Why Captain?
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Hey D.C.,
Way to go for throwing a wild cat in with the little birdies. Love a good Friday stir up, and i can only imagine the incident which must have provoked you. Good on you for speaking your mind, and you have my vote!
Half the problem with this industry is the epedemic of narcicism which pervades our workplace. I've lost count of the number of 'best pilot in the world' that i've heard of, or met. And it's a wonder most pilots mirrors aren't worn out from over use.
D.C. - you've obviously done your time and got the t-shirts to prove it, so I don't care how many posts you've had, you seem quite entitled to say your bit. That is the joy of this forum.
To add to your comments - i love the guys who register a business name (about $110, and a signature), then print the business card as "Director" or CEO, or even Chief Pilot! Then they tell all the girls that they own their own helicopter company. As this is an Oz generated thread, i'm only commenting on the indistry here, (I pray it's better for pilots O.S.), but I think our professional pride in who we are and what we do should be a personal thing, do you really need to try and tell the world how good you are? Are people so really self-absorbed that they truely care what anyone else thinks? So long as we do our best professional job and treat those around us with respect, we should sleep well at night, and that should be enough. We will all get our true accountability eventually by the one who really counts. The fact that (the majority of) employers tend to treat us like numbers, and their accountants seem to think we are worth less than the bus drivers, plumbers, firemen etc etc, should be more than enough to temper those egos. Or perhaps the real problem is those who choose to slap titles onto themselves, wear the epaulettes home in the car and the flight suit to buy the groceries, haven't been in the game long enough or traveled with it wide enough to realise just where we rate in the scheme of things.
I wish it were different, but after 20 years it still seems the same ol' ****e, and the current world fur-ball that is being coughed up doesn't seem to be helping.
D.C. - hope we get to have a drink somewhere one day. Hell, it's friday... lets start!
Way to go for throwing a wild cat in with the little birdies. Love a good Friday stir up, and i can only imagine the incident which must have provoked you. Good on you for speaking your mind, and you have my vote!
Half the problem with this industry is the epedemic of narcicism which pervades our workplace. I've lost count of the number of 'best pilot in the world' that i've heard of, or met. And it's a wonder most pilots mirrors aren't worn out from over use.
D.C. - you've obviously done your time and got the t-shirts to prove it, so I don't care how many posts you've had, you seem quite entitled to say your bit. That is the joy of this forum.
To add to your comments - i love the guys who register a business name (about $110, and a signature), then print the business card as "Director" or CEO, or even Chief Pilot! Then they tell all the girls that they own their own helicopter company. As this is an Oz generated thread, i'm only commenting on the indistry here, (I pray it's better for pilots O.S.), but I think our professional pride in who we are and what we do should be a personal thing, do you really need to try and tell the world how good you are? Are people so really self-absorbed that they truely care what anyone else thinks? So long as we do our best professional job and treat those around us with respect, we should sleep well at night, and that should be enough. We will all get our true accountability eventually by the one who really counts. The fact that (the majority of) employers tend to treat us like numbers, and their accountants seem to think we are worth less than the bus drivers, plumbers, firemen etc etc, should be more than enough to temper those egos. Or perhaps the real problem is those who choose to slap titles onto themselves, wear the epaulettes home in the car and the flight suit to buy the groceries, haven't been in the game long enough or traveled with it wide enough to realise just where we rate in the scheme of things.
I wish it were different, but after 20 years it still seems the same ol' ****e, and the current world fur-ball that is being coughed up doesn't seem to be helping.
D.C. - hope we get to have a drink somewhere one day. Hell, it's friday... lets start!
I have not met anyone YET who calls themself Captain or has business cards/letter heads etc with Captain on it. Maybe the fixed wing (Airline) types but not Helicopter pilots surely.
Where are they and is it really that common?
Captain (Respect my authoritieeeeeee) Ringer
Where are they and is it really that common?
Captain (Respect my authoritieeeeeee) Ringer
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Davey Croppet/PHP/HR Greenie/baldebanger
If pilots who use 'Captain' are jerks, what do you call someone who uses 4 different usernames to agree with himself? 
Heliport
For the jerks out there that feel that they need to hide behind a title .....
Heliport
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Mmmm ....
Does it begin with "W" and end with "r" ... 6 letters .... lets see ("W****r") ?
(Thank you Heliport .... I think a few of us had suspicions).
Does it begin with "W" and end with "r" ... 6 letters .... lets see ("W****r") ?
(Thank you Heliport .... I think a few of us had suspicions).
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I have seen R22 pilots with PPL's and 4 bars who describe themselves as "captain" wherever they go, and AW139/S76 captains with 20,000 hours and no bars and no name on their flight suit who describe themselves by their first name.
my own view is that for single pilot ops it doesnt mean that much to call yourself captain although I guess its technically legit I would be happy to be called "the pilot" in that context, but for multi crew its more valid to describe yourself like that so the passengers and operations and others involved know who's in charge and ultimately responsible from the crew.
as for bars why not wear them when your doing the job only, there really is no need to walk round tescos wearing them, although some people do, i guess they have a need to be respected.
CF
my own view is that for single pilot ops it doesnt mean that much to call yourself captain although I guess its technically legit I would be happy to be called "the pilot" in that context, but for multi crew its more valid to describe yourself like that so the passengers and operations and others involved know who's in charge and ultimately responsible from the crew.
as for bars why not wear them when your doing the job only, there really is no need to walk round tescos wearing them, although some people do, i guess they have a need to be respected.
CF
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This culled from another thread.....
Lacks judgement, IMO.
Should consider re-naming to Dozy Crapsit.
Eating a Bad Lunch then a ferry flight over water followed by lunch departing without clearance" Yes Sir sitting in crap for over an hour"
Croppet
Mountain Top Bankstown
Croppet
Mountain Top Bankstown
Should consider re-naming to Dozy Crapsit.
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..."AW139/S76 captains with 20,000 hours and no bars and no name on their flight suit who describe themselves by their first name."
Mmmmmm .... Could be me ! ... and I usually answer to "Hey You"
..... but whatever you call me ..... please don't call me "late for dinner!"
Ta
Mmmmmm .... Could be me ! ... and I usually answer to "Hey You"
..... but whatever you call me ..... please don't call me "late for dinner!"
Ta
Heliport
Is he twice as bad as someone who does the same, but only using 2 usernames?
P1
what do you call someone who uses 4 different usernames to agree with himself?
P1
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What a childish debate.
Whirlygig siad it best "INVERTED SNOBBERY"
A "Captain" (Aircraft Commander) is someone who has a license, forms a properly constituted member of the flight crew and has the overriding responsibility for the conduct and safety of the flight, be it a humble R22 to a big noisy S92.
For the inverted snobs, actually the paying PAX in my experience like to know who "Is the Captain" either to follow his leads, or to bollock him when he won't take them all the way (depending on the status of the PAX).
There is nothing more disheartening than a slovenly turned out crew, inappropritaley dressed and not wearing their rank so you have no idea who is the lead. Its bad for the industry, bad for the PAX and makes us all look unprofessional.
I am always impressed when I visit smaller training schools in the UK and a young R22 FI turns up immaculatley dressed, wearing the rank he has earned by virtue of his Qualifications and sending out the right message to his students, passengers and the greater public.
There is nothing "Hard" or "Trendy" about looking like a bag of sh***t.
For those individuals who like to be addressed as Captain (on letters and stuff) good luck to them. Their achievements are important to them and they have the right to enjoy them!!!
If you are sooooo... experienced and soooo. cool that you do not need these simple trinkets that are so ingrained and associated with the profession you have chosen, then please f***k off and let the rest of us keep up the ethos and reputation that so amply befits a person who routinley drags a howling bag of rivets skyward in pursuit of money, glory, joy, excitement.
DB OUT
Whirlygig siad it best "INVERTED SNOBBERY"
A "Captain" (Aircraft Commander) is someone who has a license, forms a properly constituted member of the flight crew and has the overriding responsibility for the conduct and safety of the flight, be it a humble R22 to a big noisy S92.
For the inverted snobs, actually the paying PAX in my experience like to know who "Is the Captain" either to follow his leads, or to bollock him when he won't take them all the way (depending on the status of the PAX).
There is nothing more disheartening than a slovenly turned out crew, inappropritaley dressed and not wearing their rank so you have no idea who is the lead. Its bad for the industry, bad for the PAX and makes us all look unprofessional.
I am always impressed when I visit smaller training schools in the UK and a young R22 FI turns up immaculatley dressed, wearing the rank he has earned by virtue of his Qualifications and sending out the right message to his students, passengers and the greater public.
There is nothing "Hard" or "Trendy" about looking like a bag of sh***t.
For those individuals who like to be addressed as Captain (on letters and stuff) good luck to them. Their achievements are important to them and they have the right to enjoy them!!!
If you are sooooo... experienced and soooo. cool that you do not need these simple trinkets that are so ingrained and associated with the profession you have chosen, then please f***k off and let the rest of us keep up the ethos and reputation that so amply befits a person who routinley drags a howling bag of rivets skyward in pursuit of money, glory, joy, excitement.
DB OUT
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I believe you have some pilots that wear their bars after they have finished work and go and do their shopping, or have their bank cards changed with captain on the front. which I just think is sad. Or going down your local pub with your bars on, some people will think what a t****r, it's probably an attention seeking way, for someone to come rushing up and to ask them what do they do.
Believe me I've tried it, wearing my bars around tesco's about 2pm trying to pick up a few single mum's, and it does not work, they just think I'm a security guard.......
Believe me I've tried it, wearing my bars around tesco's about 2pm trying to pick up a few single mum's, and it does not work, they just think I'm a security guard.......
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Fluffy5, it might be cos you are just to ugly to pick up single mums (MILFs I believe they are called these days).
Should work on the Gay community though, they just luv a butch man in uniform (so I am told)
Should work on the Gay community though, they just luv a butch man in uniform (so I am told)
You really have to laugh about the whole four stripes/bars malarkey when you consider that the "captain" of a military helicopter can be a Corporal whereas a military four-stripe equivalent Captain/Group Captain/ Colonel is, theoretically, some nine or ten ranks higher (depending on country/service)!
Puts it all in perspective somehow.
Jack
Puts it all in perspective somehow.
Jack
Fluffs,
Perhaps it might not be the "bars" that are the handicap!
Perhaps it might not be the "bars" that are the handicap!
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In a former life, I asked one of the pilots for a major helicopter manufacturer why he had a shirt with 4 stripes on it as he started a trip through central and South America. He said that if you didn't dress like that (and added 'especially in Africa') you wouldn't get any respect from anyone. Probably wouldn't even get close to your own helicopter.
It ain't just us who are in the day to day world who are watching - dress appropriately, speak appropriately and act even more appropriately.
It ain't just us who are in the day to day world who are watching - dress appropriately, speak appropriately and act even more appropriately.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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This has to be a troll working.
So Croppet, what would you prefer to call the two pilots at the front of a two crew helicopter, "Mr & Mrs"?
Croppet - when was the last time that your 'phone rang at 01.30hrs to call you in to work as a rig was in trouble? Seriously cold, blinding rain and winds of 80kts. Nevertheless you rug-up in immersion suits with your FO and with your ten to twenty seat helicopter go to the aid of the crew of a rig that has started to tip, you do several quick ferry flights between the stricken rig and a nearby stable one, crap weather, reduced visibility, other helicopters in the area too, each time the tip is worse, eventually you have to give it away and return to base around first light. You and your co-pilot have done a very hard nights work, you are both professional pilots. Any reason why the commander of that aircraft and in control of the lives of so many people shouldn't be recognised as a Captain?
Don't think you have actually operated in the real world yet Croppet, just military bull**** and sunshine.
Croppet - when was the last time that your 'phone rang at 01.30hrs to call you in to work as a rig was in trouble? Seriously cold, blinding rain and winds of 80kts. Nevertheless you rug-up in immersion suits with your FO and with your ten to twenty seat helicopter go to the aid of the crew of a rig that has started to tip, you do several quick ferry flights between the stricken rig and a nearby stable one, crap weather, reduced visibility, other helicopters in the area too, each time the tip is worse, eventually you have to give it away and return to base around first light. You and your co-pilot have done a very hard nights work, you are both professional pilots. Any reason why the commander of that aircraft and in control of the lives of so many people shouldn't be recognised as a Captain?
Don't think you have actually operated in the real world yet Croppet, just military bull**** and sunshine.
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Shawn,
I can vouch for that one in Africa. I am an engineer and wore the 2 bars with purple trim and it opened many doors that would have been firmly closed without them, like the door to the apron for example. I was once even promoted to "Captain" with 4 bars due to a particularly officious fellow. One of the guys had a set of epaulettes made with 6 bars just for sh1ts and giggles and people were falling over themselves to serve this new super pilot.
He said that if you didn't dress like that (and added 'especially in Africa') you wouldn't get any respect from anyone.
Ec135driver
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Or going down your local pub with your bars on, some people will think what a t****r, it's probably an attention seeking way, for someone to come rushing up and to ask them what do they do.
Next thing: "That's a bit presumptuous - coming in here wearing a shirt with epaulettes on!"
I reached in my pocket, put the gold braid back on and said "No, THAT'S presumptuous".
His pretty wife laughed and said to him "There, that's told YOU!"
He bought me the next beer.
