Epaulette Etiquette
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Prestige...
The number of stripes is useful to identify the person in charge and it can also show his or her qualifications. If you need to speak to the person in charge you look for the one wearing four stripes; it is no big deal.
In the States even someone flying a light aircraft gets four stripes, where in Europe he or she may have just three.
One of my helicopter pilot friends, a talented photographer, presented me with a very nice digital photo where I was posing by my airplane. I was very pleased with it until I noticed that I was shown wearing 5-bar epaulettes! Jealousy is such a sad emotion, really...
Sometimes I would get an ID50 ticket that identified me as CPT So-and-so. One day the woman at the check-in desk asked me if I was in the army, since I was down on her list as a "Captain". I just laughed: over 50 and still a Captain, three up from the bottom? Way to go!
In the States even someone flying a light aircraft gets four stripes, where in Europe he or she may have just three.
One of my helicopter pilot friends, a talented photographer, presented me with a very nice digital photo where I was posing by my airplane. I was very pleased with it until I noticed that I was shown wearing 5-bar epaulettes! Jealousy is such a sad emotion, really...
Sometimes I would get an ID50 ticket that identified me as CPT So-and-so. One day the woman at the check-in desk asked me if I was in the army, since I was down on her list as a "Captain". I just laughed: over 50 and still a Captain, three up from the bottom? Way to go!
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I wore bars when I was a ppl...I'd put them on going into places like Livingstone and Maputo just after landing, to get through the fuel stop and back into my plane without being harassed. I flew into some little place in Tanzania recently wearing jeans, and was told that I couldn't be the pilot, they tried to not let me back to my plane.
Might be worse for us female pilots though. A lot of the security grunts can't concieve a chick being a pilot, and instead would rather show off their power.
Might be worse for us female pilots though. A lot of the security grunts can't concieve a chick being a pilot, and instead would rather show off their power.
Last edited by Vilasy; 26th Jan 2009 at 06:09.
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Flying helicopters, I hate wearing my epps. But flying in dark Africa, I'd wear 8 stripes if they made them.
Sometimes it's not a good idea to visit the customs officer and he has more stripes than you. So for Africa I'd say wear your 4 stripes no matter what licence you have.
In SA I'd say go back to the 3 if you're CPL because some ATP guys might give you the evil eye.
Sometimes it's not a good idea to visit the customs officer and he has more stripes than you. So for Africa I'd say wear your 4 stripes no matter what licence you have.
In SA I'd say go back to the 3 if you're CPL because some ATP guys might give you the evil eye.
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...some ATP guys might give you the evil eye...
Most folks just don't give a rotund rodent's rectum in my experience. However, if folks feel the need to walt about in the things to make their willies look bigger, by all means. Whatever gets your leg over.....
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As I understand crew must be easily identified as crew whilst on the apron and transiting the airport facilities, but in the Mall its not required last time I checked.
SRT I cannot imagine you saluting those tossers at C130 heaven.
SRT I cannot imagine you saluting those tossers at C130 heaven.
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I used to fly in jeans and a t-shirt, never had any problems, always had my licence or id on my though. Even walked through all kinds of airports without any vissible ID because of my rain coat, seems in some places a clip board and walking around like you know where you going is enough to get by. 
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I never wear bars at all.
Just a high viz jacket, heavy or light weight, depends on weather and location.
Jacket has Captain written on back in big letters and same in small on port side over left nipple.
Only time it is ever a confusion is when perhaps in Nigeria, you were flying with a Commander. But then I am the Captain and he is the Commander until I am the Commander and then it becomes -'No, this says I am the Captain but he is the Captain and I am the Commander'. No airport official ever contests that sort of logic arguements. They understand that sort of thinking very well.
Mein Got! What nonsense - especially as most who wear the epallettes with such glee neglect their trouser pressing, shirt tails and clean shoes anyway so end up looking like toilet attendants at Sun City.
(but you gotta wear Ray Bans if you are a low timer. If you are old and have grizzled eyes that shows you have a lot, a very big lot, of experi)ence.
Just a high viz jacket, heavy or light weight, depends on weather and location.
Jacket has Captain written on back in big letters and same in small on port side over left nipple.
Only time it is ever a confusion is when perhaps in Nigeria, you were flying with a Commander. But then I am the Captain and he is the Commander until I am the Commander and then it becomes -'No, this says I am the Captain but he is the Captain and I am the Commander'. No airport official ever contests that sort of logic arguements. They understand that sort of thinking very well.
Mein Got! What nonsense - especially as most who wear the epallettes with such glee neglect their trouser pressing, shirt tails and clean shoes anyway so end up looking like toilet attendants at Sun City.
(but you gotta wear Ray Bans if you are a low timer. If you are old and have grizzled eyes that shows you have a lot, a very big lot, of experi)ence.
Join Date: Apr 2003
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We have moved on...
There is now the triskelion. Mine is the Flaming Pink Triskelion First Class in Gold with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, the only one ever and I guess that make me King of the Walts. I wear it whenever I am in the left seat of my 744 shooting approaches to Kai Tak or Tai Kak or whatever the name of that airport on Microsoft Flight Simulator is. Epaulettes, pah!
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There are occassions in life when you've got to admire some folks brass neck wherein I know a young man / pilot who's got four bars tatooed on each shoulder... I kid you not!
Ps. SK, my fine good friend, if you happen to be reading this then I've got just one thing to say to you, "HARD!"
Ps. SK, my fine good friend, if you happen to be reading this then I've got just one thing to say to you, "HARD!"
Join Date: Jul 2008
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the Airline I work for has a policy, when in uniform on the way to work, full uniform to be worn, including cheese boards. SAAF was the same, flight caps on and smartly presented when going to and from work. SAAF's philophosy was to be proud to be an aviator, those who wern't in the SAAF probably don't have the same etiquette and felt the need to start this thread. They clearly have had no aviation grounding drummed into them by a square jawed searge installing the basics, or being chased round the hard stand by your instructor in a harvard for a slow scan....
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I flew for a quasi freight compan once which used to do split duty us overnight in Belfast.
Our hotel was way out of the city. It was a very bad idea to drive around in uniform at night.
Driving to work is positioning duty? and so company time.
Our hotel was way out of the city. It was a very bad idea to drive around in uniform at night.
Driving to work is positioning duty? and so company time.
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Originally Posted by rudder hard over
the Airline I work for has a policy, when in uniform on the way to work, full uniform to be worn, including cheese boards. SAAF was the same, flight caps on and smartly presented when going to and from work. SAAF's philophosy was to be proud to be an aviator, those who wern't in the SAAF probably don't have the same etiquette and felt the need to start this thread. They clearly have had no aviation grounding drummed into them by a square jawed searge installing the basics, or being chased round the hard stand by your instructor in a harvard for a slow scan....
FFS's.....
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It's quite simple... outside of the a/c the amount of hours one can expect to see a pilot wearing stripes is in inverted proportion to the number of hours in their log-books.
Can't believe that so much has been written about so little.
Can't believe that so much has been written about so little.
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On more than one occasion cops have waved me through at road blocks where all other cars got stopped. Coincidentally I happened to be wearing the stuff on hte way home from work. Other guys wear their ramp jackets (green ones) for the same perk, especially after a few in the pub after work.
The way I see it, it's no big deal. I wear it in the same spirit a lawyer wears a tie. That's the attire of the profession. Certainly not worth FIVE pages of replies? (including mine)
The way I see it, it's no big deal. I wear it in the same spirit a lawyer wears a tie. That's the attire of the profession. Certainly not worth FIVE pages of replies? (including mine)
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Why would you not say it is worth 5 pages? It makes a good read.
But what's nice is to read everyone's stories about why they wear them and where.
I never wear mine except at really big airports in Africa, but then most of the time I'm in a flightsuit, so it shouldn't actually make a difference.
So I think keep this thread going!
But what's nice is to read everyone's stories about why they wear them and where.
I never wear mine except at really big airports in Africa, but then most of the time I'm in a flightsuit, so it shouldn't actually make a difference.
So I think keep this thread going!