Uniform Stripes...
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,982
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From: In the boot of my car!
I have flown in the far East, Africa and IMO dont even think about not wearing a uniform.
On one trip I had an Arabic co pilot who was not rated on the jet. The idea was to treat the trip as a training trip.
Once we landed and went out in the evening He turned up in full flying regalia just so he could get respect from his fellows.
A uniform is highly respected in those cultures!
I can remember on numerous occasions being embarrassed by Military personel saluting you. (do you salute back?)
You are in a totally different culture so wear the uniform even piloting a microlight unless you want to extend your groundtime X2 and get treated like rabble
Pace
On one trip I had an Arabic co pilot who was not rated on the jet. The idea was to treat the trip as a training trip.
Once we landed and went out in the evening He turned up in full flying regalia just so he could get respect from his fellows.
A uniform is highly respected in those cultures!
I can remember on numerous occasions being embarrassed by Military personel saluting you. (do you salute back?)
You are in a totally different culture so wear the uniform even piloting a microlight unless you want to extend your groundtime X2 and get treated like rabble
Pace
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Italy
An interesting read. I was thinking along similar lines, but more dress code. Those training for their PPL or currently holding a PPL, do you find attitudes change towards you if you dress rather smart or not?
In Europe, dress has never been a problem. I always wear jeans, t-shirt and cap, and carry a scruffy bashed up flight bag. Never had problems going through airport controls and jumping waiting pax thanks to the AOPA Air Crew badge (great piece of plastic useful for getting hotel discounts too
).Regarding attitude I had to laugh the other day. We were three club aeroplanes arriving from Bosnia with a stopover in Pescara onbound to Rome, two India and one Golf registered. ATC treated the two Indias speaking Italian as normal PPLs. Flying the Golf aeroplane I chose to speak English and got treated as a professional pilot with a "Sir" at the end of every transmission
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Ansião (PT)
Perhaps we could consider defining a uniform for those private fliers venturing into exotic skies?
-) must be clearly recognisable as a uniform. This excludes jeans and the like
-) a jacket and trousers seems the obvious basic concept, any alternatives?
-) would the ladies insist on skirts? and the jacket's buttons being the other way round?
-) anything on our heads?
-) shoes and socks imperative!
-) sunglasses almost as imperative
-) must be decent, i.e. the trousers full length, and if skirts also defined they must go below the knee.
-) be practical, i.e. light for the mostly hot climates involved, easy to wash and quick to dry
-) as a pilot's garments, lots of pockets are required
-) provisions for attaching stars/stripes as considered appropriate
-) must be clearly recognisable as a uniform. This excludes jeans and the like
-) a jacket and trousers seems the obvious basic concept, any alternatives?
-) would the ladies insist on skirts? and the jacket's buttons being the other way round?
-) anything on our heads?
-) shoes and socks imperative!
-) sunglasses almost as imperative
-) must be decent, i.e. the trousers full length, and if skirts also defined they must go below the knee.
-) be practical, i.e. light for the mostly hot climates involved, easy to wash and quick to dry
-) as a pilot's garments, lots of pockets are required
-) provisions for attaching stars/stripes as considered appropriate
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
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From: Iraq and other places
I was thinking of lightweight Khaki trousers and a short sleeved white shirt to go with my stripes if I ever make it into Sudan 
Stripes can be removed well before landing anywhere else, to minimise the risk of bose-x's head exploding!
Stripes can be removed well before landing anywhere else, to minimise the risk of bose-x's head exploding!
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 1
What you really need is one of these
AV Eight Luxury Accessories
In africa you can wear what you like, Just have a shirt with bars attached to it and you will be fine.
Most of the guys I saw had kaki shorts with kaki shirt with bars on and dripping wet armpits.
AV Eight Luxury Accessories
In africa you can wear what you like, Just have a shirt with bars attached to it and you will be fine.
Most of the guys I saw had kaki shorts with kaki shirt with bars on and dripping wet armpits.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 36
From: France
would the ladies insist on skirts? and the jacket's buttons being the other way round?
I have enough difficulty climbing in and out of the Cub in trousers and t shirt, never mind a skirt. And how do I strap on the kneeboard in a skirt? Plastic bag for the maps and headsets does fine thanks. Oh, and I don't think zips are handed on overalls, which provide pockets for pencils and suchlike, plus a backpack for walking to the pub. Cheapskate, see, don't do taxis.....
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
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Well you could use a sporran.
Although you might have a few probs getting through security.
And the pinkster used to fly in a skirt alot, she just used to hike it up for the kneeboard. Thankfully she had pretty good legs that would make alot of young burds jealouse so it wasn't really a hardship.
Although you might have a few probs getting through security.
And the pinkster used to fly in a skirt alot, she just used to hike it up for the kneeboard. Thankfully she had pretty good legs that would make alot of young burds jealouse so it wasn't really a hardship.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 36
From: France
Love the sporran! BTW, does anyone else find it entirely silly going through the metal detector to get to one's own aeroplane? That's even stupider when they then have to let the plug spanner and pliers, stanley knife, pickets, flares etc, etc through.
And how many people so far have hijacked a 60 year old two seater that flies so slowly it has a rear view mirror? I mean, if I crashed it into a nuclear power station I wouldn't even break their windows.....
And how many people so far have hijacked a 60 year old two seater that flies so slowly it has a rear view mirror? I mean, if I crashed it into a nuclear power station I wouldn't even break their windows.....
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 36
From: France
Well, Mad Jock, I am a bit younger than the aircraft, and only have one bum. I fly at the same speed as the aircraft though......If you would like to hijack the pilot please supply a photo of your aircraft and hangar 
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Would the ladies insist on skirts?
(and yes, I do have the rest of the photo, no, it isn't the Pink One and no, you aren't going to see it!)
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
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Unfortuantely Piper I have only logged 40 hours on a Cougars (GA7's) and that was many years ago now, so long my rating has drop off.
As for my current ride unfortuantely no hangar and she has a habit of leaking from the most unexpected places. But she does have 3300 shaft horse power and handles like a dream, especially when dirty with the rpm's up.
I know what you mean I always shudder when I see an engineer adjusting his own ring on the apron.
I must admit I had a wee bit of yip pee when I thought they might have a wanky license holder instead of my plastic thing. But unfortunately they didn't have a ostrich skin license holder
As for my current ride unfortuantely no hangar and she has a habit of leaking from the most unexpected places. But she does have 3300 shaft horse power and handles like a dream, especially when dirty with the rpm's up.
I know what you mean I always shudder when I see an engineer adjusting his own ring on the apron.
I must admit I had a wee bit of yip pee when I thought they might have a wanky license holder instead of my plastic thing. But unfortunately they didn't have a ostrich skin license holder
