Gold Bars and Flying Suits
I have a nice little woven badge with my name on it. A relic of my RAF training days, still use it and it is a ice breaker, when you pop up somewhere new. I always wear white leather gloves, fireproof socks and cotton clothing, again a relic from the RAF. My flying suit alas no longer fits and I cannot find a RAF cold weather jacket large enough, I would wear them if I could.Reason being my CO once gave me an enormous telling off, when I wore no gloves, no socks on a sortie and asked me what I was going to do if her Majesty's aircraft caught fire! I don't care if I do look OTT, safety once drilled into you is never forgotten.
I don't think "Captain" refers to how many people you can kill. It is a rank used in military organisations, and a title used in civil organisations. It goes with the uniform that those organisations also require people to wear. It's part of the contractual relationship between the organisation and the individual given the title and requred to wear the uniform.
If you are flying a C150 or even a 747 in a non-commercial private capacity neither title nor uniform have much significance except to the individual, except perhaps in under-developed countries where officials are wowed by bars. And at fancy dress parties, of course.
Debating whether the person in charge of a C150, a 747 or a dinghy "ought" to be called "captain" rather misses the point IMHO.
If you are flying a C150 or even a 747 in a non-commercial private capacity neither title nor uniform have much significance except to the individual, except perhaps in under-developed countries where officials are wowed by bars. And at fancy dress parties, of course.
Debating whether the person in charge of a C150, a 747 or a dinghy "ought" to be called "captain" rather misses the point IMHO.
Back in my gliding and PPL-student pilot days I knew this aerobatic aircraft owner who had (in my mind) a lot of experience...400+ hrs.
I looked up to him, respected his opinion as a more experienced pilot and basically almost a mentor to me.
I took an organized tour to the Le Bourget Airshow and law and behold I run into him. Flight suit, stars and bars and badges.
So I excitedly asked him what he flew into the airshow...he smiled a little awkwardly and answered.."Bravo Mike Whiskey".
That's when I realized that he had driven his car to the airshow and was trotting around pretending maybe even trying to pass as one of the airshow pilots.
That day he fell of his pedestal.....
Later I learned from people that had flown with him that despite having an aerobatic aircraft he was a lousy pilot.
Anyway, when you try and be that pretentious be careful who you try to fool.
I looked up to him, respected his opinion as a more experienced pilot and basically almost a mentor to me.
I took an organized tour to the Le Bourget Airshow and law and behold I run into him. Flight suit, stars and bars and badges.
So I excitedly asked him what he flew into the airshow...he smiled a little awkwardly and answered.."Bravo Mike Whiskey".
That's when I realized that he had driven his car to the airshow and was trotting around pretending maybe even trying to pass as one of the airshow pilots.
That day he fell of his pedestal.....
Later I learned from people that had flown with him that despite having an aerobatic aircraft he was a lousy pilot.
Anyway, when you try and be that pretentious be careful who you try to fool.
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For work flying:
White shirt, uniform trousers.
Bars when absolutely required, but they're taken off at the earliest opportunity and hidden in my flight bag / pocket. In some parts of the world they make the difference between a standard challenging airport experience and being stuck overnight while bribes filter through official channels.
In some circumstances I'm expected to wear a grow bag. With bars. Again, bars taken off asap and a hi-vis is a useful aid to hiding them.
The reason many professional pilots take off their bars is because it's considered to be pretentious and ego-driven to wear them outside of the office. It's broadcasting to the world that you're a pilot. This broadcast also implies you're insecure in yourself since you need to tell the world what you are. Rather like "loadsa money" needing to flash his cash, or a president needing to tell everyone how great he is. A good pilot doesn't need to advertise anything.
A grow bag is slightly different. It's a piece of safety equipment, and there are certain types of flight that might be considered somewhat more risky and therefore additional PPE could be relevant. And if you determine that your flight in a C152 to collect a bacon sarnie is risky enough to warrant a grow bag, fair play to you. I'm not going to judge that. I will judge on the basis of how many badges / gold braid / bars you choose to adorn yourself with, since this has no impact on safety and mostly makes you look like an arrogant idiot (see above re great presidents).
For fun flying:
Aerobatics, open cockpit, vintage or test flying: grow bag. No badges. Occasionally a simple name badge where appropriate. For these flights I'll often wear gloves.
Any other flights I'll wear jeans or cargos, t-shirt, trainers and avoid the use of a hi-vis unless absolutely necessary.
White shirt, uniform trousers.
Bars when absolutely required, but they're taken off at the earliest opportunity and hidden in my flight bag / pocket. In some parts of the world they make the difference between a standard challenging airport experience and being stuck overnight while bribes filter through official channels.
In some circumstances I'm expected to wear a grow bag. With bars. Again, bars taken off asap and a hi-vis is a useful aid to hiding them.
The reason many professional pilots take off their bars is because it's considered to be pretentious and ego-driven to wear them outside of the office. It's broadcasting to the world that you're a pilot. This broadcast also implies you're insecure in yourself since you need to tell the world what you are. Rather like "loadsa money" needing to flash his cash, or a president needing to tell everyone how great he is. A good pilot doesn't need to advertise anything.
A grow bag is slightly different. It's a piece of safety equipment, and there are certain types of flight that might be considered somewhat more risky and therefore additional PPE could be relevant. And if you determine that your flight in a C152 to collect a bacon sarnie is risky enough to warrant a grow bag, fair play to you. I'm not going to judge that. I will judge on the basis of how many badges / gold braid / bars you choose to adorn yourself with, since this has no impact on safety and mostly makes you look like an arrogant idiot (see above re great presidents).
For fun flying:
Aerobatics, open cockpit, vintage or test flying: grow bag. No badges. Occasionally a simple name badge where appropriate. For these flights I'll often wear gloves.
Any other flights I'll wear jeans or cargos, t-shirt, trainers and avoid the use of a hi-vis unless absolutely necessary.
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If I am in charge, the responsible person who makes the decisions, for example, go, or chicken out, I am the captain. And this applies to my boat, and my aircraft. Any crew or passenger who finds it difficult to understand my rank is left on the dock. I have been sailing since 1938.
As for uniform or gold bars, not needed. I do have 3,000 hours in the air, as instructor, tug pilot etc. The tug pilot pulling up a glider also is in charge of the combination, so in effect the captain, until the glider departs the tow or you dump him. Uniform in the aircraft? a narrow brim sun hat so your brain doesn't get fried; but your vis is not impeded. In the glider, I find a baby blanket stowed behind me but still in reach is good if you fly high enough to get cold; you can then be quite comfortable with the extra cover, as high as 20,000 feet over Deeside gliding club. Yes, with oxygen.
Of course a power plane is nice in winter, often has a heater.
As for uniform or gold bars, not needed. I do have 3,000 hours in the air, as instructor, tug pilot etc. The tug pilot pulling up a glider also is in charge of the combination, so in effect the captain, until the glider departs the tow or you dump him. Uniform in the aircraft? a narrow brim sun hat so your brain doesn't get fried; but your vis is not impeded. In the glider, I find a baby blanket stowed behind me but still in reach is good if you fly high enough to get cold; you can then be quite comfortable with the extra cover, as high as 20,000 feet over Deeside gliding club. Yes, with oxygen.
Of course a power plane is nice in winter, often has a heater.
A good pilot doesn't need to advertise anything.
If you really must.
It seems to me the answer is in the many AAIB etc reports that I've read where the driver is referred to as the aircraft commander.
Taking a leaf from the senior service for a moment, we find that a commander is a person capable of navigating and commanding a ship of small to middling size. A commander gets three rings.
A captain on the other hand is the person who is experienced enough to get to play around with bigger vessels. He or she gets an extra ring.
So, if you must, perhaps your average <5700kg spamcan driver could claim 3 bars, on the other side of that maybe you get an extra one...
Of course these things are usually only awarded in military service. The presence of them in civilian life, particularly where it's not exactly de rigueur I suppose isn't actually a crime but I've always tended to consider them a bit faux.
At the risk of stirring the proverbial hornet's nest you may want to pause for a moment and consider TCT's honorary rank of light commander and her actually wearing the insignia. Is that more ok because she's been awarded it by a military body, or does it appear 'kitschy'?
I offer the above as a question and make no comment on the merit or otherwise of TCT's dress - it merely serves as a contemporary example of what some may consider to be a quandary that is at least slightly relevant to this discussion... you can choose where you sit on that particular debate!
FP.
Taking a leaf from the senior service for a moment, we find that a commander is a person capable of navigating and commanding a ship of small to middling size. A commander gets three rings.
A captain on the other hand is the person who is experienced enough to get to play around with bigger vessels. He or she gets an extra ring.
So, if you must, perhaps your average <5700kg spamcan driver could claim 3 bars, on the other side of that maybe you get an extra one...
Of course these things are usually only awarded in military service. The presence of them in civilian life, particularly where it's not exactly de rigueur I suppose isn't actually a crime but I've always tended to consider them a bit faux.
At the risk of stirring the proverbial hornet's nest you may want to pause for a moment and consider TCT's honorary rank of light commander and her actually wearing the insignia. Is that more ok because she's been awarded it by a military body, or does it appear 'kitschy'?
I offer the above as a question and make no comment on the merit or otherwise of TCT's dress - it merely serves as a contemporary example of what some may consider to be a quandary that is at least slightly relevant to this discussion... you can choose where you sit on that particular debate!
FP.
Presumably, when these people get into their BMW on the way to the local airstrip, they first dress up in Nomex underwear, Sparco suits, gloves and boots and a Bell racing helmet? If they also have a bicycle, the options for dress are endless.
Presumably, when these people get into their BMW on the way to the local airstrip, they first dress up in Nomex underwear, Sparco suits, gloves and boots and a Bell racing helmet?
It seems to me the answer is in the many AAIB etc reports that I've read where the driver is referred to as the aircraft commander.
Taking a leaf from the senior service for a moment, we find that a commander is a person capable of navigating and commanding a ship of small to middling size. A commander gets three rings.
A captain on the other hand is the person who is experienced enough to get to play around with bigger vessels. He or she gets an extra ring.
So, if you must, perhaps your average <5700kg spamcan driver could claim 3 bars, on the other side of that maybe you get an extra one...
Taking a leaf from the senior service for a moment, we find that a commander is a person capable of navigating and commanding a ship of small to middling size. A commander gets three rings.
A captain on the other hand is the person who is experienced enough to get to play around with bigger vessels. He or she gets an extra ring.
So, if you must, perhaps your average <5700kg spamcan driver could claim 3 bars, on the other side of that maybe you get an extra one...
The role of being in charge of an aircraft or vessel does have legal implications, as we all know, but not the title or uniform.
Nothing to stop individuals conferring a title or uniform on themselves, of course.
As a fellow pilot's (ex) girlfriend put it, there's really no need for a private pilot to wear a uniform: "Never ask a man if he's a pilot. If he is, he'll soon tell you."
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. If I am in charge, the responsible person who makes the decisions, for example, go, or chicken out, I am the captain. And this applies to my boat, and my aircraft. Any crew or passenger who finds it difficult to understand my rank is left on the dock. I have been sailing since 1938.
Never left anybody on the dock. Rank is for the Navy folks, I have never worn a stripe or a uniform on a vessel and never had to remind anybody who is in charge.
Not uptight or have a need to blow sunshine up my own tush either.
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Couple of years back, I saw some berk get into a Cirrus at Turweston with RAF flying suit on, complete with a multitude of badges and all topped off with the necessary white gloves.
My companion's comments still make me chuckle to this day
My companion's comments still make me chuckle to this day
That was my question !
Thread Starter
GBS, I have friends with major airlines that took 20 years to get a command - and even then they tend not to refer to themselves as captain.
Their employers do refer to them as 'captain' however, having promoted them from First Officer.
All these things are subjective, but IMHO the type of person who thinks they're the 'captain' of a little boat or little plane, and feels the need to buy regalia that indicates they are a captain, almost certainly wouldn't pass a command course.
Too insecure.
Their employers do refer to them as 'captain' however, having promoted them from First Officer.
All these things are subjective, but IMHO the type of person who thinks they're the 'captain' of a little boat or little plane, and feels the need to buy regalia that indicates they are a captain, almost certainly wouldn't pass a command course.
Too insecure.