As opposed to many pilots wearing their black (or blue) and white uniforms looking like a wet tent? I see quite a few airline guys (major and regionals) looking like they slept in their uniforms. Untailored shirts looking like trash bags, black pants that are too short or too long, and stupid unauthorized college lanyards around their necks because they refuse to comply with uniform policies written by the company signing their paychecks?
The Flexjet uniform isn't exactly what most of us would choose either. However, many improvements are in progress as of now.
We're all treated pretty well here and wearing the uniform isn't hard to deal with.

 

Care to tell us where you work so we can criticize your "clown" suit?

 

Oh you know, white shirt, navy slacks,tie and blazer. Or black slacks, tie and blazer. Just google pilot uniform

 

Seriously, you guys look like idiots and we laugh at you at the airport. Kenn is laughing also.

 

Your highest paid captains make what I do as 3-5 year FO at a legacy and I work 14 days per month, not your 18.

 

You didn't say who you work with. Figures.

 

first of all, I don't work at FX, but yes, great to see that you're so much into men fashion, especially at work.

 

It is better to die while standing on your feet than to be living on your knees
Emilio Zapata

 

I flew nine years for 'Flex and left four years ago to fly for a legacy. I'm finally earning what I got into this business for in the first place, but I would not trade my time at Flexjet for anything (nine more years' seniority where I am now sure would be nice, but you can't have everything).

All in all, the flying was a lot more fun at the fractional. A lot less automated and repetitious than airline flying, we went to a lot of places off the beaten track, and every once in a while you felt like the scheduling gods were smiling down upon you. One time we sat with a broken jet for three days in Palm Springs while the rest of the country froze. Another time we airlined to Shannon, Ireland and sat for two days waiting for a plane to show up so we could fly it to Cairo. We drank Guiness from the teat and stumbled the streets trying to make sure we looked right instead of left before stepping off the curb. Then there was the trip to Barcelona. And the one to Majorca. And etc.

So the flying was more fun and there was more chance for adventure every time you left the house. What wasn't fun was what I saw happen to guys post-acquisition. The feeling that we weren't in it together anymore. The camaraderie just vanished overnight. I saw a lot of guys I respected sell themselves down the river. I hope it was worth it.

So I make a ton more money now and work a lot fewer days to make it and I will retire far more securely than I would have had I stayed in the fractional. I fly with mostly good guys, a few tools here and there, and when we taxi into the gate at the end of a trip I'm in my car and driving home ten minutes later. I'm a tiny cog in a huge people-moving machine, I don't have to worry about getting ratted on by some douchebag because I spoke ill of management, and that's all well and good, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the flying I used to do.

 

I was there for 12 and also went to a legacy. What a difference!

I woke up one day, got ready for work, looked in the mirror at myself in that horrible uniform and remembered how us original Flexjet pilots laughed at all the sloppy, overweight, goatee wearing Flops pilots. I was now one of them! For my own dignity and self-respect, I had to leave.

I now feel it's my duty to shine the light on the ways of my former co-workers. They have become Flops pilots; a large amount of them much fatter and even wearing goatees now. It's really sad.