Epaulettes
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Why do you have to have 2 engines to have 3 bars?? Hell I get paid more than most of the turboprop regional captains despite having only 1 engine, i reckon I should be allowed to wear 3 bars if I feel like it!!
I do own a set of 3 bar eppaulettes but I dont wear them too often, usually just as a pisstake when I know im flying into an airport a mate woks at :-P
I do own a set of 3 bar eppaulettes but I dont wear them too often, usually just as a pisstake when I know im flying into an airport a mate woks at :-P
HH
he he
Not only that...but I only shave when the stubble gets itchy. There was something refreshing about being filmed for a Euro TV doco in my daily flying job with a 5 day stubble.... 
Geez Stallie, not only the best job, but you don't have to wear slides either!
he he
Not only that...but I only shave when the stubble gets itchy. There was something refreshing about being filmed for a Euro TV doco in my daily flying job with a 5 day stubble....
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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But seriously folks....
I think that back on page 1 Keg said it fairly well.
In my case, the few jobs I have had where the wearing of such things was appropriate I was invariably told upon commencing the job that 'you will wear (company wings) epaulettes whenever you are flying any company aircraft.....'
In PNG that included when driving to and from work and any stops in between, which generally meant that some of the more fractious locals tended to leave you alone! However, that did also have a fringe benefit, for wont of a better term, that Wiz alluded to in an earlier post of his which he has sadly, subsequently edited.
As for here in Oz when I was still employed in the industry, same deal. Put 'em on when leaving home and took 'em off when I got home. Em tasol!
Sometimes I think we're way too precious about the uniform...and that means both ways. Some are precious because they're wearing it all the time. Others are precious because they go to inordinate and futile lengths to not be seen wearing any paraphernalia related to aviation
In PNG that included when driving to and from work and any stops in between, which generally meant that some of the more fractious locals tended to leave you alone! However, that did also have a fringe benefit, for wont of a better term, that Wiz alluded to in an earlier post of his which he has sadly, subsequently edited.
As for here in Oz when I was still employed in the industry, same deal. Put 'em on when leaving home and took 'em off when I got home. Em tasol!
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Only time I found them helpful was flying through Indonesia and the Philippines. they gave you respect that was not normally given. Although I did start taking them off between the hotel and Airport after I noticed people saluting me as I wandered past on a tuktuk. 
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four bars
I heard of a newish jet captain, meeting his rostered F/O for the first time at briefing, who commented that they meant "I don't make mistakes" and then rapidly discovered he needed to find another F/O!
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I don't agree with wearing eppaulettes anyway. They are part of the trimmings often worn by self important w*nkers (no disrespect intended to any pilots required to wear eppaulettes who are reasonable people, I am sure yourself included).
BUT...
the school I trained at had one bar for G3's, two for G2's, three for G1's and the CFI/CP wore four. However, the school down the road had a completely different system, with the students wearing one bar, the grade 2s and 3s two bars and the grade 1s three bars. Seems it's just up to the company you're with. I had an interview with a charter operator who didn't have their pilots wear any bars. That's the way I like it.
BUT...
the school I trained at had one bar for G3's, two for G2's, three for G1's and the CFI/CP wore four. However, the school down the road had a completely different system, with the students wearing one bar, the grade 2s and 3s two bars and the grade 1s three bars. Seems it's just up to the company you're with. I had an interview with a charter operator who didn't have their pilots wear any bars. That's the way I like it.
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Uniform...? Stripes...?
For training... Instructor...? Students...?
Are you a bunch of clowns, or what...?
xxx
You Aussies and Kiwis must be out of your mind.
For me, uniform always was jeans and T-Shirt.
Sweat shirt or jogging-suit in cold weather.
Above rules apply to "down-to-earth" flight schools if you are on a budget.
Those called "Top-Gun Academy" with stripes/uniforms are high tuition.
xxx
For your information, training in airlines (i.e. classroom, simulators) is same.
And when I flew for Cargolux, was T-Shirt and jeans as soon as inside the cockpit.
xxx
FYI - the correct word and spelling is "épaulette".
Not eppelette or eppaulete... - Epaule means "shoulder".
Take it from a guy who spique ze frog's language.
That language is not a disease for me, just congenital.
Now retired, I wear 5 stripes, as beach bikini inspector.
xxx
Send me a Vic Bitter or a Steiny, please.
Happy contrails > "Ribbit" in frog dialect
For training... Instructor...? Students...?
Are you a bunch of clowns, or what...?
xxx
You Aussies and Kiwis must be out of your mind.
For me, uniform always was jeans and T-Shirt.
Sweat shirt or jogging-suit in cold weather.
Above rules apply to "down-to-earth" flight schools if you are on a budget.
Those called "Top-Gun Academy" with stripes/uniforms are high tuition.
xxx
For your information, training in airlines (i.e. classroom, simulators) is same.
And when I flew for Cargolux, was T-Shirt and jeans as soon as inside the cockpit.
xxx
FYI - the correct word and spelling is "épaulette".
Not eppelette or eppaulete... - Epaule means "shoulder".
Take it from a guy who spique ze frog's language.
That language is not a disease for me, just congenital.
Now retired, I wear 5 stripes, as beach bikini inspector.
xxx
Send me a Vic Bitter or a Steiny, please.
Happy contrails > "Ribbit" in frog dialect
We dropped off some charter clients a while ago, and the coach captain who was taking them to the resort had four bars plus numerous stars. I just presumed he must have had check and training on the Toyota Hi-ace!
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I just presumed he must have had check and training on the Toyota Hi-ace!
HAHAHA yeah his license had LR TRG Approval hahahaha.
At the end of the day, if the company requires you to wear them then you do if they dont then you dont wear them, simple.
I did see something a while ago that amused me, one was a Airvan "captain" with 4 bars and the other was a single driver with 3 bars.
300
HAHAHA yeah his license had LR TRG Approval hahahaha.
At the end of the day, if the company requires you to wear them then you do if they dont then you dont wear them, simple.
I did see something a while ago that amused me, one was a Airvan "captain" with 4 bars and the other was a single driver with 3 bars.
300
Wearing your uniform when not on duty is akin to a fireman,policeman,doctor doing the same.These people normally dress when they are on duty, not on the way to/from work. For those of us without a locker/cupboard it is not too difficult to have our uniform tucked in your pocket that can be promptly displayed when necessary.
My philosophy is to display my uniform in the environment that I am paid for, not anywhere else.
If you were paid to where a clown suit at work, would you wear it anywhere else?
My philosophy is to display my uniform in the environment that I am paid for, not anywhere else.
If you were paid to where a clown suit at work, would you wear it anywhere else?
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QFRS require all staff (firies) to wear complete uniform or none at all. I don't know of any auxiliaries that regularly wear civvies to the station and then get changed on a regular basis. It is hard to get to of the habit of removing epaulets as a firie at the social club whilst not costing a round by forgetting to remove them in the flying uniform.
Is it such a big deal??
The punters up the back expect to see the pilot looking like a pilot, if you're wearing scummy jeans, tattoos inked down your forearms and a nose ring to top of the look, do you think the punters will feel like they are in safe hands?
People respect someone in uniform as they are conditioned to that simple fact (police etc) and sometimes you need to demonstrate that authority with the bogans up the back (and the company mag light usually found in the back of the two front seats).
I have 2 bars inked on the 'ole fella, when he gets excited they stretch into 4. The bitches love it, and if I love them, they get a gold star!
Yibbidi Yibbida, thank ya mother for the rabbits!
The punters up the back expect to see the pilot looking like a pilot, if you're wearing scummy jeans, tattoos inked down your forearms and a nose ring to top of the look, do you think the punters will feel like they are in safe hands?
People respect someone in uniform as they are conditioned to that simple fact (police etc) and sometimes you need to demonstrate that authority with the bogans up the back (and the company mag light usually found in the back of the two front seats).
I have 2 bars inked on the 'ole fella, when he gets excited they stretch into 4. The bitches love it, and if I love them, they get a gold star!
Yibbidi Yibbida, thank ya mother for the rabbits!
Not sure if this has alrady been said here as I can't believe such a topic has generated so many replies. But the amount of '****** bars' has zip to do with it really it's how new they look. I can recall getting a set of brand new 4 bar jobs (for my CMD upgrade) so I spent some time making them appear well worn, now that means experience, the older they look the more experience you have right guys?
Wmk2
Wmk2
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My immediate answer to anyone's questions regarding the uniform is a plain and simple 'yeah sure, why not'... The best response so far given is 'Yep, the white and blue Volvo out the front is mine, gotta do the school run in about 15. Jerry here is driving the 67 seater Mercedes parked on the other side of the street'
Nunc est bibendum
can recall getting a set of brand new 4 bar jobs (for my CMD upgrade) so I spent some time making them appear well worn, now that means experience, the older they look the more experience you have right guys?
Last edited by Keg; 3rd Feb 2009 at 02:04. Reason: Edited for ubb code.
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I agree with most of the other fanatically and pathologically motivated types on D&G here about epaulettes, that is that the only people that wear them are complete and utter w@nkers who must be treated with absolute contempt and scorn, maybe even subject to some appropriate vigilante action like stoning or a Cape Town ‘necklace’. How dare people wear a uniform so that the punters know what they are supposed to do.
I travel by airlines quite frequently both domestically and internationally and there is nothing more enraging when wandering the terminal and seeing all those SHOWOFFS towing their flight bags around just to look like they are important. They should get rid of those nasty epaulettes, and that pilot shirt , and those pilot pants, and those poncey expensive RMW elastic sided boots…GRRRR RAGE!!!!! …...who do they think they are…….. they should all wear that highly valued 5 day growth…..and jeans and tee shirts….and thongs of course……….then they wouldn’t look like w@nkers would they???!?? ...HA?…..NO!!….. and they should all just carry their jepps and stuff in an old spud bag, that way when they front up at the boarding lounge to accept the 747 and prepare it for the oncoming 15 hour flight , they would get RESPECT from all the jaded punters in the boarding lounge!!!!HA!!!.... YEAH….and also the cabin crew while we’re at it…. GAAAAHHH.. Those curvy FA’s (the girly ones)… they should be replace by big fat tanks with bag breath, BO, a roxy windcheater and tight bumster trakkies with a MAJOR muffin top,,, that would be more appropriate….HMMMMM!!??!!... and the Male FA’s should all look like Kenny and wear bib and brace overalls… that would stop them being mistaken for some one who cares…. And while we are at it… what about those coppers who cruise around is specially painted cars and wear uniform and badges and stuff… THEY WEAR EPAULLETES TOO…… HHHAAAARRR!!! …..W@NKERS!!!!... and fireman and nurses and life guards with their funny hats and budgie smugglers,, they should be wearing the navy pants, white shirts and RM’s that would be better wouldn’t it!!
I think the only t0ssers are those who go on and on and on about why someone is somehow scum cos they wear epps. Some time you have to and sometimes you don’t..Whatever. They have worked very well for me on some international flights (ones where I was the captain that is), and other places neat casual works just as well. 5 day growth might look good on a cowboy, if they are a bit ‘brokeback mountain’, but doesn’t do it for me if I was putting my loved ones on a plane that he (or she) was commanding, likewise epps with 16 gold bars each, a gilt lanyard with tassels and 7 sets of wing bolted to a crisp white shirt is no guarantee of ability either.
I would be happy if this thread went away and never ever came back.
HD
I travel by airlines quite frequently both domestically and internationally and there is nothing more enraging when wandering the terminal and seeing all those SHOWOFFS towing their flight bags around just to look like they are important. They should get rid of those nasty epaulettes, and that pilot shirt , and those pilot pants, and those poncey expensive RMW elastic sided boots…GRRRR RAGE!!!!! …...who do they think they are…….. they should all wear that highly valued 5 day growth…..and jeans and tee shirts….and thongs of course……….then they wouldn’t look like w@nkers would they???!?? ...HA?…..NO!!….. and they should all just carry their jepps and stuff in an old spud bag, that way when they front up at the boarding lounge to accept the 747 and prepare it for the oncoming 15 hour flight , they would get RESPECT from all the jaded punters in the boarding lounge!!!!HA!!!.... YEAH….and also the cabin crew while we’re at it…. GAAAAHHH.. Those curvy FA’s (the girly ones)… they should be replace by big fat tanks with bag breath, BO, a roxy windcheater and tight bumster trakkies with a MAJOR muffin top,,, that would be more appropriate….HMMMMM!!??!!... and the Male FA’s should all look like Kenny and wear bib and brace overalls… that would stop them being mistaken for some one who cares…. And while we are at it… what about those coppers who cruise around is specially painted cars and wear uniform and badges and stuff… THEY WEAR EPAULLETES TOO…… HHHAAAARRR!!! …..W@NKERS!!!!... and fireman and nurses and life guards with their funny hats and budgie smugglers,, they should be wearing the navy pants, white shirts and RM’s that would be better wouldn’t it!!
I think the only t0ssers are those who go on and on and on about why someone is somehow scum cos they wear epps. Some time you have to and sometimes you don’t..Whatever. They have worked very well for me on some international flights (ones where I was the captain that is), and other places neat casual works just as well. 5 day growth might look good on a cowboy, if they are a bit ‘brokeback mountain’, but doesn’t do it for me if I was putting my loved ones on a plane that he (or she) was commanding, likewise epps with 16 gold bars each, a gilt lanyard with tassels and 7 sets of wing bolted to a crisp white shirt is no guarantee of ability either.
I would be happy if this thread went away and never ever came back.
HD