Have you earned your Stripes?

[SquirrelDog]

It seems that in the last several years there has been a tendency for everyone and thier dog to were FOUR stripes. Now I am not trying to start anything but I would like opinions on this subject and here is mine.

I have seen flight crews of all sorts, regional, cargo, fractional and even 3 person crews wearing extra stripes. As for the two crew, double captain goes; The Only reason I think both crew members should wear captain bars is if the pilot in the right seat has been typed and had been flying the line as Captain and was forced down by the company in a down sizing situation.

I don't care if you have been typed in the A/C or not. It shows respect to the PIC and it means more when one has finallly earned this position. Being typed and/or receiving left seat pay still doesn't hold the authority to make the decisions and wear the stripes a Captain does. If a pilot was on a different type of equipment as a captain and gets displaced into the right seat of another A/C, that still doesn't qualify to wear 4 bars unless previously flown that ship as Captain.

As for 3 person crews, whats with the FE wearing 3 stripes. I mean come on, what are 2 stripes for anyway. If I got the opportunity to fly a large enough A/C to require a 3 person crew I would wear the 2 strips with respect and know I earned both of them even to make it that far in my career.

Its all about respect for the position and the more this new fad is growing the less it takes away from those pilots that have earned the right to wear thier Bars.

For the record we do not wear stripes at my company so its a moot point, but I see this a lot lately.

Bottom line: Flown in that position, in that equipment, equals right to wear that many bars.

my .02
Squirreldog

 

[HAZ-MAT]

I've jumpseated on a 121 carrier once, where the captain was so proud of his 4 bars, that he put this shoulder harness underneath the epallette buttons so they were sticking out... pride!

 

[HAZ-MAT]

...... and very toolish

 

[English]

I fly single pilot, so I'm really the captain, first officer and flight attendant.

I wear four bars on the left shoulder, and three on the right...

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

WTF are u talking about? Oh, I see, 2900 hrs and a "JET" captain.
Sheesh...another 'expert'. No stripes for you, you say? Might be a blessing.....
Oh by the way, you might want to either use spell-check or employ someone who is able to check your posts....

 

[SquirrelDog]

You guys crack me up thanks.

Oh and ATR-Drvr, I was asking for others "O Pinions" NOT Critisims. I thought this was an aviation board not English class! See how I us "an" in front of words with vowls and capitalize English, yea spelling sucks, haven't found the checker on Flight Info yet.

Just have'n Fun
Squirreldog

 

[Flying Illini]

at my company the only time you will see four stripes in the left and right seat is if they are both typed in the A/C. Example: Two falcon 900 captains would fly together only if there was not a first officer available for the trip. Another reason would be if you are just back from flightsafety after your captain upgrade. You have to fy with a captain for 100hrs which would mean you would have an experienced captain and a not so experienced captain in the airplane.

 

[banned username 2]

For the record we do not wear stripes at my company so its a mute point, but I see this alot lately.

I think you mean "moot point" not mute.

Also it is:
"decision" not "decesion"
"their" not "thier"
"receiving" not "recieving"
"piece" not "peice"
"a lot" is two words, not "alot"

Sorry... pet peeves, you know how it is...

BTW, if your company doesn't wear stripes, why are you so concerned what others are doing?

BTW, we don't wear stripes either, as a matter of fact we are going to Dockers and Polos in the next few weeks (from plain white shirts and ties). I am counting the hours...

 

[SquirrelDog]

Ok I fixed the spelling, I guess my fingers got ahead of my brain. Oh and Falcon Capt. when we firing up the grill. I think the best uniform to wear and look professional is black pants and dark gray polo with company logo on chest, very sharp.

Squirreldog

 

[cornbread]

I smell what you're cooking.

SD,

I understand what you are saying and I have seen the same things.

It is called decorum. Many do not get the idea. The whole stripe thing is a combination of leadership, followership, and the unwritten rules of decorum.

For 121 ops I think the only condition in which there should be two people wearing captains bars up front is when the right-seater is a Check Airman performing check duties. But, that is just my opinion. I may get bashed for it, but I think it is along the same lines as opening a door for a lady or the elderly, or standing when an elder walks in the room.

I can honestly say that if I were ever downgraded I would wear the stripes appropriate for the seat. I would not feel the need to boost my confidence by advertising that I was previously a yada-yada on the such-and-such. I would know it myself.

The willingness to do so indicates to me that a person is aware of their role on the team, is willing to support the leader, and is not clinging to some piece of material for their self image.

I had a downgraded captain fly with me once who loved to make the PAs. Nothing he did bothered me, it just made him appear toolish. He incidentally wore his four stripes and would announce this is capt. so-and-so and I (or the other guy that he may be flying with) will by taking you to Kalamazoo. He proceeds to tell me that he does that so the passengers know who landed and he would not be embarrassed if the landing was bad. Ironically, he was embarrassed most of the day for his landings.

To Haz-mat, I also knew a tool that would put his harness straps under his epaulets(sp?). He didn't want to get them dirty!?

Maybe the solution for various operators with numerous conditions is to have (now picture this) everyone wear three stipes on the left shoulder and four on the right. When viewed from behind it looks kosher. (courtesy of a Lakes buddy)

As for the spell-checkers on the board, this board is for venting and exchanging info. If you want to vent about spelling and grammar either start a post about it or maybe become a substitute english teacher. (sincerely not aimed at any one person)

 

[banned username 2]

Re: I smell what you're cooking.

As for the spell-checkers on the board, this board is for venting and exchanging info. If you want to vent about spelling and grammar either start a post about it or maybe become a substitute english teacher. (sincerely not aimed at any one person)

This board is also for learning and education... Squirrel Dog now knows the correct spelling 6 words... He can now check the box of "I learn something new everyday" as being completed for today.

Just helping someone out... If everyone tried everyday to be just the slightest bit smarter than the day before, this country would be a better place.

This isn't aimed at any one person...

 

[English]

<the sound of "We Are The World" and cigarette lighters swaying in the background...>

 

[JJJ]

As for 3 person crews, whats with the FE wearing 3 stripes. I mean come on, what are 2 stripes for anyway

2 stripes are for the FA Heck, some FA uniforms have 3 stripes.

I fly single pilot, so I'm really the captain, first officer and flight attendant.

In you case you get to wear 9 stripes.

 

[2000flyer]

I enjoy some of these flight schools out there.

1-stripe = student
2-stripe = CFI
3-stripe = Great CFI

At a GA ops base in Europe, handlers, slot coordinators, etc, all wear 4-stripes. Don't ask me why.

Flew on a 747 where CA and FO had 4-stripes, FE had 3. All the flight attendants had were bad attitudes (going through contract negociations at the time).

Ran into a 135 operator who required their pilot's to wear stripes. Guy walks in, chest out, sparkling four stripes on his shoulders. I asked him what he was flying. His shoulders drop, the smile fades and he points to a Cherokee Six parked on the line. Felt bad for the guy, but still had to chuckle. In his defense, he hated the uniform as well but was just following company rules.

2000Flyer

 

[Airpiraterob]

heck, use the whole eauppelet (sp?)

i think thats how its spelled, anyway i did miserably in english class.

so why not use up the entire space availiable. i see large unused sections on that shoulder that could be filled up with even more eauppelet area. I was toying with the 8 stripes configuration or using 5 bars and a few moons and stars and other sorcerer type of emblems. but then why not just put as many bars as you can on there and call yourself an admiral instead of the 'captain'..i mean what a lowly position, the 'captain'. i would much rather be the 'admiral' of the ship

or.....9 stripes and call yourself the "grand master" of the plane or even more daring..."MC" and the "DJ" would have 3 stripes.

(stagehands would have 2 stripes unless already typed in multi-turntables or 3 if typed as frontman.)

im rambling....sorry. its the coffee you know....

 

[JJJ]

Theres a good April fools joke... make some with 5 stripes and see how long it takes people to notice.

 

[ACE]

I think it just depends on what airline you belong too, or other oufit for that matter, as to the importance of the stripes. Some places they mean nothing, others the standard captain, fo, fe, fa etc. are upheld to there original intent.

 

[trainerjet]

The Only reason I think both crew members should wear captain bars is if the pilot in the right seat has been typed and had been flying the line as Captain and was forced down by the company in a down sizing situation.

If a pilot was on a different type of equipment as a captain and gets displaced into the right seat of another A/C, that still doesn't qualify to wear 4 bars unless previously flown that ship as Captain.

As for 3 person crews, whats with the FE wearing 3 stripes. I mean come on, what are 2 stripes for anyway. If I got the opportunity to fly a large enough A/C to require a 3 person crew I would wear the 2 strips with respect and know I earned both of them even to make it that far in my career.

It is plain and simple at most airlines. Qualified as a Captain, 4 stripes. Examples of 2 pilots with 4-stripes in the cockpit at the same time: 2 Captains flying together, either one is a check airman or maybe a reserve Captain being assigned a trip as an FO due to staffing problems. Both are Captains, both wear 4 stripes. Augmented 3 or 4 pilot crews: If more than one guy is qualified as a Captain, then they wear 4 stripes. Nothing complicated about that.

FE wearing 4 stripes: One example, over 60 former Captain now restricted to the panel.

At first I thought this was just some clueless 2500 hr "Jet Captain". Then I read where his company doesn't wear stripes at all. Now, I believe it is just some jealous 2500 hr "Jet Captain" who believes he should be wearing 4 stripes (and would probably wear them grocery shopping), and therefore begrudges any and all who do.

Grow up, kid. Besides, who the f#*k cares????

 

[Brett Hull]

I'm gonna have to go with ATR-DRIVR here. Kinda reminds me of a story I hear of a former employee of my flight dept. when it consisted of a King Air and a Cubic Zirconia....I mean a Diamond Jet.

After upgrading to the Diamond, this pilot was informed he would have to fly the King Air occasionaly. His reply: "I vill not doit! I am zee jet captain! I will not fly zee turboprop! I am zee jet captain only!"

Some of 'yall remind me of those Doctors who insist on being called "Doctor" just to stroke their egos.

Don't all Southwest FO's wear 4? Disrespectful ba$tards.

Trainerjet, I guess we posted at about the same time. I was gonna hit the edit button and use the line: "I have an idea for a new poll: How many of you wear your uniform when you go to the store?" But then I read yours. Great minds think alike, I guess!

Edit #2:
Here's one to get everyone's panties in a wad. I saw a gulfstream (the airline) crew the other day and they were both wearing 4. I guess if you buy your job you can wear as many as you want.

 

[machspeed]

who really gives a crap?