Blues if not flying
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Having just re-read the uniform instructions, at least the precis supplied to our office, I note that there are only 3 lines on flying clothing, that aircrew will 'wear flying clothing only if they are engaged in, or travelling to/from, home/flying-related duties.' (ie: just about any time on a flying tour). There's alot more about not wearing CS95 unless you're doing something operational. It seems that the 'problem' that the AFB is trying to address is not aircrew in growbags, but everyone else looking like the PBI (Poor Bloody Infantry).
So how come this thread is 10 + pages of mostly aircrew v groundcrew & the boring flying suits debate?
So how come this thread is 10 + pages of mostly aircrew v groundcrew & the boring flying suits debate?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Ken, you are right in theory and, at a secret base near me, right in practice. However you can be sure that someone somewhere will go that extra mile for that extra brownie point.
I was going to say the last time it happened but perhaps it has happened since 1983 as well, anyway we were on a Pan diversion to a base in the midlands. After we discussed the nature of the emergency we were asked if we had uniforms with us. If we only had flying suits we would not be allowed in the mess and would have to go to a hotel downtown.
We opted to divert to the adjacent airfield. However once there we were told we would be confined to the scruffs bar. Instead we simply blended in with the GAF crews at the opposite end of the bar.
Crazy? Yup. Will it happen again? You bet.
I was going to say the last time it happened but perhaps it has happened since 1983 as well, anyway we were on a Pan diversion to a base in the midlands. After we discussed the nature of the emergency we were asked if we had uniforms with us. If we only had flying suits we would not be allowed in the mess and would have to go to a hotel downtown.
We opted to divert to the adjacent airfield. However once there we were told we would be confined to the scruffs bar. Instead we simply blended in with the GAF crews at the opposite end of the bar.
Crazy? Yup. Will it happen again? You bet.
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Try a Civil Diversion
Pontius Nav. I have watched this thread with horrified awe and yet here I am adding the 210th note in six days. Your point about rig and diversions is soooo true.
Try a civil diversion. Dressed as PBI, a joint collection of self loading baggage departed BZZ for ASI and South Africa in a Tri* and sometime later landed at Manchester. We were dispersed to various hotels and our gear stayed onboard. When the bird was fixed, the airport authority held us in coaches outside the fence until such time that we could be taken direct to and loaded immediately on the aircraft, even though it was night. The point for this thread is that they did not care what we were wearing.
Try a civil diversion. Dressed as PBI, a joint collection of self loading baggage departed BZZ for ASI and South Africa in a Tri* and sometime later landed at Manchester. We were dispersed to various hotels and our gear stayed onboard. When the bird was fixed, the airport authority held us in coaches outside the fence until such time that we could be taken direct to and loaded immediately on the aircraft, even though it was night. The point for this thread is that they did not care what we were wearing.
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Now which budget manager is going to say you must wear civies not withstanding the IBN?
This will get interesting, once the flood of applications for 1st class season tickets and warrants comes in the door.
Just out of interest, does this include air travel also.....?
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Grabbers,
maybe but:
uniform should now be worn in all work-associated situations. Accordingly, personnel will be encouraged to wear uniform when travelling between their homes and places of duty; this applies equally for journeys on foot, in private cars or on public transport. . . .
As such, it will be entirely normal for personnel to visit local amenities such as shops, petrol stations and cafes in uniform, when these visits are linked to duty time: ie, travelling to and from work and during lunch-time or other breaks.
To say no warrant because you don't need to travel in uniform is hardly encouraging wearing of uniform when travelling.
Rock and a hard place?
maybe but:
uniform should now be worn in all work-associated situations. Accordingly, personnel will be encouraged to wear uniform when travelling between their homes and places of duty; this applies equally for journeys on foot, in private cars or on public transport. . . .
As such, it will be entirely normal for personnel to visit local amenities such as shops, petrol stations and cafes in uniform, when these visits are linked to duty time: ie, travelling to and from work and during lunch-time or other breaks.
To say no warrant because you don't need to travel in uniform is hardly encouraging wearing of uniform when travelling.
Rock and a hard place?
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Wader,
My point is if I choose to wear civilian clothes to/from my daily commute am I in breach of the IBN? I'm sure it states after the 'encouraged' bit that it is difficult to envisage circumstances under which travelling out of uniform would be approved. Now, as I go to the trouble of varying both my route and method of transport where do I stand?
My point is if I choose to wear civilian clothes to/from my daily commute am I in breach of the IBN? I'm sure it states after the 'encouraged' bit that it is difficult to envisage circumstances under which travelling out of uniform would be approved. Now, as I go to the trouble of varying both my route and method of transport where do I stand?
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I'm sure it states after the 'encouraged' bit that it is difficult to envisage circumstances under which travelling out of uniform would be approved.
Now, as I go to the trouble of varying both my route and method of transport where do I stand?
the practice of covering up uniform was instigated in response to the Irish Republican terrorism campaign of the 1980s and 1990s – but is no longer relevant.
PS, don't shoot the messenger.
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On the contrary, thanks for clearing that up. I know the word used is 'encouraged' but I had clearly misinterpreted the following passage. At least I don't have to put away my hoodie and prison white trainers.
And just because I vary my route doesn't necessarily mean I increase mileage etc.
And just because I vary my route doesn't necessarily mean I increase mileage etc.
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Thread seems to have wandered a bit. So to get it back towards the original question. Would any one wear a growbag flying in the back of a public transport jet. Either in first, buisiness or cattle? 
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DD, yes, it's been done, immersion suit, life jacket, bone dome, parachute, the lot. I would have done anything to see the other pax faces.
But I thought Christmas tree thread more interesting.
But I thought Christmas tree thread more interesting.
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Fook me 11 pages of slack jawed mincing about wearing blues, simple stuff ya bunch of mincers, wear blues to work, put overalls on (or as you call them flying suits) to do your job, and then at the end of the day put blues on to go home. For christ sake if techies can cope with the simple tasks of engineering buttons and zips you winged master race chaps should find this a breeze.
I tried to travel to work in civvies once however the immersion suit required to get to the rig kind of put the mockers on that, i tried to argue that the jeans and works polo shirt i was wearing looked smart and in keeping with my companies ethos, however "the man" said i was looked a state, and would die if we ditched. So oddly enough i obeyed the rules. Still you get some uneducated 'tards that think they are above rules and regs, pity they don't realise how far down the food chain they are.
I tried to travel to work in civvies once however the immersion suit required to get to the rig kind of put the mockers on that, i tried to argue that the jeans and works polo shirt i was wearing looked smart and in keeping with my companies ethos, however "the man" said i was looked a state, and would die if we ditched. So oddly enough i obeyed the rules. Still you get some uneducated 'tards that think they are above rules and regs, pity they don't realise how far down the food chain they are.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Interesting response, 10 days after the topic has died a natural death by someone who has failed to grasp what the f*** it was about.
Slight up date.
There are NIL stocks of RAF Blue overalls with RAF Logo and no forecast for availablity. There is some other nil stock and nil forecast item but f'''''d if I can be bothered to remember what it was.
Slight up date.
There are NIL stocks of RAF Blue overalls with RAF Logo and no forecast for availablity. There is some other nil stock and nil forecast item but f'''''d if I can be bothered to remember what it was.
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Target-Rich
I know I risk excommunication for dusting off this thread, but it would be worth it. The emergence of so many strangely light blue at work this morning has been akin to a David Attenborough series on butterflies.
I cannot remember such a target-rich environment in a Joint HQ, particularly when so many seem so sheepish about so little. Even the civil servants have joined in and we have been smiling since the first cup of tea. We have listened to bizarre conversations about the correct colour of tights with rig and the challenge of shaping 'chippies' to the head. I have seen the imprint of buttons on pockets where the unexpected hot iron had shattered them and commiserated that stores had run out of replacements.
Yes. We will get over it and work is already returning to normal. Meanwhile, taken a note to self to remind 1SL at the next fireside-chat that the RN does not follow, not even out of curiousity.
I cannot remember such a target-rich environment in a Joint HQ, particularly when so many seem so sheepish about so little. Even the civil servants have joined in and we have been smiling since the first cup of tea. We have listened to bizarre conversations about the correct colour of tights with rig and the challenge of shaping 'chippies' to the head. I have seen the imprint of buttons on pockets where the unexpected hot iron had shattered them and commiserated that stores had run out of replacements.
Yes. We will get over it and work is already returning to normal. Meanwhile, taken a note to self to remind 1SL at the next fireside-chat that the RN does not follow, not even out of curiousity.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Cunning Plan
CAS's cunning plan pays dividends.
While shopping in a well known, low cost store, in uniform:
"Oi, do you work here?"
Clearly the rank tabs, brevet etc and the fact that the store staff wear blue shirts and trousers confused the poor man.
At least I now know I am not limited to McDonut's for a job.
While shopping in a well known, low cost store, in uniform:
"Oi, do you work here?"
Clearly the rank tabs, brevet etc and the fact that the store staff wear blue shirts and trousers confused the poor man.
At least I now know I am not limited to McDonut's for a job.
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Very relieved to see that the one high profile place in the capital that could have set the tone has deliberately excluded itself from this ill thought out debacle - MOD. Wonder why? Couldn't be the Snr Officers are in receipt of civilian clothing allowance, could it??? Do as we say, not as we do......
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I was at LAND on Friday, saw a figure in blue/grey slacks wearing a navy blue bomber jacket and on his head a chip bag. On the chip bag was a minute crown and eagle.
Now the media gurus have decided that Joe Public does not recognise the crown and eagle and associated the roundel with certain fashion clothing so they designed a new scripted logo to go with the roundel.
So how does wearing an anonymous blue outfit, without and obvious identity, help advertise the Royal Air Force?
At least the SD Hat with its prominent badge would be far better, as indeed would a beret as berets now are quintessentially British military.
Now the media gurus have decided that Joe Public does not recognise the crown and eagle and associated the roundel with certain fashion clothing so they designed a new scripted logo to go with the roundel.
So how does wearing an anonymous blue outfit, without and obvious identity, help advertise the Royal Air Force?
At least the SD Hat with its prominent badge would be far better, as indeed would a beret as berets now are quintessentially British military.