Epaulettes......rank !
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Melbourne
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I have been in the game for 16 yrs, and never once wore bars or wings! I'm usually in thongs and stubbies.
You obviously never worked for an commercial operator or airline before.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Uniforms are one of the few good things we got from the military. Why do you think they wear them? Because it helps them do the job they have to do. The same applies to aviation. The uniform is one of the tools you use to help do your job better And the size of the aeroplane has little to do with it. Many pilots in small aircraft do difficult and demanding work.
There does not seem to be anything written on the subject, but general industry practise seems to be.
No-one with a CPL or higher wears one bar. That seems to be for cadets who are not on line yet.
Two is for an active line pilot, and three is for a more senior line pilot.
Ansett used to say that four bars indicated a person who has been a captain for more than ten years.
This sounds fairly sensible, and pilots should wear uniforms when dealing with the public. Wear it properly, behave in a responsible manner when wearing it (like always), and NEVER be seen drinking alcohol in uniform.
There does not seem to be anything written on the subject, but general industry practise seems to be.
No-one with a CPL or higher wears one bar. That seems to be for cadets who are not on line yet.
Two is for an active line pilot, and three is for a more senior line pilot.
Ansett used to say that four bars indicated a person who has been a captain for more than ten years.
This sounds fairly sensible, and pilots should wear uniforms when dealing with the public. Wear it properly, behave in a responsible manner when wearing it (like always), and NEVER be seen drinking alcohol in uniform.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Scrubed... aka wind up merchant with the tu$d farm in his mouth.
I was going to agree with you about this one but you fell over your tongue attacking everyone again.
This one is real hard.. If your boss or ops manual says wear a jesters hat, do it or find another employer!
Flying no idea tourists around... wear the stuff...it impresses them no end. Just don't wear a greater than thow attitude .
Spelling...failed that in school...probably proving it here...get over it.
Your turn
I was going to agree with you about this one but you fell over your tongue attacking everyone again.
This one is real hard.. If your boss or ops manual says wear a jesters hat, do it or find another employer!
Flying no idea tourists around... wear the stuff...it impresses them no end. Just don't wear a greater than thow attitude .
Spelling...failed that in school...probably proving it here...get over it.
Your turn
Join Date: Aug 2004
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i think that anyone would rather fly with the 2000 hour guy in the stubbies and thongs. But how the f**k would you know that he had 2000 hours. Epaulettes and wings really say "hey i've got 2000 hours and am a professional pilot." Anyone who thinks different is some backyard, shonky, don't give a f*** operator or pilot who would treat his pax like sh*t and end up with no buisness.
A good well kept and professional uniform is free advertising
A good well kept and professional uniform is free advertising
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Bars
All concerned.
Any number of Gold/Silver bars on eppaulettes attached to the shoulders of freshly pressed white/blue/khaki etc. shirts are the uniform provided to pilots (for a "small tax deductible" cost of course) simply to instill a certain level of confidence in passengers choosing to travel with that operator.
Of course we would all prefer to be doing our jobs dressed in boardys and a shearer's singlet, but unfortunately a steriotype was created long before most of us entered the industry suggesting that any pilot with any idea of which is the pointy end of an aeroplane wears the above mentioned uniform, the more bling, the more compitent the pilot. Any emotionally entact pilot will agree that however many bars their employer will require them to wear is no real reflection of how professional they really are but more a reflection of the difficulty of the particular job that they are required to do, or of the length of their employ with the operator.
Those of you gloating about the fact that you have never had to don the sailors suit in order to perform your job are obviously involved in non-passenger carrying commercial operations eg. freight and agricultural ops and have therefore never been required to display any reflection of qualification to the great unwashed (public) or more likely than not the majority of you are happily immersed in non-commercial operatioins altogether rendering your armchair opinion null and void!!
Takes looong deep breath...
Enough said on the topic, lets get back to bitching about working for nothing! Who first??
Any number of Gold/Silver bars on eppaulettes attached to the shoulders of freshly pressed white/blue/khaki etc. shirts are the uniform provided to pilots (for a "small tax deductible" cost of course) simply to instill a certain level of confidence in passengers choosing to travel with that operator.
Of course we would all prefer to be doing our jobs dressed in boardys and a shearer's singlet, but unfortunately a steriotype was created long before most of us entered the industry suggesting that any pilot with any idea of which is the pointy end of an aeroplane wears the above mentioned uniform, the more bling, the more compitent the pilot. Any emotionally entact pilot will agree that however many bars their employer will require them to wear is no real reflection of how professional they really are but more a reflection of the difficulty of the particular job that they are required to do, or of the length of their employ with the operator.
Those of you gloating about the fact that you have never had to don the sailors suit in order to perform your job are obviously involved in non-passenger carrying commercial operations eg. freight and agricultural ops and have therefore never been required to display any reflection of qualification to the great unwashed (public) or more likely than not the majority of you are happily immersed in non-commercial operatioins altogether rendering your armchair opinion null and void!!
Takes looong deep breath...
Enough said on the topic, lets get back to bitching about working for nothing! Who first??
scrubed
Sorry mate jb05 and myself are two different people. Better luck next time with your sharp detective work.
Sorry mate jb05 and myself are two different people. Better luck next time with your sharp detective work.
Last edited by EMS R22; 7th Jul 2005 at 02:12.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
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scrubbed and V1rotate, i have been flying for over 16 yrs, and trained by some well known and respected pilots, namly a Jack and Brian, one of DC3 fame and another of Syd Airways, and in no way would i be considered a cowboy, or let myself be.
the only reason i have never worn bars is because i have never worked as a pilot! but i do own and fly my own aircraft, and currently building my own little twin. so the thongs and stubbies are simply the most comfortable to wear! and cheapest to buy.
i dont ever remember my instructors wearing bars or wings either while under instruction...
the only reason i have never worn bars is because i have never worked as a pilot! but i do own and fly my own aircraft, and currently building my own little twin. so the thongs and stubbies are simply the most comfortable to wear! and cheapest to buy.
i dont ever remember my instructors wearing bars or wings either while under instruction...
Join Date: Mar 2004
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A good indicator of how professional a particular pilot is the way he/she wears the uniform. Clean ironed shirt and pants, clean or polished shoes. Shirt tucked in and pants not sitting halfway down ones ass. Presentation = Attitude = Professionalism.
I’ll bet that almost any pilot in a tedious GA job who takes the time to look the part will also take the time to – do a thorough pre-flight, load the a/c within limitations, read the notams, report unserviceabilities, conform to duty times, fly safely, fly efficiently and do all the above for the appropriate remuneration.
If we respected ourselves as pilots we might be respected in return with a decent living. Instead of being embarrassed to wear the uniform, be embarrassed to work for less than the Award or an AWA.
I’ll bet that almost any pilot in a tedious GA job who takes the time to look the part will also take the time to – do a thorough pre-flight, load the a/c within limitations, read the notams, report unserviceabilities, conform to duty times, fly safely, fly efficiently and do all the above for the appropriate remuneration.
If we respected ourselves as pilots we might be respected in return with a decent living. Instead of being embarrassed to wear the uniform, be embarrassed to work for less than the Award or an AWA.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Don't bother with the expense - spend it beer. Far more impressive and people won't think that you are prat! Not one of the really good pilots I've met on the GA scene wore any but every single one of the gash ones did!
Join Date: May 2003
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wing "love em"
If you realy want to impress the ladies grab your self a pair of these http://www.bushwings.com/frontpag.html (the stories on this page are a great read too) mate of mine had a pair with a blinking red LED in the middle looked great.
On the subject of wings mine were presented to me by a notable world war two ace in a ceremony when I got my commercail. I wear them with pride. Drinking with wings or bars on is a hainus offence - perpertraitors should be forced to shout the bar.
On the subject of wings mine were presented to me by a notable world war two ace in a ceremony when I got my commercail. I wear them with pride. Drinking with wings or bars on is a hainus offence - perpertraitors should be forced to shout the bar.
Join Date: May 2003
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EB , you are spot on! Whether the wearer has one bar or ten matters not, there isn't anything less deserving of a uniform at all, than some of the bewilderingly scruffy individuals who look like they've just rolled out of their cot.
From the pax's POV, how the hell are they going to fly from A to B, when they can't even dress themselves without mummy's help!?
Filthy, 10yr old gold bars aside, I think the greatest (and possibly the funniest) act of sacrilege I ever did see, was the shirt, 4 bars, wings and all..............worn with a ratty pair of old jeans!! I think they even came with a hole in the ass!
I take it by some of the comments, that some of you want to be professional pilots when you grow up..........Maybe CASA need to incorporate Ironing techniques into the syllabus and mirrors onto the back of your whizz wheels??
Have the appropriate pride & respect for yourselves & what you've earnt..........And you'll know when you've earnt it!
Now I'm off to close the shutters before the incoming!
From the pax's POV, how the hell are they going to fly from A to B, when they can't even dress themselves without mummy's help!?
Filthy, 10yr old gold bars aside, I think the greatest (and possibly the funniest) act of sacrilege I ever did see, was the shirt, 4 bars, wings and all..............worn with a ratty pair of old jeans!! I think they even came with a hole in the ass!
I take it by some of the comments, that some of you want to be professional pilots when you grow up..........Maybe CASA need to incorporate Ironing techniques into the syllabus and mirrors onto the back of your whizz wheels??
Have the appropriate pride & respect for yourselves & what you've earnt..........And you'll know when you've earnt it!
Now I'm off to close the shutters before the incoming!
