Tayside FIs now wearing stripes
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Originally Posted by Blackshift
However the issue here has to do with the displaying of badges denoting rank, authority or experience - and more specifically when this is laughably inappropriate, as in the case of a non-professional, non-instructor boss knocking about with 4 bars with an instructor/examiner in the same outfit only meriting 3
NS
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Gas pains my ar$e!
I get a good laugh when I hear about an instructor spotted in a trendy cafe sporting full regalia on a day he isn't even flying.
As it happens I am also the longest served instructor where I am now and wear whatever I like, as does everyone else including the CFI. We also have what is possibly the lowest rate of instructor turnover in the country.
The ultimate boss is a PPL who has earned respect for dealing with the business side of things without interfering with flight training issues, whilst conferring with the CFI where these things overlap and deferring to him where they don't.
Our collective aversion to tinsel, scrambled-egg and ceremonial-swords is part of our mission plan, and so far it has proved to be a very successful strategy all round.
Whereas I entirely accept that this approach might not be the most appropriate for dealing with a CPL/IR training environment, our feedback indicates that many prospective PPL's can be put off, or even slightly intimidated by all this militaristic sartorial palaver.
I wouldn't be at all happy if the boss decided we were to go down the uniform route, and if he started wearing 4-bars I'd probably be off.
Sorry if that makes me in any way overly sensitive.
However, NS, I'm a bit concerned about your powers of observation : semiotics an important aspect of human behavior and it might be worthwhile paying more attention to the specific currency of signs and symbols which those around you chose to display in order to communicate their status.
It could be that you are being a tad disingenuous here though, and that you are essentially in agreement that such a display - which it is significant that you chose to resist as a means of self-expression - is essentially futile, having been pretty much bankrupted by inappropriate use in the manner sugested by Speedy above.
For my own part, be assured that such matters are a rich source of amusement rather than gastric discomfort.
I get a good laugh when I hear about an instructor spotted in a trendy cafe sporting full regalia on a day he isn't even flying.
As it happens I am also the longest served instructor where I am now and wear whatever I like, as does everyone else including the CFI. We also have what is possibly the lowest rate of instructor turnover in the country.
The ultimate boss is a PPL who has earned respect for dealing with the business side of things without interfering with flight training issues, whilst conferring with the CFI where these things overlap and deferring to him where they don't.
Our collective aversion to tinsel, scrambled-egg and ceremonial-swords is part of our mission plan, and so far it has proved to be a very successful strategy all round.
Whereas I entirely accept that this approach might not be the most appropriate for dealing with a CPL/IR training environment, our feedback indicates that many prospective PPL's can be put off, or even slightly intimidated by all this militaristic sartorial palaver.
I wouldn't be at all happy if the boss decided we were to go down the uniform route, and if he started wearing 4-bars I'd probably be off.
Sorry if that makes me in any way overly sensitive.
However, NS, I'm a bit concerned about your powers of observation : semiotics an important aspect of human behavior and it might be worthwhile paying more attention to the specific currency of signs and symbols which those around you chose to display in order to communicate their status.
It could be that you are being a tad disingenuous here though, and that you are essentially in agreement that such a display - which it is significant that you chose to resist as a means of self-expression - is essentially futile, having been pretty much bankrupted by inappropriate use in the manner sugested by Speedy above.
For my own part, be assured that such matters are a rich source of amusement rather than gastric discomfort.
Last edited by Blackshift; 24th Jul 2006 at 08:19.
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Originally Posted by Blackshift
However, NS, I'm a bit concerned about your powers of observation : semiotics an important aspect of human behavior and it might be worthwhile paying more attention to the specific currency of signs and symbols which those around you chose to display in order to communicate their status.
NS
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... or more accurately : unlike your colleagues.
'Cos not bothering about such incidentals and getting on with the job is the prevailing culture where I work, but not where you do apparently.
As for taking the bother to have a chat about such matters, were both guilty of that - however I hope it's as entertaining for you as it is for me!
'Cos not bothering about such incidentals and getting on with the job is the prevailing culture where I work, but not where you do apparently.
As for taking the bother to have a chat about such matters, were both guilty of that - however I hope it's as entertaining for you as it is for me!
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Well you seem to know more about where I work and the situation there than I do so of course I defer to you. Like I said I just instruct so I leave it to people in other flying schools to do more important things like tell me what I ought to be seeing/thinking/doing in the spare time between flights.
NS
PS: you aren't by any chance an ex-instructor at the establishment mentioned in the thread title are you?
NS
PS: you aren't by any chance an ex-instructor at the establishment mentioned in the thread title are you?
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To be perfectly honest I'm now as concerned about your attention span and reading comprehension skills as I am about your powers of observation.
I am very surprised, and slightly disappointed, that you have not worked out the answer to that question, although it is possible that once again you are being slightly disingenuous - I'm pretty sure I figured out who you were a long time ago after some exchanges with you on a previous thread.
I'm sure you are a fine bloke, and it does you credit that you are taking the trouble to stick up for your colleagues in this manner. However, I feel that your actions in rejecting such inane blingery about your own person are more convincing than your words.
It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that I might be expected to don such insignia to work myself at some point, but if anyone ever finds me sporting such nonsense in the pub I promise to immediately remove the offending items and buy them a drink.
As I have already indicated, as far as I am concerned this thread amounts to little more than a piece of self-indulgent entertainment with the added piquancy of a little Schadenfreude, which those who know me will hopefully understand and forgive me for.
And if you or anyone else still wishes to take offence at anything I have said here, you probably deserve it: Gerrit right upye!
I am very surprised, and slightly disappointed, that you have not worked out the answer to that question, although it is possible that once again you are being slightly disingenuous - I'm pretty sure I figured out who you were a long time ago after some exchanges with you on a previous thread.
I'm sure you are a fine bloke, and it does you credit that you are taking the trouble to stick up for your colleagues in this manner. However, I feel that your actions in rejecting such inane blingery about your own person are more convincing than your words.
It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that I might be expected to don such insignia to work myself at some point, but if anyone ever finds me sporting such nonsense in the pub I promise to immediately remove the offending items and buy them a drink.
As I have already indicated, as far as I am concerned this thread amounts to little more than a piece of self-indulgent entertainment with the added piquancy of a little Schadenfreude, which those who know me will hopefully understand and forgive me for.
And if you or anyone else still wishes to take offence at anything I have said here, you probably deserve it: Gerrit right upye!
Last edited by Blackshift; 25th Jul 2006 at 15:44.
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Gee Whiz... Storm in a teacup or what???
My initial post was light-hearted bit it seems as if nowadays light-hearted comments are treated a bit too seriously on PPRuNe.
When thinking about this situation though, the atmosphere for PPL instruction should be professional yet as relaxed as possible. Don't you think the sight of gold bars might in the eyes of the PPL student might make things more serious and formal than is needed. After all a PPL student is learning to fly for a hobby!
My initial post was light-hearted bit it seems as if nowadays light-hearted comments are treated a bit too seriously on PPRuNe.
When thinking about this situation though, the atmosphere for PPL instruction should be professional yet as relaxed as possible. Don't you think the sight of gold bars might in the eyes of the PPL student might make things more serious and formal than is needed. After all a PPL student is learning to fly for a hobby!
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Professional AND Relaxed
Gents (I think),
It seems that this whole thread is getting a little tangential. The initial post was asking the opinions of Tayside for wearing insignia on their uniform. IMHO (as a current RAF QFI) the teaching of flying goes much deeper than a gold bar. I do have some recent knowledge of Tayside at Fife and they appear to be a thoroughly professional outfit. If i was to walk in there as a Gift-Voucher-first-time-flyer, probably not knowing what to expect, that initial image would instill some confidence in me.
It is then up to the manner and ability of the individual FI to show the relaxed YET professional side of their flying. This, in turn could guide that students entire outlook on flying and, again IMHO, produce a private flyier with a professional outlook for years to come, and probably someone less likely to bong a Red Arrows display, or the like - but that IS another thread!
In sum - It gives a good corporate image that others would do well to follow, without any of the pretentious bravado that seems to be floating around within certain organisations, heaven forbid, EVEN in 25C heat
Uncle G
It seems that this whole thread is getting a little tangential. The initial post was asking the opinions of Tayside for wearing insignia on their uniform. IMHO (as a current RAF QFI) the teaching of flying goes much deeper than a gold bar. I do have some recent knowledge of Tayside at Fife and they appear to be a thoroughly professional outfit. If i was to walk in there as a Gift-Voucher-first-time-flyer, probably not knowing what to expect, that initial image would instill some confidence in me.
It is then up to the manner and ability of the individual FI to show the relaxed YET professional side of their flying. This, in turn could guide that students entire outlook on flying and, again IMHO, produce a private flyier with a professional outlook for years to come, and probably someone less likely to bong a Red Arrows display, or the like - but that IS another thread!
In sum - It gives a good corporate image that others would do well to follow, without any of the pretentious bravado that seems to be floating around within certain organisations, heaven forbid, EVEN in 25C heat
Uncle G
