through my commitment of time.

Just because our opinions in the best way to the airlines vary is no reason to start up the personal attacks....again.

Cleared4ILS. A word of advice regarding this thread so far. First post, personal attack, doesn't contribute to the thread, BAD. Second post, states your opinion on the subject of the thread, GOOD.

[Check_Six]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Look, you seem like a nice guy...

I am a FANTASTIC guy...

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

By top of climb, the flight crew had all changed into jammies and a t-shirt....and the jammies MATCHED.

AHHAHAHAHA!!!
This quote should definately be on a UPS pilot recruiting poster!

Originally Posted by Baronman

I doubt the packages feel better seeing a professional looking aviator up front.

Another good quote! LOL

[DE727UPS]

"This quote should definately be on a UPS pilot recruiting poster"

Ummm....UPS doesn't seem to need recruiting posters. They kinda come to us. But point is well taken. Matching jammies, I swear. Maybe Cleared4ILS's UPS MD11 friend, who thinks I'm an idiot, could come here and comment. It would be great to have more UPS pilots at jetcareers, no matter how they are recruited.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by CLR4ILS

Yeah, I wanna be just like you..... you freakin doorknob.

Class act.




By the way, I know you don't care what I think, so you can save your breath. I'm just giving my opinion about the quality of your posts. Pardon me, make that lack of quality.

[badco99]

Being at FSA right now I don't mind wearing a uniform. I've been wearing some kind of uniform since high school...be it ROTC (HS and college), police and now becoming a pilot. You're training to become a professional pilot, why not start looking the part now and get use to it.

Why not make the same arguement for ROTC? They're just students, no commission, not getting paid...so what's the difference there??? Why should they wear a uniform?

Its all about image. Would you rather look like a professional or a POS?

[DE727UPS]

"Its all about image. Would you rather look like a professional or a POS?"

I don't know, maybe you ask the MD11 guys in jammies if they are a POS or professional. Are you saying wearing a uniform helps your self image? Or makes you fly better?

[psalm91]

The uniform thing is okay...I think that they may want to consider FSA polo shirts and slacks or something like that...especially during the summer. Is it a big deal? No. I understand why they want people to wear uniforms, I don't mind it. I just think you can accomplish the same professional environment sans shirt and tie, but not stuff like t-shirt and jeans. Like I said, a nice FSA logo'd polo and slacks or whatever would do the job just fine imho. You could even have different colors for the students and instructors.

[badco99]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

"Its all about image. Would you rather look like a professional or a POS?"

I don't know, maybe you ask the MD11 guys in jammies if they are a POS or professional. Are you saying wearing a uniform helps your self image? Or makes you fly better?

Ok, POS was a bit far. But how about just unprofessional? And I'd say wearing a uniform has nothing to do with self image, but about the image you project to others. Sounds like your saying let's just get rid of uniforms across the board because how we look means nothing. Can you honestly say that how we look means nothing? That even if I know everything about aviation and showed up to an interview in jeans and a t-shirt I'd still get the job over the guy that didn't know it all but showed up in a suit. And again, what about ROTC and the other training programs where you aren't "getting paid"? Should they quit wearing uniforms? Where do you draw the line and what's the difference?

As for the crew changing at TOC, I guess what they do at FL300 is their business. Did they change back before they landed? Seems that someone wanted them in a uniform since they had it on in the first place. And no, what you wear doesn't make you a better pilot.

[USMCmech]

I saw quite a few people who looked like POSs while wearing their uniforms at FSA. Shirttail untucked, white shirts that obviously haden't been washed in days, ect.

Currently I wear jeans and my work shirt when I fly with a student and have to be at work (turning wrenches) imeadiately afterward. All other times it's jeans and a t-shirt.

It is my career goal to fly profesionally full time and never wear a tie.

[DE727UPS]

"Can you honestly say that how we look means nothing?"

I can honestly say I think how a student pilot looks means nothing. Yeah.

Wear a suit to the interview, that's not what we are talking about.

ROTC or CAP is part of the military, that's not what we are talking about.

Professional pilots should wear uniforms while in view of the public. I think it's silly to see student pilots running around in uniforms trying to play airline pilot. But, if it turns your crack, knock yourself out.

Seriously, you pay that kind of money to go to FSA, I can see why they want you to wear the uniform. It makes you feel better about spending that kind of dough to look like an airline pilot while learning to fly a plane. That's why ATP is doing it. Makes perfect sense to me.

As an aside...I once owned four small aircraft that I rented out to free lance CFI's. If a CFI wanted to use one of the planes, I had him meet me at Starbucks. Once, this kid from one of the big academies showed up in a business suit. I told him he looked nice but if he went anywhere near one of my airplanes dressed like that, he'd regret it, hehe. I think he found a regular job at a nice flight school. Before you rail on how unprofessional my operation was, several folks that rented my aircraft back in those days have gone on to regionals and majors...to include UPS. I doubt if an FSA guy would ever stoop so low as to be a free lance CFI, but if you do, you might want to leave the uniform mindset at home. You can be just as professional as a free lance CFI in jeans and a t-shirt as you can in a uniform.