Uniform for CFI

[mcjohn]

I'm really freaked out about having to wear a professional pilot uniform.
My lame little pilot uniform came in the mail today and I don't want to open the box. I don't like having to wear a professional pilot uniform for an employer that 1099's me and makes me answer the phones to get students and offers no benefits. It just seems lame.

Could someone please agree with me or maybe set me straight. I hate that it comes down to this affecting my attitude so I hope that I can just get over it. Hell, I might even like it once I accept it but as of now, I'm staring at the box next to me and feelin kind of funny.
uke:

 

[FokkerIdid]

I'm really freaked out about having to wear a professional pilot uniform.
My lame little pilot uniform came in the mail today and I don't want to open the box. I don't like having to wear a professional pilot uniform for an employer that 1099's me and makes me answer the phones to get students and offers no benefits. It just seems lame.

Could someone please agree with me or maybe set me straight. I hate that it comes down to this affecting my attitude so I hope that I can just get over it. Hell, I might even like it once I accept it but as of now, I'm staring at the box next to me and feelin kind of funny.
uke:

If you want to play the part, you have to look the part. Suck it up and Git 'er done.

 

[Wyatt]

I don't like having to wear a professional pilot uniform for an employer that 1099's me and makes me answer the phones to get students and offers no benefits. It just seems lame.

Sounds kinda lame too. If I were you Id be looking for a job with another employer. One that treats you better, offers better benefits and makes you glad to wear the uniform. Its hard to project professionalism on the job when you feel like you are abused or taken for granted. I know that means you might have to move and maybe go through several employers to find a good one but thats the way it is in this business...and the world in general these days.

 

[schoolio]

When I was training at an FBO in Texas, the two junior CFI's decided they'd start wearing their uniforms from the large flight school they previously attended in OK. The chief pilot, who was my instructor (and a retired CW5 with upwards of 10K hours) was like "I'm not wearing that monkey suit...I don't know why they are, but whatever." Kinda funny...soon thereafter they all started wearing polo shirts with the school logo.

But now I'm the one at a large flight school, and everyone here wears the uniforms, so it's not a big deal. It's all about what you make of it.

Like FokkerIdid said, if you want to look the part, you have to play the part. But play it well. Wear the uniform professionally (i.e. starched/pressed shirt, pressed pants, nice shoes, tie, etc.) and represent yourself as a professional. If the employer is at all professional, they will see that and appreciate it.

Sure, it sucks, but if your goal is the airlines, you're going to be doing it sooner or later, so you may as well get used to it. Strapping on a 757 isn't the same as a C-172, but if the end justifies the means, well, do what you have to. The silliness will pass. I went from wearing camouflage, Army aviator wings, and Captain's bars to a silly white short-sleeve shirt with epaulets at a flight school. Did I feel like I stepped down a few rungs on the ladder? Sure. But I got over it fairly quickly. The end justifies the means. Good luck.

 

[indianboy7]

If the uniform is part of the job, then wear it....you'll get used to it, no matter how silly it may seem. If you don't want to wear it, then go find another place to work that doesn't require it.........

 

[Otto Coarsen]

Great Idea!

Why don't you put it on, walk through the local mall, and tell all the chicks you're an airline pilot!

You'll be 8alls deep in no time.

 

[sky37d]

When I was at HDC, doing Hurricane relief stuff, I thought it was cool that two instructors from a school in FL someplace, showed up in their uniforms, in a twin full of supplies. I thought it set them appart from all of us who showed up in jeans.
Including the guy flying the C525. He was wearing jeans also.

 

[PacoPollo]

Just do us a favor and post a pic of you in your uniform next to your 172.

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

First of all, if they have you on contract (1099), they can't hold you to a fixed schedule. As a contract employee, you work when you want because you are in business for yourself. I used to be in the same situation, however, our uniforms were shorts and a golf shirt. (Part 61)

Wear the uniform for whom you work. We've all seen it before and won't make fun of you--promise. Then one day you can do what I do now--aerial mapping in a Lear Jet, where you go back to flying in shorts and a t-shirt!

 

[moonlight]

Contract employee, answering phones, monkey suites...could it be...ATP?

 

[mcjohn]

ATP guys wear suit!? B.S.!

Contract employee, answering phones, monkey suites...could it be...ATP?

Since when do ATP instructors wear monkey suits (I guess you mean trad. wings, stripes, nametag etc..)? They wear polos with school name and they don't even enforce that. When I was suckered into going down to the Atlanta branch to give them $100 to give me a lame a$$ interview to see if they wold except my $38,000 for their 90 day course, I was pissed!! They said to wear appropriate attire to this gay little interview so I showed up looking sharp. First thing they did when I walked in was ask for the hundred dollars. Then I sat waiting for someone for 30 mins. and when they showed up it was the same punk that took the check who I was sure was a high school intern or something working at the desk. He was a chubby stocky little dude wearing an over sized untucked green polo style shirt that practically hung to his knees. His shoes were beat up old nikes with the heels cut out to be like slippers. He had on a dirty bent up frat hat that was supposed to be white with greek symbols and shaggy hair to the collar underneath. He was an instructor!! And then he called in another instructor who was wearing some kind of something skinned boots!
I know this is a little winded but that experience has kinded of haunted me for 2 years now and none of it is exaggerated. I felt like a total retard the entire 4 hour drive home for ever going and spending $100.
Little schit tried to give me a ground lesson on critical engine and question me to see if I understood.
Then they said they'd have to get back to me to let me know if I was accepted. I chuckled and left.
They did call back in about 2 weeks and of course I said NO WAY but I didn't mention anything about my bad experience. I should have. They continued calling me like freakin telemarketers every now and then.

I hope an instructor for ATPs in Atlanta sees this and looks in the frickin mirror! But then again I doubt any ATPs instructor will see this because they're so balls to the wall busy flying mostly twins and that's exactly why I'd love to work there.
Anyway, love to vent:
TRUST FUND KID WHO INTERVIEWED ME WHO THINKS YOUR GONNA IMPRESS DADDY BY BECOMING AN "AIRLINE PILOT" OUT OF MY WAY!!

 

[avbug]

I'm really freaked out about having to wear a professional pilot uniform.
My lame little pilot uniform came in the mail today and I don't want to open the box. I don't like having to wear a professional pilot uniform for an employer that 1099's me and makes me answer the phones to get students and offers no benefits. It just seems lame.

Do you not consider yourself a professional? Do professionals not answer phones? Do most instructors not get students?

Your bio shows you having four hundred hours, and you are now above finding your own students and answering the phone? If so, then indeed you lack professionalism, or the potential to acquire professionalism, as well as the drive to do so.

Wearing a uniform is "lame?" Lame corporate, fractional, airline pilots. Lame military. Lame everyone but you, apparently.

Your instructor provides you a uniform, and you still gripe. Wait until you have to buy your own. If you don't want to wear the uniform, don't wear it. If wearing the uniform is a condition of employment, do not accept the employment. If you don't want to answer phones, don't answer them. If answering phones is a condition of employment, don't accept the employment. If you don't want to get your own students, don't get them. If getting your own students is a condition of employment, don't accept the employment.

Any employer that would ask their four hundred hour newbie instructor to get a student must be out of their mind. Any employer that would ask their flight instructor to actually pick up a phone and talk into it must be nuts, sadistic, evil. Any employer that would require a pilot to wear, heaven forbid, a pilot uniform must be the great spawn of satan, morphed with the utter silliness of saturday night live...you need to get out now while your sanity, safety, and reputation still remains intact.

For the love of pete, don't open that pandora's box, lest it infect the free world. Next thing, we'll all be stuck answering phones and lifting a finger to help ourselves...and we can't have that, can we?

SEND IT BACK!!!

 

[SkyBoy1981]

It is lame for a CFI to wear an airline uniform. It is uncomfortable and it simply does not fit such a position. Nobody said it was lame to be worn for positions in which it is acceptable and expected (i.e. airline pilots or military).

With that being said, I guess you have to do what you have to do. Otherwise apply elsewhere.

 

[mar]

All or nothing

I was made to wear only the pilot shirt with *no* stripes. And no tie. I thought it looked pretty dumb at the time.

I figured if you're gonna wear a uniform then you should wear a tie....and nobody wore a tie so neither did I.

But I was so hungry for a flying job that I would've put on a clown suit.

Call me crazy.
Good luck.

 

[joe_pilot]

Yup, it sucks having to conform. I was very lucky in that I worked for five years at a flight school and then a 135 freight company that didn't have a required uniform or a dress code. I have to admit that I enjoyed flying in shorts and nikes. That being said, for 99% of all professional pilots, you will eventually have a uniform/dress code. When you get to that job show some pride and take schoolio's advice.

...Wear the uniform professionally (i.e. starched/pressed shirt, pressed pants, nice shoes, tie, etc.) and represent yourself as a professional...

Good Luck.

-JP

 

[mcjohn]

Dadgumit Avbug, I was really hoping someone besides you would be busting my balls on this one. Oh well, you work with what your given. Actually I kind of wanted someone to do it so I'd feel better about wearing it for free all day but anyhow let's have fun with your post:

Do you not consider yourself a professional? Do professionals not answer phones? Do most instructors not get students?

Your bio shows you having four hundred hours, and you are now above finding your own students and answering the phone? If so, then indeed you lack professionalism, or the potential to acquire professionalism, as well as the drive to do so.

The requirement that I answer the phones down there puts me in their office environment where they sell charts, headsets, aviation supplies etc...Also, it is a laser grade test center and you have to set up all that stuff as well.
I recieve a 1099 for taxes and the only pay I get is from flight instructing. So, I have to take responsiblitiy for deducting my own taxes, social security, etc..and saving that cash. Also, I have to be kind of a secretary/sales person for free. The last place I instructed would have the students call me at home so I was spoiled I guess. Student base around here is small so it's not like the phone's always ringing or anything.

Wearing a uniform is "lame?"

Under conditions mentioned above? Yes, that's LAME. But it's what I've got to work with around here so I'll do it for a little while and see if things go well.
A couple guys before me quit because they couldn't convince the owners to stop insisting that they be there to "run" the office for free.

I think one of the main reasons the owners insist on us wearing a full fledged uniform is the part 141 thing combined with the cost for the student per hour with plane and instructor being $175/hr.

Your instructor provides you a uniform, and you still gripe. Wait until you have to buy your own. If you don't want to wear the uniform, don't wear it.

I did have to buy my own but they're supposed to give me a $150 uniform allowance soon.

For the love of pete, don't open that pandora's box, lest it infect the free world. Next thing, we'll all be stuck answering phones and lifting a finger to help ourselves...and we can't have that, can we?

SEND IT BACK!!!

Good point, however, I like the idea of wearing the uniform for a job that could even come close to paying the bills. This job won't come close to that.
What I get out of it - A larger student base possibly and opportunity to sit there and be ready to go all slick lookin when folks come in for scenic tours.
What the owners get out of it - Free labors to run the office who look like they're getting paid quite well and helps to inspire prospective students to spend the $175 per hour to train.

Not only am I going to help myself by answering those phones, I'll also help the owners by volunteering my charitable services to make sure their flight school breaks even so that I have the opportunity to have a place to instruct. They should have thrown in some knee pads with the uniform!

 

[Art Vandalay]

Nice post Avbug! From reading this guy's posts, I have determined that he lacks professionalism and motivation.

Wear the uniform, do your job, and quit complaining.

Art V.

Do you not consider yourself a professional? Do professionals not answer phones? Do most instructors not get students?

Your bio shows you having four hundred hours, and you are now above finding your own students and answering the phone? If so, then indeed you lack professionalism, or the potential to acquire professionalism, as well as the drive to do so.

Wearing a uniform is "lame?" Lame corporate, fractional, airline pilots. Lame military. Lame everyone but you, apparently.

Your instructor provides you a uniform, and you still gripe. Wait until you have to buy your own. If you don't want to wear the uniform, don't wear it. If wearing the uniform is a condition of employment, do not accept the employment. If you don't want to answer phones, don't answer them. If answering phones is a condition of employment, don't accept the employment. If you don't want to get your own students, don't get them. If getting your own students is a condition of employment, don't accept the employment.

Any employer that would ask their four hundred hour newbie instructor to get a student must be out of their mind. Any employer that would ask their flight instructor to actually pick up a phone and talk into it must be nuts, sadistic, evil. Any employer that would require a pilot to wear, heaven forbid, a pilot uniform must be the great spawn of satan, morphed with the utter silliness of saturday night live...you need to get out now while your sanity, safety, and reputation still remains intact.

For the love of pete, don't open that pandora's box, lest it infect the free world. Next thing, we'll all be stuck answering phones and lifting a finger to help ourselves...and we can't have that, can we?

SEND IT BACK!!!

 

[GetMyCoffee]

I gotta wear one and it blows balls. I feel like everytime I get out of an airplane, someones gonna run over and make me ride their beefstick to pleasure town. Plus my students make fun of me. They're always taping over the third stipe on my epilates, insinuating that I'm a flight attendant. They also slap my ass, which confirms my suspicions that people want to anally rape me in my uniform.

 

[VAPOR]

you are what you do

Know why they call them "golf" shirts and "polo" shirts? Do you ever wear a polo shirt? Do you play polo?

It is very respectable to be a pilot and you should be proud that you have earned the right to wear a pilot uniform. Or if you want to look like a valet, throw on some jeans or khakis and a polo like 99.9% of the nobodies on the street.

It all boils down to basic respect for yourself and for others. The national militaries of the world could certainly change from sharply pressed uniforms to baggy sweats, but what kind of respect would that command?

Meliora Cogito

 

[mcjohn]

Thanks everyone. I'll open the box tommorow.