Uniforms at the instructing level

[viper548]

Originally Posted by zmiller4

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.

Remember our assitant chief pilot that wore the green pants with the uniform? Have you heard from him lately?

[Cruise]

Originally Posted by scottyboy75

At least it is not a flight helmet and nomex flight suit. There has been a safety notice published that states pilots have been burned in post crash fires. Robinson has now suggested that all pilots wear helmets and nomex. We are just waiting to see what the insurance companies have to say, as they are the ones who run the industry. Their is only one thing a helmet is good for, it gives the investigator a place to look so they can identify you by dental records.

Hilarious!

[PGT]

Originally Posted by JEP

That's easy............


Over, under, Over, Under.

Up, Down, Through.................



All Done

i still cant tie one either and i have to wear one to work....and no i dont use clip ons. Mine were tied once and now i just hang em up and tighten it.


Uniforms on students and instructors....i think its cheesy. I woulnt care if my instructor wore a $2000 suit or wal-mart jeans.

[FlyingNole]

You guys are all adults (most of you), i think its about time you learn how to tie one.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by PGT

i still cant tie one either and i have to wear one to work....and no i dont use clip ons. Mine were tied once and now i just hang em up and tighten it.


Uniforms on students and instructors....i think its cheesy. I woulnt care if my instructor wore a $2000 suit or wal-mart jeans.

Well just ask your mom to tie it for you...lol!

[taildragger173]

Where I was instructing this summer, I often wore a billabong shirt and board shorts. If I felt like dressing up, I'd put on a polo shirt and a pair of kakhi shorts.

[Texguy]

I say let CFIs wear anything they want as long as it's more than just a thong. (Male CFIs)

[CapnJim]

Who here would pay extra for uniforms to go to a flight school like ATP?

[Van_Hoolio]

We wear a pretty nice button-down shirt with the company's logo. We have them in both short sleeve and long sleeve. We're not required to wear them every day, and a nice polo is acceptable.

Mike

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by Ralgha

I've rolled up to Flightcraft at PDX in a 152, had it break on me, and the Flightcraft staff went far out of their way to help me out. I was wearing khaki pants, some kinda shirt, sneakers, and a winter ski jacket (it was cold). Didn't exactly look professional.

The original poster was getting at the fact that wearing the uniform got them better service. A good FBO (like the one you mentioned) will give you good service whether you pull up in a Citation and epaulets or a 152 and flip flops.

Originally Posted by WAFlyBoy

Anyhow, we only train foreign pilots at this campus and I'm quite certain that the requirement of a uniform fosters an environment of professionalism and discipline that wouldn't exist if we wore street clothes while training.

I think we were just as professional at Skymates in polos, though. To me, professionalism is in the person, not the uniform. You can have a guy in an airline-esque unifrom be totally un-professional just as easily as the guy wearing a t-shirt and shorts can be extremely professional.

[Cruise]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

......... To me, professionalism is in the person, not the uniform. You can have a guy in an airline-esque unifrom be totally un-professional just as easily as the guy wearing a t-shirt and shorts can be extremely professional.

Professionalism is an attitude, a manner in which you carry yourself, a respect for yourself and how you interact w/ others....etc....

It has little to do w/ what you are wearing......to a degree.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Man, a tie? That's a little over the top right there. A lot of the guys at the airlines have clip ons that come off as soon as the cockpit door is closed. Is there even a place to hang a clip on in a 172?

I was going to suggest you talk to Matt, but he already beat me to it.

Originally Posted by chrisdahut1

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.

Florida heat? HA!!! Try the heat in the "San Joaquin Valley"!!! 100's for weeks! And furthermore, try that while flying in the state-of-the-art Alarus! (I think Nick should chime in here)

Originally Posted by WAFlyBoy

The flight school I teach at requires students and instructors to wear uniforms. I don't really mind terribly. They don't make us wear ties in the summer and the uniform is a good conversation starter with the chicks in town. (latter intended as a joke.... kind of)

Anyhow, we only train foreign pilots at this campus and I'm quite certain that the requirement of a uniform fosters an environment of professionalism and discipline that wouldn't exist if we wore street clothes while training.

It's a good point, but I hope we're not so overly concerned about appearance that we neglect the things that really make the school run...like airplanes. I do admit though that although the uniform idea is nice, it can be a bit much. I don't think the issue amongst us is whether or not to wear uniforms. It's more of what the uniform entails.

Originally Posted by kellwolf

I think we were just as professional at Skymates in polos, though. To me, professionalism is in the person, not the uniform. You can have a guy in an airline-esque unifrom be totally un-professional just as easily as the guy wearing a t-shirt and shorts can be extremely professional.

That's true. What's that saying again? Something about the minute you open your mouth and talk it says a lot about you. Profesionalism is not an image. It involves character. So a person's character better match the "image" he/she is trying to project. Otherwise, that person would really be making a fool of himself/herself.

Neil

[Nick]

Airline pilot uniforms for instructors and students to fly C-152s is everything I need to know about the people that run the flight school.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by Nick

Airline pilot uniforms for instructors and students to fly C-152s is everything I need to know about the people that run the flight school.

But what about the CH2T? Surely that's "airline material"!

[uvscaviator]

I actually left my flight school for a smaller one that didn't require uniforms. I am not a "dressing up" kind of person and I figure while I am learning I need to be as comfortable as possible so that I can focus on the task at hand...flying, and not some stupid uniform.

[seagull]

What makes the uniform at a flight school even MORE inane is that airline pilot instructors don't wear uniforms unless it's during IOE, when you are part of an operating crew. In the school house, you have got to be kidding!

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

The original poster was getting at the fact that wearing the uniform got them better service. A good FBO (like the one you mentioned) will give you good service whether you pull up in a Citation and epaulets or a 152 and flip flops.



I think we were just as professional at Skymates in polos, though. To me, professionalism is in the person, not the uniform. You can have a guy in an airline-esque unifrom be totally un-professional just as easily as the guy wearing a t-shirt and shorts can be extremely professional.

Ahhh....we're not really all that professional in that case, Steve

[phoenixflyer]

Originally Posted by N422NM

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...

id complain... that they werent naked.

I hate uniforms.. (n422nm already knows this) they arer dumb.. especially when its summer in phoenix, they are reqd at my school but i dont wear them. i like to think im grandfathered in.. i was there before they were reqd.

[PGT]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

Well just ask your mom to tie it for you...lol!

hey now...

i think Nick said it well.

Airline pilot uniforms for instructors and students to fly C-152s is everything I need to know about the people that run the flight school.

[DE727UPS]

"What makes the uniform at a flight school even MORE inane is that airline pilot instructors don't wear uniforms unless it's during IOE"

Now, that's a good point...

[Dugie8]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

"What makes the uniform at a flight school even MORE inane is that airline pilot instructors don't wear uniforms unless it's during IOE"

Now, that's a good point...

Idn't it though! I want three years of my uniform wearing, flight instructor life back, DAMN YOU UND!!!!!

[Texguy]

Originally Posted by phoenixflyer

they are reqd at my school but i dont wear them. i like to think im grandfathered in.. i was there before they were reqd.

I like the way you think.

[MQAAord]

Uniforms for students/instructors are just silly.

Even in flight attendant new hire school, (the Barbie Boot Camp of the airline world) instructors and students don't regurlarly wear their uniforms for training. Sometimes uniforms are worn during the last few days/week of training to get everyone in the 'hang' of the uniform & image regulations, but we don't wear them the whole time.

Why? Cause it's silly! Seriously!

[Texguy]

It looks like grown-ups playing Dress Up.

[kellwolf]

The airline thing is a very good point. We didn't wear uniforms in ground school or in the sim, and neither did the instructors. Business casual was the order of the day. In fact, one of our instructors was a check airman that would wear jeans and a polo. Does that make them unprofessional? Nope.