I am a private pilot working on my xc requirements for my instrument rating. My co-pilot or “hood buddy” insists on wearing epaulettes every time we fly. Normally I wouldn’t consider wearing a uniform since I’m not the show off type. However, I’m a little bit sick of going places and being asked how my flight training is coming or being treated as a student and not a pilot. Also, whenever we bring our friends on flights I’m always asked about why I’m not dressed up all official or why I’m only wearing jeans and a t shirt. Needless to say, it’s getting old. Getting him to not wear epaulettes is absolutely out of the question. Is it normal for private pilots to do this?
As a former line guy, I would probably laugh my head off if some part 91 guys came in and one dude was in a dress shirt with epaulets. Seriously. If you’re not part 135 or 121 and on an actual revenue trip, it’s pretty silly to wear them. You could make it a game and wear the same gitup with epaulets as well…wear Captain epaulets if he’s wearing FO epaulets, or if you could find them with 5 stripes all the better. Don’t really see much else you can do about it though other than not fly with him.
in hockey, unless you have just won it, it is a curse to touch the Stanley cup without winning it. Maybe make something up like I don’t want to jinx my possible future career by wearing them just yet.
Overseas some flight schools require airline style uniforms for students and instructors. I flew for a 91 operator in a mid sized jet for about a year, we wore uniforms. All it did was invite ramp checks.
Is it your plane or are you paying to rent it? If so, just tell your friend “No dork bars on my dime”. “Friends don’t let friends wear dork bars” would be another approach.
TheEggman - Not sure what to tell your friend. All the private pilots I know (and students, too) would find your friend a bit silly. I like the idea of doing something equally silly but different. I don’t suppose you could explain to your passengers that the epaulets don’t really mean anything in this case…
A dude that wears a uniform in a 172 is like a dude on here with 2,000+ Posts and less than 100hrs total time.
I’ll admit to wearing the shirt one time outside of Halloween. Was a first time ever airplane flight for a friends 6 year old son who loved airplanes, and I gave him a set of wings. I felt obligated to do the dog and pony show.
Quite the opposite, one time in winter I brought along my Buffalo headress and put the headset on under it, flew around warm and toasty, and upon taxing up to the FBO it took a while to figure out why everyone was checking me out.
Be safe, have fun, and enjoy your flying with dorks. Each of us is “That guy” in one way or the other. What would aviation be without funny stories?