Uniforms in Light Business Jet Operations (Europe)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Europe
Age: 33
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Uniforms in Light Business Jet Operations (Europe)
Hi fellow pilots,
Just wondered what your experience and attitude is with respect to uniforms and uniform policy (if any) in (private) business aviation environments. I mean the smaller part of the spectrum: Citations, Phenom 100/300, Beech Premier etc, maybe also high performance turboprops King Airs, TBM, PC12 and so on.
I've been working for a European private operator of a light bizjet over the last year or so and have seen just about everything at the crew lounges of the airports I've been to: from full "airline-style" uniforms with the hat and all to no uniform at all, with lots of in-between things like jeans/chinos and a pilot's shirt with bars.
If you work for a private light bizjet operator,
I wished there was more standardization on which colours to use (navy blue, black etc), whether the bars should be silver or gold and so on. It just looks weird if one pilots wears blue with silver stripes and the other black with gold stripes.
I think wearing the uniform (and our company issued crew badge) helps going through the crew security check at the airport I'm based. The times I try and go through there without the uniform on they're much more annoying about the checks.
At some airports the uniform also helps in getting the apron door opened quicker without having to explain you're a pilot and need to get to your plane.
Finally have had some nervous passengers (afraid of flying in a "smaller" plane). I believe it eases their minds to see pilots with uniforms up front, it looks more professional.
On the other hand passengers and people around the terminal tend to stare at you more often, but this doesn't really bother me.
Anyway, just curious what fellow colleagues' experiences are!
Just wondered what your experience and attitude is with respect to uniforms and uniform policy (if any) in (private) business aviation environments. I mean the smaller part of the spectrum: Citations, Phenom 100/300, Beech Premier etc, maybe also high performance turboprops King Airs, TBM, PC12 and so on.
I've been working for a European private operator of a light bizjet over the last year or so and have seen just about everything at the crew lounges of the airports I've been to: from full "airline-style" uniforms with the hat and all to no uniform at all, with lots of in-between things like jeans/chinos and a pilot's shirt with bars.
If you work for a private light bizjet operator,
- Is there a uniform policy you must follow? If there is, are you provided with the uniform by your employer?
- If there's no official policy, can you choose whether to wear a uniform or not?
- If it's up to you, do you choose to wear one? Why? And where do you source it from?
I wished there was more standardization on which colours to use (navy blue, black etc), whether the bars should be silver or gold and so on. It just looks weird if one pilots wears blue with silver stripes and the other black with gold stripes.
I think wearing the uniform (and our company issued crew badge) helps going through the crew security check at the airport I'm based. The times I try and go through there without the uniform on they're much more annoying about the checks.
At some airports the uniform also helps in getting the apron door opened quicker without having to explain you're a pilot and need to get to your plane.
Finally have had some nervous passengers (afraid of flying in a "smaller" plane). I believe it eases their minds to see pilots with uniforms up front, it looks more professional.
On the other hand passengers and people around the terminal tend to stare at you more often, but this doesn't really bother me.
Anyway, just curious what fellow colleagues' experiences are!
It just looks weird if one pilots wears blue with silver stripes and the other black with gold stripes.
A uniform helps, a major US airline had a crew scheduled to ferry a 707 sans pax so they rolled up sans uniform, folk in the terminal saw the non uniformed crew in the cockpit and reported to authorities that someone was trying to steal the aircraft, airline later promulgated an order that crews would always wear uniform when on duty.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Europe
Age: 33
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A uniform helps, a major US airline had a crew scheduled to ferry a 707 sans pax so they rolled up sans uniform, folk in the terminal saw the non uniformed crew in the cockpit and reported to authorities that someone was trying to steal the aircraft, airline later promulgated an order that crews would always wear uniform when on duty.
As a freelancer, I've worked for companies whose requirements have varied from the hat (bloody ridiculous requirement in a Citation!) and double breasted jacket to jeans and T-shirts.
The one company I worked full-time for, our normal uniform was blue trousers, white shirt with company tie, blue NATO style pullover if an individual wished; jacket was blue/grey IAT leather by Aviation Leathercraft. Silver stripes. For flights like base check, maint posit or air tests we could wear jeans or chinos and company-braded polo shirt.
The one company I worked full-time for, our normal uniform was blue trousers, white shirt with company tie, blue NATO style pullover if an individual wished; jacket was blue/grey IAT leather by Aviation Leathercraft. Silver stripes. For flights like base check, maint posit or air tests we could wear jeans or chinos and company-braded polo shirt.
Our company requires us to wear uniforms during empty legs and refer to a psychological experiment that says it makes you approach the job at hand with a more professional attitude instead of complacancy and boredom.
in the US, you get away with formal casual in slacks and a polo, but internationally it gets you further looking official with bars on the shoulder and does ease things when navigating thru airports. Of the more stupid rules was Lisabon airport, where the manager decided a pilot must look like a pilot and wear the jacket with bars too.. otherwise you cant get to the ramp.
in the US, you get away with formal casual in slacks and a polo, but internationally it gets you further looking official with bars on the shoulder and does ease things when navigating thru airports. Of the more stupid rules was Lisabon airport, where the manager decided a pilot must look like a pilot and wear the jacket with bars too.. otherwise you cant get to the ramp.
My company has branded polos and ball caps for ferry flights.
I’m happy to wear uniform whenever on duty; wouldn’t object to wearing uniform in sim - they’re pretty dirty places - but also happy to be in civvies.
Would prefer to ditch the tie and have a bit more comfort, casual smart windcheater rather than a blazer, etc… think the key is the whole operation looks the same. Uniformity with a touch of comfort…
I’m happy to wear uniform whenever on duty; wouldn’t object to wearing uniform in sim - they’re pretty dirty places - but also happy to be in civvies.
Would prefer to ditch the tie and have a bit more comfort, casual smart windcheater rather than a blazer, etc… think the key is the whole operation looks the same. Uniformity with a touch of comfort…
I used to fly for a private operator, midsize bizjet. We got new suits every year (& always from NEXT). We could pick the design we wanted as long as it was dark blue or black in colour & it was the same design. Also always get two or three pairs of trousers with one jacket because the trousers wear out faster. Under that was a pilot shirt and tie, and black shoes (again all the same design). If we were flying the owners and going to places where we were well known then we didn't bother with epaulettes. If we were flying guests or going somewhere we were not well known we would wear them; Silver bars in Europe/America, but gold bars going east (& the more the better) apparently gold bars are more respected out that way. I think the old "airline style" uniform, the double breasted jacket with shiny buttons & "wings", the hat etc etc looks very passe now, even in the airlines....
Does it really matter?
On a ferry flight from Wichita via Europe and the Middle East through to Oz, we decided that we would wear our uniforms from Athens on.
Put the Citation to bed after landing in Athens and were being driven to our accommodation by our ground agent.
As we drove out at first the officious guard on the gate would not let us off the airport because we were not in uniform.
Can do.
On a ferry flight from Wichita via Europe and the Middle East through to Oz, we decided that we would wear our uniforms from Athens on.
Put the Citation to bed after landing in Athens and were being driven to our accommodation by our ground agent.
As we drove out at first the officious guard on the gate would not let us off the airport because we were not in uniform.
On a ferry flight from Wichita via Europe and the Middle East through to Oz, we decided that we would wear our uniforms from Athens on.
Put the Citation to bed after landing in Athens and were being driven to our accommodation by our ground agent.
As we drove out at first the officious guard on the gate would not let us off the airport because we were not in uniform.
