Uniform for CFI

[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.

 

[mcjohn]

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

Thanks Mr. Art Vandalay. I have detemined you are a chode.

 

[redd]

Huh?

Thanks Mr. Art Vandalay. I have detemined you are a chode.

Okay...what's a CHODE?

 

[indianboy7]

Okay...what's a CHODE?

it's actually choad

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=choad

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

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

I tried water polo once, but my horse couldn't make it through the first quarter.

 

[joe_pilot]

it's actually choad

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=choad

I'm glad I'm not the only one who looked it up.

 

[jbDC9]

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?

Professionalism, respect, earned it, huge ego.... blah blah blah, all listed as reasons to wear the uniform. Whatever turns your crank I guess... but it's a CFI job. It ain't airline, it ain't military, it ain't corporate. It's flight instructor. As in flying a steaming hot Cessna or Cherokee in a Florida or Texas summer, wearing a goofy ass polyester blend uniform, with a tie and stripes. Why? Just to look cool and "command respect"? Who really cares? It's an un-airconditioned Cessna, not a Gulfstream.

Personally, I think a CFI uniform is pretty gay, uhh... I mean lame. I understand that working at a big flight school might require that it be worn, which sucks... but really, it's not necessary unless you have a large ego to feed.

 

[joe_pilot]

As in flying a steaming hot Cessna or Cherokee in a Florida or Texas summer, wearing a goofy ass polyester blend uniform, with a tie and stripes. Why? Just to look cool and "command respect"? Who really cares? It's an un-airconditioned Cessna, not a Gulfstream.

Great point! I wish I would have thought of that (or just have remembered what that was like).

 

[Limeyflyer]

The flight insturctors should dress professionally, but not wings and stripes.

 

[mcjohn]

Today's the day and you're not making it any easier for me.:blush:

Oh, and thanks for the clarification on CHOAD. Lots of those around here sometimes.