What To Wear When Flying!!!!
 

Hi All,

Sounds a bit of a daft question!! but, what would be the ideal clothing be when piloting a private aircraft, I.e PA28 e.c.t?

I have always known some people just wear what they want, like what you wear everyday, but I have heard that some people have a tradition, and a sense of proffesionalism when taking passengers to wear a shirt and tie, not necassarly white shirt and black tie, but it shows the passengers that you have a sense of proffesionalism and pride in what you do in your spare time.

I personally would prefer to wear a smart shirt and tie, but maybe im old fasioned

I welcome anyones views on this?

I'd feel a tad unsettled if I saw a pilot wearing a black tie :}

I wear sensible boots (jodphur boots), gloves, jeans and a high-necked top (i.e. polo/turtle neck) so that the harness doesn't rub the back of my neck. My passengers are either family or friends and they know how I dress so I don't see the point in pretending to be someting I'm not.

However, one always wears ones make-up, has ones nails done and looks totally gorgeous and glam!! ;):p:ok:

Cheers

Whirls

After being careful to change into shoes for the first several lessons I eventually learned that I could actually fly wearing sandals.

I've never had any trouble with getting them caught under the rudder pedals (as has happened with the pedals in the car occasionally).

Yes very helpfull thank you!! http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/icons/umph.gif


I didnt meen wearing a black tie, i ment just a shirt and tie



St. Helier

Is there any other old codger out there who agress with me or actualy wears shirt or shirt with a tie (not a white shirt and black tie!!)

Regards

St. Helier

Oh, I love this topic and there are loads of variations on the theme we can go for whether to wear gloves, if so which ones; are your shoes fireproof; do you wear a helmet; what about a grobag; and that's before we even get onto epaulettes.

I did toy with acting dumb - many would say it's not an act - and post a question about how many stripes for a PPL, CPL, etc.

Me, at work I wear what they give me and for fun I try to be comfortable and safe that means cotton and leather in whatever combination takes your fancy, I always mean to wear a long sleeved shirt but generally forget and I have Western Europes largest collection of unused flying gloves.

So, keep it going folks, always a favourite.

Not so much what to wear as what not to wear, flying vintage or aeros I will normally wear a flying suit, with or without leather jacket depending on wx and closed or open cockpit - though best is open cockpit in hot wx with non radio field when you can fly in just trousers and t-shirt. Other than this it is a case of ensuring that you do not have nylon or similar man made fabric on that will be a problem in a fire. As far as ties go to make you look pro - most professional pilots wear the tie until they get in the cockpit (flight deck), then they take it off.:cool:

We are very near to getting an answer!! haha:ugh:

I say again, with a PPL and/or taking passengers, wether they be family, friend or foe, or even taking someone on a business trip.

would anyone here wear a shirt and tie to show a sense of proffesionalism and smartness about yourself,

As I am soon to become an officer Royal Marines Reserve that is probably why I do it!!!:ok:

Initially I used to wear a flying suit (yeh a real one) Reason being a friend of mine was flying a PA-28 in Cypurs when he had an on board fire . He was dressed as any pilot in cyprus would be , sandals shorts and T-shirt . The fire originated from under the instrument panel . He sustained major burns to his legs and hands prior to his passenger extinguishing the flames with the fire ext. This scared me somewhat. Although I have never heard this happening anywhere else since but you just never know. No one will ever know whther or not wearing nomex would have prevented these burns , at the end of the day wearing jeans might have prevented the injuries from being so bad . But who knows ? A lot of people take the pixx out of those who choose to wear flying suits for GA , but at the end of day flames are flames . The military have been wearing them for yrs , Robinson helis are now recommending pilots wear helmets , The police now wear flying suits and helmets in helicopters , all this is as a result of injuries and fatalities that may have been prevented if this clothing had been worn .
Well thats another take on it I suppose.
Speaking as an ex military officer , ties are for the mess ,when you do the job your paid to do you will not be wearing a tie and believe me you will still be professional

Well I fly for work a lot and I usually have to wear a suit, shirt & tie for work.... But I can't stand wearing them for flying, I usually wear casual clothes, cotton t-shirt, jeans or shorts, trainers etc depending on time of year & then get changed into my work gear at the other end and changed again before I come back. I think the most important thing is to feel comfortable in what you wear for flying.

A posing pouch and a big grin?

NO - I don't even wear a tie to work for gods sake!

Comfort is the priority - wear what makes you feel comfortable. Your passengers will be more impressed by the smoothness and the professional "attitude" you have to your flying than by the way you dress. If you need clothes to express that rather than personality and attitude something is seriously wrong.

And I say again ..... No I don't wear such stuff. When you say you are getting near an answer, did you mean an answer you liked?

I have to dress smartly for my day job, very smartly. So I don't want to ruin my Jaeger suits and Windsmoor blouses doing the Check A.

I would like to think any professionalism I have when flying (as a private pilot) is shown in the manner in which I conduct myself and brief my passengers.

As a commercial pilot, well - it's a uniform.

Cheers

Whirls

I personally, being an old codger by your definition (going from your previous posts you are a 17 year old schoolboy/spotter) would never leave the ground unless clad solely in a bowler hat and jock strap.
Mind you, if it's very hot, I leave the jock strap off but I make sure my pax are fully aware of my status by wearing four gold bars velcro'd to my todger.
What do you wear when you go flying Mr Helier?
Or should I call you 'Your Holiness'?
Safe (and comfortable) flying
Cusco;);)

Now there's a vision that'll go with me to the grave - with several sleepness nights inbetween!

Shades, shorts, t-shirt and adidas sneakers (over 90 degrees Far out here most days!)
Whatever makes you comfortable.

St Helier

You sound like a *****,

Fill in the asterisks to suit, 'troll' would fit, for example.

St Helier, personally I recommend a uniform to make it clear that you are the authorised aircraft commander.

But a shirt and tie simply makes you look like a Dixons' sales assistant.

No, what you need is a dark blue uniform with gold buttons, suitable neck covering and, of course, proper rank badges and shoulder devices....

Something like this is usually adequate:

What not to wear
 

Hi St Helier,

What you wear depends on what you fly, how often and for what purpose.

If you only fly a Pa28 for ten hours per year then just wear your street clothes, perhaps with the addition of a baseball cap, sun glasses and gloves.

If you fly as a diver driver / meat bomber for a sky-diving club, then you have to dress on the assumption that you will be climbing to 15,000' with the door removed and in the event of mishap you just might have to exit the aircraft mid-air and take to the silk! That's when you need a bone dome and a loose grow bag with plenty of room for extra layers of clothing underneath.

I once saw a vintage Cub in which the fuel tank looked like a tin can just above the front seat occupant's shins. Again, if you only fly a few hours annually, it probably doesn't matter what you wear, but if you fly alot, then, I would submit, you would be wise to wear only non-combustible clothing, i.e. a Nomex II grow-bag with underwear made of the same stuff, (all this is available but it costs).

(Nomex and Proban won't protect you from being burned, but neither will they melt onto your skin and ignite! You'll still be burned, but your injuries will be much less severe).

Consider your flying and then decide what you need to wear and ignore the sneers of the stupid and the ignorant.

Broomstick.

I usually wear jeans and a sweatshirt for my flying, which is in a spamcan. Would consider overalls if I were in something open and draughty though, or doing aeros (plenty of pockets, see).