semi-kalbo
Actually, to make things clear. That ex-Pal student (turned CA instructor) did not even want us to shave our heads. He just wanted a clean cut. But it was the time when that batch was having a hard time. Management was a mess. They werent flying. Nothings happening. Then two racist foreigners management were giving them a hard time without any goals on what they were doing.
That class initiated it by themselves. They had alot of arguments because some of them doesnt find shaving heads and dodo style useful. But eventually, they did.
They showed the PALAv graduate that they are willing to be standardized when there wasnt any back then. Then, their batch told all the problems they were facing in his first few days in CA. They asked him to help us.
Through his initiative, he found that the ALSIM could be used as a tool so that we could start training eventhough there were no planes yet. So he trained us there until we started our actual flying.
It may sound stupid that the batch insisted to have that semi-military, dodo style, shaving heads system. But they have their reason and im sure it was needed back then.
Much respect for because, unlike todays CA standard, he was our foundation. What he learned from PALav, that was our initial training. When we have nothing and was so down, he was there to help.
Now, as i see in the core flying phase, I can just envy how the quality of training the CA instructors are giving. Im sure there are still alot to iron out. But its getting better. Way better that before.