Mixmaster - Cheers Buddy - If that's a subtle job offer then PM with more Info, might help pay off some training loans... - i presume you would be my line manager (Head of Airline Grooming Checks)?
Finals19 - almost at the airlines mate - cheers for asking - not far to go. My father was an airline pilot for 30+ years and taught me an awful lot about the workings and combining that with what i have seen and learnt so far within my own training to become an airline pilot - i merely offer my humble opinion, like yourself.
Regarding your point - it's swings and roundabouts really - i should have put the word "probably" so it read...
They probably have never done...etc
There are always going to be the odd exceptions.
It got me thinking about why the forces have initial basic training? - what is it there for? is it about attitude correction/re-shaping? etc... What is training supposed to do?
Finals19 - note I don't use the word DISCIPLINE - its 2007 and CRM does rule
I'm not sure why you seem afraid to use the word Discipline? - you're quite right it is 2007 and it still seems a perfectly valid word to me - when used in the right context.
If you actually read my posts you should see that i am proposing the following regarding why uniforms should be/are worn....
- Pilots (operational) - look professional, establish rank/role, corporate identity etc
- Pilots (under training) - develop desirable attributes, remove social pressures from training, familiarize with rank/role (subtly)
- Walking freight - Instill confidence in pilots abilities to take them from a-b safely and fill that stereotypical placeholder people have when they think of pilots.
Note - i never said that people need to wear uniforms to become better pilots rather my point was that they wear them for the above reasons.
In a nutshell - it's not so much what is worn but rather the way its worn -> i.e. attitude.
Finals19 - I agree that professionalism and recognition/respect (note I don't use the word DISCIPLINE - its 2007 and CRM does rule) for authority gradient are important in the modern pilot, but these things should come naturally - if you need to wear a uniform and be spoon fed in your FTO to understand this, then you really shouldn't be a professional pilot in the first place!
I agree with your point here but i also agree that a uniform helps with professionalism (because isn't it professionalism to look the part as well as talk and act it?)
I don't think people need a uniform to understand this - i think uniforms help to re-enforce all of these points during training - a bit like diagrams in a book.
Plus i think for training pilots everything needs be accentuated because you're there to learn properly - are you not? It reminds me of when i did my CPL - it wasn't so much the flying that was being taught but rather the attitude of the commercial pilot. Factors such as getting from a-b as directly as possible, as safe as possible in the least time possible, as cost effectively as possible.
Suggestions were also made that we should wear a pilot shirt and tie (which i did anyway - surprise surprise
) for the skills test. Low and behold when i met the examiner on the morning of the test it was like BANG! Hi as*ho!e i'm the examiner and YOU are the one i am examining - He was wearing 4 bars and was very expectant on uniform as it
demonstrated facets of professionalism and the right mental attitude etc.