I stopped at a truck stop on the way home from work for food. I took off all my pilot stuff: wings, ID, epaulets, etc. I had black pants and a white shirt with the epaulet holders. They asked if I was a bus driver, I said yes!:D I guess I lied, I drive a Boeing.;)

The worst part about that dude is that if you are able to look at his pictures he is sitting inside a KC-10 and claims to be flying it. Then he is standing next to a T-37 like he flew it. The dude is a total poser.
I to was in the Childrens Air Police, but I did not wear a bag. I wear bag everyday now, its not that great. It makes my butt look big, hahaha jk. But I do not wear it out on the town, I go home and change. However, just last week we had some dudes wear theirs to the bar. WOW not a good idea.

If you are wannabe, man all power to you. Cowboy up and do something though and join. But dont wear you costumes around and let people think you are something you are not. For one thing you could be wrongfully giving people the wrong idea about those that really live these lives. And if you are dressing up like a airline pilot and you are in the wrong place at the wrong time then your day may become much longer as you get to answer questions to guys in suits, who dont find the wannabe thing funny or cute. But what do I know.

Being Mil I have come to really like uniforms and the image that it presents. I kind of think the pilot uniform with 4 bars is a little on the geeky and over the top side and is mostly for propaganda, because some of the noobies buy into it. I myself am a noobie, but not gullible and bought by a glossy ad in a magazine. I think a happy medium should be met and i am a fan of a simple khaki short or pant with a school polo with the schools name, and if you want the instructors name embroidered on it. It is simple, uniform, professional and most importantly functional for real world activities of a CFI.

different story for the 121 pilot, the uniform fits the position and makes sense

My favorite jumpsuit story is about a flight student I had years ago. I assumed he got the thing at the Gooodwill. He'd usually wear it to lessons, but I wouldn't jip up past his gut.

Hopefully, in the next month I will have the privilage of wearing a pilot uniform for my job and I completly agree with you if I had to stop somewhere I would take off all my stuff that says I am an airline pilot. Not that I am ashamed, in fact it will be an honor but, there is a time and a place for that. Its called the airport. Just my two cents worth.

When flying a CAP aircraft you have to abide by the regs. I am in the CAP as a cadet/pilot (student (cheapest way)) and I just wear my BDUs, the flightsuit looks highly dorky....:D

Josh- Right you wear your BDUs, I do believe the regs dont say that you need to wear flightsuits. Mostly because the ones you guys get are the cheap knockoffs that dont provide fire protection anyways. And hey if you hafta wear the bag when you are flying CAP aircraft then wear it, but take it off when you dont need it. Some of you guys actually do good stuff looking for downed a/c, thanks. Just dont become that guy, like the dude on myspace. And dont ever try to make real millitary people salute you, cause they wont and dont have to.

Bob,

Yep, the regs don't say you have to wear a flightsuit, that's why I wear my BDUs. I was checking into flight suits a few months ago before I started my training, not the cheap $40 bags through the CAP store, but nice, used USAF approved bags. I didn't pick one up because it would've cost 3 of my lessons, and I didn't feel like wasting my money on something useless...

P.S. That guy on myspace is highly dorky, and the funny thing is, I added him as a friend! (Long time ago though) :D :D :D

yeah man if they arent issued to you from the AF then I wouldnt bother, they cost too damn much. Keep up the good work man and stay focused on the important stuff, which is flying.

My flight school makes us wear the uniforms as well, and yeah, on the way into the FBO, it's like landing in enemy territory. All distinguishing items go by the wayside. Wings, Bars, aviators. Haha, they all go. I just never felt right checking the weather at the FBO computer in uniform next to G5 pilots when im flying a DA40.

Which flight school was the first to use uniforms anyways?

Unless it's a military/ airline ab-initio school instrutors are better off with polo shirts.

If you have to wear the bags when flying for CAP, by all means, do what they tell you, but like TankerBob said, don't try to make real military enlisted salute you. I believe that is actually illegal, posing as a military officer. I don't take away anything from the CAP, they found the wreckage of a T-39 from my old squadron this Feb and I knew both the instructor and the pilot.

I checked out the CAP years ago (decided to stay away from it). Back then the uniform was all "airforce" with "CAP" real small on the uniform. Now they make it a little more different than the airforce (color and insignia). I attended a meeting in the '80's that had this CAP Colonel, struting around and acting like a four star General- no, that is offensive to real officers. Most of the top brass I've met have been great. This guy made me leave early and never come back.

I'm not sure what the CAP even does anymore. Search and rescue? Can't satellites find a ELT instantly? Civil defense in CA warning against a Jap invasion? Not anymore. Besides the cadet program being good education, what to the senior members do besides flying GA aircraft in "airforce" uniforms on practice flights? I'm not trying to put them down, I'm really curious. :confused:

Never had anything to do with them, but in the mountainous parts of the west an aircraft's ELT may not be detectable unless the reciever is directly overhead. Also, ELT's don't always work.

Also, I think they can be used to find lost hikers and perform homeland security related surveillance.

I know with the T-39 crew that I knew, the aircraft went down in a moutainous part of Georgia and it was heavily wooded with not much around other than some dirt roads. The CAP and a sheriff's helicopter found the wreckage from what I understood. I still don't understand exactly what they do, espicially with "cadets" that are in there early teens.

It's supposed to teach you leadership traits and how to lead. And, you get really cheap flight time!!! :D

I've heard that the majority of crashes that are strong enough to set off the ELT also break the ELT...

What do you mean cheap flight time, you have to pay for it, and who are you leading? Just curious. I see these guys all the time at the airport, but I only see the older ones flying.

I don't know for sure, but I think the cadet program is like an "airforce" boy scouts. You learn stuff aviation related. I've never seen or heard of any cadets getting flight training at any price. They might get a ride in the back seat as a spotter.?

ELTs
 

I don't trust an ELT much. I have seen airplanes have a "sudden stop" that resulted in signifigant damage, and the ELT did nothing.

An ELT did no good in finding this aircraft.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...27X02295&key=1

Although the pilot was killed in the crash, the Cessna 414 was missing for 6 years (1995-2001)

However, a ground and air search did not find the aircraft either.

That said, someone still has to go locate where the elt is, and search for the crash if the elt does not go off, burns up, or is too damaged to work.

I believe there is a program for the kids to get flight training. Not sure who pays for it though.

Yah, that's what I'm in currently. Costs about $50 for a 97' 172 WET (Instructor is free). By the time I'm done with my PPL I will probably spend around $1,700. Much cheaper than the flight school at the same airport that costs $110 for the plane and 30 for the instructor.

I don't see what the big deal is...with or without the uniform. The flight school I attended made it company policy for instructors to wear the uniform. The purpose was to create a professional enviroment. Those of you who think these guys think of themsevles as "hot shots" becuase they wear the uniform have issues. People with egos tend to make a big deal about petty things such as uniforms.

Do you ever hear about an Active duty soldier make a big deal about a Reservists wearing the army uniform?

Or is it the guys' with the uniforms that have the ego's? That's just been my observation. You can be a pro and not wear a capt's suit.

I was in the CAP for bit, got about 13 hours dual in a 172, room/board (for a week), ground school, and the Gleim Private Pilot books, all for about $500. You had to interview to get in, as spaces were limited. It was meant to get you to your solo (or close to it), and basically act as a jump-start to your flight training.

Aside from that they did (and believe they still do) have "Oreintation" flights where you go up in one the planes and fly around (all free). Aside from that you can get instruction in one of the aircraft (not sure if that changed or not) and only had to pay for cost of operating the plane. They also offer a bunch of scholarships to help pay for flight training, and college.

The cadets and senior members both conduct search and rescue, the cadets are restricted to the ground part of the search and rescue. They have camps to go to which train cadets and senior members in how to conduct these searches. They also help out in diaster relief.

Aside from that I think the senior members also help out in drug enforcement, by flying around and looking for marijuana fields and stuff like that.

Some people were really into it and acted like they were in the military, others were pretty cool about it. Its a mixed bag, but all in all they were a pretty good bunch when I was there.

Should at least wear shoes...dress to egress.

I'm not a huge fan of our pilot shirts. We used to have to go all out with epaulets and all and that was just ridiculous for flying a DA20. We still have the shirts, but the big thing is to be professional. Like I said, not a fan, but I understand the reasoning.

Here at San Juan College we have those mesa pilot development pilots walking around in uniforms and flight jackets. The jacket even has their name on it.

I see what this is...looks like we have some "haters" in this forum. Its the same thing as bikers and their leather jackets! What gives? :confused:

Here at a large flight university in the Florida area (hmmm where could that be?) we all wear uniforms, but the company dress reqs have gone down alot over the years. Used to be full tie, epaulets, etc. year round, but that did not fly too well with us, particularly in the summer when it's 100+ outside. Now we wear the epaulets and wings, no tie, black pants, black shoes, and we've got polo shirts for the summer months. Only dress code for students is covered shoes, long pants, and sleeved shirts. Might as well get used to wearing the uniform now...we'll have to wear the "real" one soon. When I run errands I take off the epaulets and wings to avoid the random pilot questions from people:)

-Sargeanb

Trust me, when you walk out of your light trainer and into an FBO full of corporate/charter pilots the first time, you'll know what we mean.

I was never in the CAP primarily due to the fact that there was not a unit close. I was very lucky though - my grandfather had of vintage airplanes and we would go to a fly in most every weekend in the summer (he was a senior airline pilot, so he had the schedule). The CAP used to be at those walking the gounds, directing traffic, and keeping people off the antique airplanes. I always figured they were just like me, airplane crazy, but were not lucky enough to have a grandpa with old airplanes like i had. I always let them get in whatever airplane we had taken, talked to them, and made friends - they were great kids and motivated to pursue airplanes.

yea, just because a person wears a uniform doesn't mean they make it look good.
I've seen plenty of people wearing uniforms that made it look terrible.

ya know, like the guy with the button up shirt and tie and his "gig" line is off center and his tie is that poor man's non windsor knot that is off to the side of the collar

as far as CAP goes, would have been nice if it was around my hometown

I don't want to turn this into a CAP thread but I do fly CAP and they do more things than drill holes in the sky wasting money. If you look at the CAP role into the Katrina response you will get an idea of what it is capable of. The general location of an ELT can be determined by satellite but it can still be a difficult task to search for the actual location without some form of airborne DF. I think it is probably alot cheaper to have civilian volunteers using government 182s or 172s to locate and silence than calling in a paid governmental agency. Flight suit wise, I prefer to use my "uniform" polo shirt and grey slacks. It is one of the regulations and I think it is mainly for insurance reasons. Otherwise it would be my standard "pilot uniform" consisting of jeans, t-shirt, and hiking shoes.

When it comes to CFIs and students being required to wear "airline" type uniforms to train I think it is time for whoever is running the program to take a step back and get a grip. I realize that this must occur mainly in aviation programs that are stressing the step up to the regional or airline world, but won't the students get more from the training if they are at ease with their instructors and themselves? It is one thing to wear a uniform to encourage pride or professionalism, but quite another when the very people wearing them feel silly. At that point the uniform undermines the very thing that it is representing.

Maby if more flight schools did this, there would be less nasty looking pilots at the regionals... I saw one @ dullas the other day wearing his sunglasses backwards on his head walking around passengers, another without his belt in uniform, nasty hair cuts, stained shirts, etc. if people want to look like truck drivers, they better expect to be treated like one.

Yeah I wore a uniform at a big 141 school and it made my butt look huge! And on top of that you ain't gonna get any ladies wearing it!

I haven't seen a biker wear a name on their jacket in a long time. Bikers also don't wear that to look pro either. Personally it's not the cloths, I can tell within the first 30 seconds of convo if the person is worth their salt or if they are there just to try and impress ppl.

Yeah, In the Marine Corps where the cammies (Read: BDU's) are strictly a work uniform and us active duty Marines had regulations restricting them in public we -did- in fact care about "nasty" reservists wearing cammies out in town. I tell you what, it even hurt my feelings a little bit to see that stuff. God forbid you were some boot (Read: Newjoin) that got caught out in town in uniform by a Corporal or higher.

As far as uniforms at fligh schools go, out here at Spartan we have to where the whole getup. Students, Instructors, everyone. As far as I'm concerned I think four years in the Corps made me paranoid enough about making the uniform look good that I should be alright and not look too ridiculous but I'm really curious to see how some of the 18(ish) year old students that just moved out of mommies house look in these things.

Flight instructor uniforms don't bother me. What bothers me are the kids who wear all out suits to checkrides. Totally impractical, and it makes the situation appear more serious/stressful than it has to be. They aren't testing your wardrobe, they're testing your knowledge. I would wear khakis and a polo to my CFI checkride if we (CFI students) weren't required to wear ties.