Whats in a title
Captain is so passé
I’ll call you Skipper if you promise to call me Gilligan
I’ll call you Skipper if you promise to call me Gilligan
Last edited by CaptCloudbuster; 30th Mar 2022 at 05:07.
It's a culture change!
Sometime over the past 30 or so years the use of "Captain" has been changed by those that see it somewhat differently to those that are older. This seems to be a sign of the times? Not one that I support. As an example, my father was a Master Mariner (A ship's Captain) and he was always addressed as Captain, even when he moved to a shore position with the same company and later as a Marine Surveyor. His ship was sunk by the Germans in WWII, and he spent 4 yrs in a POW camp in Germany. All of the correspondence that I have seen (and still have) the mail was addressed to "Captain”, and he even had "Capt" prefix in the white pages (you remember them?)
Somewhere along the line the use of the title and other similar ones has been changed by those that don't seem to respect what it really means. Of course, there is a time and place for its use and perhaps the change has come about because of, shall I say "inappropriate" use (as described in previous posts) - maybe the later generations just don't understand or have not been in the classroom when it was discussed?
When I was flying as PIC, my company always used the prefix of Captain, even on boarding passes when deadheading. It was the way it was. Nevertheless when used appropriately, it should be respected.
Sometime over the past 30 or so years the use of "Captain" has been changed by those that see it somewhat differently to those that are older. This seems to be a sign of the times? Not one that I support. As an example, my father was a Master Mariner (A ship's Captain) and he was always addressed as Captain, even when he moved to a shore position with the same company and later as a Marine Surveyor. His ship was sunk by the Germans in WWII, and he spent 4 yrs in a POW camp in Germany. All of the correspondence that I have seen (and still have) the mail was addressed to "Captain”, and he even had "Capt" prefix in the white pages (you remember them?)
Somewhere along the line the use of the title and other similar ones has been changed by those that don't seem to respect what it really means. Of course, there is a time and place for its use and perhaps the change has come about because of, shall I say "inappropriate" use (as described in previous posts) - maybe the later generations just don't understand or have not been in the classroom when it was discussed?
When I was flying as PIC, my company always used the prefix of Captain, even on boarding passes when deadheading. It was the way it was. Nevertheless when used appropriately, it should be respected.
Once upon a time the title “Captain” was so feared he was never questioned, to the point it was preferable to fly into the side of a mountain than disobey his orders.
Nowadays the safety culture has changed, but there is still an elitist arrogance with using the prefix of “Captain” outside of work, or demanding to be only addressed by that title in any circumstance.
Coach and train drivers have, at times, more lives in their hands than airline pilots yet they don’t seem to go around feeling the need to refer to themselves by their job title outside of work.
Would it hurt anyone if their boarding pass didn’t have the prefix of “Captain”? Are you suddenly going to forget how to do your job?
Although I still see some remnants of that culture I’m confident these quasi military elements are going to be expunged within time from civilian airlines, as they are totally unnecessary and if you go around referring to yourself as “Captain” in general communication, the only thing you’ll achieve nowadays is get yourself labelled as a word rhyming with “banker”.
Sometimes when I’m paxing on another airline the ticket gets booked as CAPTAIN …….
(No, I don’t book them)
The looks I get from the operating crew when showing my boarding pass… automatically people think I’m a massive ****** for using my title.
So two things… firstly, don’t use it outside of your specific work environment. Secondly, if you see someone with CPT on their boarding pass spare a thought for them because they probably didn’t do it themselves and feel like a tool!
(edit reason - typo)
(No, I don’t book them)
The looks I get from the operating crew when showing my boarding pass… automatically people think I’m a massive ****** for using my title.
So two things… firstly, don’t use it outside of your specific work environment. Secondly, if you see someone with CPT on their boarding pass spare a thought for them because they probably didn’t do it themselves and feel like a tool!
(edit reason - typo)
Last edited by compressor stall; 30th Mar 2022 at 05:21.
Banker , once respected profession. Remember how my parents got dressed up to front up to a meeting with local branch manager to discuss chance of a mortgage . Now ? Politicians also once well respected . Times we live in . Covid has been interesting as 30 year immunologists are disrespected and told by the masses they are involved in some type of conspiracy in regards to vaccinations. We’ve lost trust in educated specialists , brining them down but it’s costing us as a society .
In a breathe of fresh air in the mid-80's a Captain once briefed us "My name's Greg*. If you call me Captain I'll think there's something wrong."
I took that onboard and used it, particularly with cabin crew, thus hopefully making them feel comfortable to speak to us if there was something they felt we needed to know.….. and hoping it wasn't "Captain. You must listen!"
* maybe not his real name
I took that onboard and used it, particularly with cabin crew, thus hopefully making them feel comfortable to speak to us if there was something they felt we needed to know.….. and hoping it wasn't "Captain. You must listen!"
* maybe not his real name
But having 4 bars on your shoulders can help. I had to do some swift talking at Athens to be allowed OFF the airport as the two of us were wearing jeans and collared t-shirts and not in uniform. The reasoning behind the Security was that aircrew don't crew aircraft in jeans and t-shirts.
Back to the thread. A fair number of years ago I had a friend who was a retired Pan Am skipper. This was a time when Pan Am was among the prominent international operators.
Upon his retirement one of the things he was presented with by the airline was a box of business cards, embossed with logo, Captain xxx, Pan Am, (retired).
I guess the airline thought it was recognition and was appreciated at the time.
Things change I suppose.
Last edited by innuendo; 30th Mar 2022 at 05:33.
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Captain xxx, Pan Am, (retired).
"BSc, (Calcutta) (failed)" and before you go off at me for being racist, this was a character in an old comic strip.
Paxing on duty travel, I swapped seats with a passenger so they could have the window seat. Guy was huge, nice mullet, beard, dressed like a proper bogan. Starting the service, the cabin crew addressed him as “Captain xxxx”. He looked at me questioningly and I shrugged my shoulders, he then said “f$&kin A man, I’ll take that” and sat up a bit straighter with his new found title. Swear he didn’t stop smiling the whole flight.
B.H. (Calcutta) Failed was a dog in the comic strip ‘The Perishers’.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Perishers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Perishers
I did my “civvie” licenses at a flying school near Bristol, UK, where the instructors all wore three bars and the owner four. Though there was one instructor who put four on when he was flying the local radio travel crew.
Paxing on duty travel, I swapped seats with a passenger so they could have the window seat. Guy was huge, nice mullet, beard, dressed like a proper bogan. Starting the service, the cabin crew addressed him as “Captain xxxx”. He looked at me questioningly and I shrugged my shoulders, he then said “f$&kin A man, I’ll take that” and sat up a bit straighter with his new found title. Swear he didn’t stop smiling the whole flight.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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"Captain" is a mere indication of servitude employment!
I accept being addressed as nothing less than "Sir". Grovelling also helps!
I accept being addressed as nothing less than "Sir". Grovelling also helps!
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Congratulations on passing your upgrade. Well done. You'll still get mistaken for a cabin crew member and the refueler will look past you looking for the captain.
It happens, just shrug it off.
As for using the title outside of work? Never. It's a job title.
It happens, just shrug it off.
As for using the title outside of work? Never. It's a job title.
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I always thought I would “save that quote” for when I became a Captain.
By the time I became a Captain, I am happy to report, the quote has never needed to be used. It now goes without saying.
As far as I am concerned, respect is earned by personality, attitude and action (leading by example), not by title.
If you ever have to flash your 4 bars at a subordinate, the problem is probably you, not them.
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I've seen people who have been pre-failed at the start of assessment days by interviewers when conducting document checks, and discovering their proof of address title is "Captain" on a utility bill or like....Probably reflects the general sentiment amongst most towards this kind of self importance. Everyone should have the right to be addressed by a name of their choosing, so go for it if it means so much...but don't expect your colleagues not to poke fun at you in your absence.
