Unfreakingbelievable

[huncowboy]

about uniforms... did I post this before?... can't remember if I did it here or not but here it is anyways:

Not so long ago uniforms became a must (supposedly voted by the students themselves ) for DCA students at the satellite locations as well. Well before those were made mandatory to wear everyone got a free set and we were encouraged to wear it. BTW they don't look like an airline pilot uniform at all. Blue shirt with blue tie and blue base/light blue striped epaulet and navy blue pants. Some students decided to wear them before they became mandatory around August this year. Why? That is another story but nothing compared to this dork here:

This one day (well before uniforms were mandatory) I am getting out of my car at the parking of the school and another student pulls into a spot like 2-3 cars away from mine. I keep looking at him trying to figure out what is wrong with the picture then I see him taking off his black/gold (couldn't see 3 or 4 stripes but I bet it was 4) epaulets and replacing them with the student blue/dark blue ones. I think he was a private student not that it makes any difference. I think this post should go to the dorky pilot’s series… anyways he was/is the dork of 2003 for me.

On the subject my opinion is that I don't see anything wrong with going into the mall or anywhere else strictly before/after/between work in uniforms. IMO taking off the epaulettes makes you look like a clown and idiot with the little thingies (what is that called?) on your shoulders… reminds me being a freaking pioneer in the 80s... So between the two I would chose with epaulettes. May be because I don't think anyone gives _crap about you being a pilot except other pilots. Being a pilot is not even close as cool as it used to be... again --> IMO. And no I am not an airline or corporate pilot but had my more than fair share of uniforms in my life already.

 

[msw]

In a previous life I worked for a law enforcement agency in CA. Actually saw an off duty patrolman from my department at a fast food restaurant in full gear...guess the free burger made it worthwhile. Wait, did I just say an officer of the law accepted a freebie?

Dutch



Dutch:

New one guy (LEO) that was so poor after his divorce (wife got the house, kids, and most of the paycheck; he got the donut dolly), he'd pick up his kids on his day off, bring them to his new home (which was the Station - he lived in the bunk room) for entertainment playing in the radio cars in the parking lot; then put on his full uniform, pile the kids in a marked radio car, and go to the local pizza place for dinner........ because they popped for free pizza.

 

[AA717driver]

Off topic, but...

House_x--I bow before your avatar! TC

P.S.--When I run in to a store, I take all identifying items(including wings) off. My wife thinks I'm silly. I should show her this thread.TC

 

[huncowboy]

Re: Off topic, but...

I should show her this thread.TC

but make sure you get rid of Gina before... on the left I mean LOL...

 

[H25BCPTN]

Take the tie and stripes off and now you are in the mall for lunch with your Captain or Co-pilot wearing the same shirt and pants. Still looks stuiped.

 

[LJDRVR]

Whatever....

Those of us who work on the charter side of things often have several hours to kill before the flight back. Ocassionally we go eat, hang out at a mall, or buy beer for our passengers. (My personal favorite!)

I've been wearing a uniform of some type or another since I was nineteen, and I'm not gonna bother turning my pilot uniform into some dorky-white-shirt-with-eaupelets-and-snazzy-polyester-slacks getup that looks like maybe I'm on my way to a convention of Radio Shack managers. If you think I'm doing it to be cool or walk around in public and be seen, guess again, I got that stuff out of my system years ago in the military. It comes down to this:

You look like a pilot dork with the stuff on there, but just a dork without it.

I'M TOO LAZY!! GEEZE! You guys call yourselves pilots? What ever happened to the path of least resistance?

Now I do agree, the hat is a way over the top if you're away from the airport...

 

[BIGBROWNDC8]

Call me a looser,
If I need something and I’m on the way home from work or on my way to work, I’m stoppin... Store, mall, whatever. Heck, there have been a few times that my wife has called me as I finished up a trip and I have met her for a quick lunch at some very nice restaurants (PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory). So the correct etiquette now is that I have to take my wings, epilates etc off. Give me a break. Who is this making up these ridiculous rules, If you are embarrassed about wearing a uniform, (Pilot, Military, etc) do what you must to be comfortable or find another job your not so ashamed of. When I’m out and about and I see a pilot in his/her uniform with all their accessories off, I think you look bad and out of uniform (probably the military in me). Besides, once you get all that stuff off, then you’re a looser in a stupid looking white shirt with brown/blue/black polyester paints and very ugly work shoes.

But then again, I’m a looser

 

[delivery100]

BIGBROWNDC8

I couldn't agree more. I have never gone clothes shopping or to baseball or football games in my uniform, but if I stop at the store on my way to work, I sure dont give a f@ck what anyone would possibly think. I cant believe anyone would be so insecure that they would take off their epaulets to appease the 7-11 clerk.

 

[enigma]

In my lifelong pursuit of staying un-noticed, I ditch the shoulder boards, tie, hat, and ID as soon as I get off the employee bus. I try to keep a polo shirt in my car that matches the trousers so that I can stop off at the store on my way home without attracting attention. Call me odd, I don't care, but I just don't care to draw any attention from people I don't know.

I drive a sports car, but it's not flashy; I drive it because I enjoy the ride. I compare walking around in full uniform to the punks who spend all their drug deal profits on chrome wheels and neon.


regards,
enigma

 

[phishn@daves]

well........

The only time I take off my stripes when I stop on my way home is to buy beer........so every time I stop on the way home, I take off my stripes!

Honestly, I don't mind stopping places in uniform, makes people think I have money......then I get into my rusted out, smoking, oil-dripping pinto, and people know I do!

Classic Car!

 

[Afixedwing]

Whatever

You can call me a dork if you want. I often stop at the grocery/deli on the way home for work, and I don't remove my epaulettes/tie/wings. This is because if I did this, I'd lose my tie, and have to re-attach the epaulettes/wings before I hang my shirt in the closet (to wear it the next day).

 

[Networ-King]

Re: Re: Unfreakingbelievable

Dude...you have the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard as an AVATAR....who's the the dork now???????????

Yeaaahhhh....... I did that to poke fun a while back and been too lazy to get rid of it. Dunno.... sooner or later it'll go....

Man this has turned into a strange thread.....you all do make good points, but I guess I agree with the crowd that does not want any extra attention outside of the airport. LOL..... I still think there is alot of apples and oranges being compared here. The 7/11.... sure I'll get something in there real quick....., but going to the mall and hanging out is like going to the movies with the whole pilot uniform on..... JMO. LOL.... I guess to some people thats okay too..... LOL

 

[GEO]

whats a "looser"? is it related to "loser" perhaps?

 

[Caveman]

I had a crewmember the other day end up on an overnight without her roll-a-board because somehow when it was pinktagged it ended up getting left in ORD. There she was, walking around the mall in uniform trying to buy some new skivvies, toiletries and a change of clothes to get her through the overnight. Ever think that maybe, just maybe, there's more to the story than someone just trying to look cool?

 

[AKAAB]

First...they're shoulder boards, not epaulets! Epaulets are the cloth straps that your shoulder boards attach to. Whew...I feel better!

Maybe you don't know, but JB uniform shirts have wings embroidered on them. What good is it to take off your shoulder boards and tie when you go into a store or the mall?

Frankly, it don't like it when guys hit the crew bus and immediately ditch the tie and boards. As long as you are in your company uniform in any part, you are representing your company. Also, I seem to recall from my ROTC days that you did not wear part of a uniform. If you had only part of your uniform on, you were being disrespectful of the service and the uniform. Does this ring a bell? Is it so wrong to have enough pride in where you work and what you do for a living to show a modicum of respect?

BTW - Unless I'm wearing the embroidered shirt, or don't have a cover-up with me, the only time I remove the gear is if I have to buy beer on the way home - of if my wife rings the cell and insists on my stopping for..um...shall we say, "products of a personal nature".

 

[TonyC]

Besides, once you get all that stuff off, then you’re a looser in a stupid looking white shirt with brown/blue/black polyester paints and very ugly work shoes.

Amen, brother! IF you're embarrassed to be seen in your uniform, look for another job.

(Of course, I wouldn't have included BROWN in the choices of colors, but I understand your personal interest. )

 

[180ToTheMarker]

Guys, its real simple. I keep a nylon zip up jacket in the car just in case I need to run erands, get gas, whatever. It covers the whole shirt so no need to remove all your junk. Plus, if I ever get a flat I won't look silly on the roadside changing my tire.

 

[RightBettor]

Can't resist...

I just gotta relay this story: Years ago when I worked for SkyWest, I was riding in the van to the hotel in RDM Oregon. The three of us (me, FO, & FA) decide we want to stop at a grocery store on the way and get some dinner. (It was a long day, no real breaks, and we got in kinda late so the hotel restaurant was closed and we knew it.) The van driver stops at a store and we all go in to find some food. Well I wasn't about to strip down out of uniform just to run into a store and grab a frozen dinner. Besides, it was about 1 am, 40 degrees F, and rainy . So I go in still wearing my black London Fog trenchcoat over my uniform (I left the hat in the van). Now the thing is, the Columbine school shootings were recent news and there's all this hoopla in the media about the "trenchcoat mafia" and these "goth" kids. I must have been approached by 5 employees in the store asking me if I needed assistance, and the store manager kept sneaking peeks at me around the corners of the aisle. They probably thought I was up to something horrific in their store at 1 o'clock in the morning... instead I bought a frozen dinner, something for breakfast, paid cash and walked out. They all certainly looked relieved when I left.

At any rate, I have gone into publics places for a quick purchase and kept my uniform together. I don't give a rats a$$ what people think. I will say the two questions, "Are you a pilot?" and "What's your route?" get rather tiring, but you get that anyway as soon as someone finds out what you do... uniform or not. Besides, walk around the mall in a "sterile" white shirt and navy/black slacks and you look like the local Barney Fife security guards... I'd rather look like a pilot! So there!

 

[SWA/FO]

Hey Networ-king,

Whats the big deal...I wear my uniform everywhere. Its awesome. I pick up all the chicks and get great discounts everywhere. I even sleep in it. You should be a bit more proud of your profession.

 

[pipejockey]

Maybe you don't know, but JB uniform shirts have wings embroidered on them.

Those wiley LCC's, no wonder they raking in the dough!!
Seriously, I'm sure they look sharp, but would'nt you like them to splurge for some metal?
I think Coex has the embroidered as well.

SERENITY NOW!!! SERENITY NOW!!!!