What Should A Pilot Look Like?

[bubbleboy]

I have been on both sides of the fence. I have worn the "custom-made" dark blue flight suits, and have also looked like the typical helicopter bush pilot i.e: jeans, jacket, hiking boots, truckers wallet, and company ball cap.

 

Does a flight suit look more professional, or should it be left up to the comfort level of the individual? I guess there are certain safety issues such as nomex vs. cotton etc. Lately I have been wearing carhart bib overalls that make me look like a farmer, but they sure are comfortable and don't seem to mind Jet B as much as my tight fitting $60 designer jeans!

 

I have had comments when wearing flight suits that suggest it is important for some people to differentiate between flight crew and maintenance.

 

In addition do you guys think I should stop watching "queer eye for the straight guy" with my WIFE

 

Standing by to stand by!!!

bb

[407 Driver]

Our company insists on FlightSuits, they supply them too!

[L'ACADIAN]

i think that flightsuits r great because u don't have to worry about matching ..........get up and put on the suit and go ......yours truly martha !!

 

salut !!

[Elvis]

I remember in my James Bay days of an Ex "Nam" pilot that on days he was wearing jeans and a tee-shirt all was OK.

 

On days he had the old flight suit on look out.

 

:elvis: :shock: :elvis: :shock: :elvis:

[Guest graunch1]

Why don't you want to look like an engineer?

[gannet]

I believe a pilot should be easy on the eyes and have a winning smile. Either that or dress well and have a really big watch. Failing that, the pilot should be slovenly, able to consume large drinks in a single swig and demolish plates of BBQ in a single sitting. Of course a mixture of all three is also admirable.

 

Seriously though, I don't care how a pilot dresses, as long as it is appropriate for the job at hand. Poopy suits=off shore, flame-resistant=bush/firefighting/ag (ie. closer to the ragged edge work), collared shirt and tie=corporate VIP, and weather appropriate regardless of location.

[Rotorhead]

I have been on both sides of the fence. I have worn the "custom-made" dark blue flight suits, ...

Shouldn't that read "worn-out"?

 

If it is the same version of the custom made suit that I had, they sure didn't last long. Version two lasted a little longer. How about the Canadian Tire shirts?

 

I always preferred jeans, comfortable shirt, good workboots, ballcap and a leatherman tool on my hip. These days I'm in a goretex immersion suit, rarely ever take the leatherman out of the case.

 

Note for low time pilots: See what the pilots at the company wear and dress like them. The employer will see that you will fit in well. I wouldn't do the shirt and tie thing unless you are headed for Helijet or a corporate job.

 

RH

[407 Driver]

We had about 10 - 206's in Ft St John in the late 70's. It way Maynard and a whole bunch of us 200 hr kids. One guy (not in the industry anymore) always showed up to work with pressed pants, a shirt and Tie ...a wide gaudy OKie Tie no less

... boy, did he look out of place wrestling pigs into the 206 on the WCE pigging run every day !!

For those you you who never worked the oil-patch....No, these weren' the "bacon" variety of Pigs...

 

RH, my last custom made spiffy blue CHC flight suit arrived in 98, but it was cut for an Arnie Swartaneggar kind of guy, not the Homer Simpson fit that I required, DoH ! (I gave it away to a 100 hour Pup !)

[bubbleboy]

The light weight version would be better called thread bare!! I liked the way you could tell the wind direction and speed by the way they bellowed around.

 

During the dog days of summer a guy has to try his best to keep cool, but the most extreme was the picture I saw of a driver who's name escapes me now, but he was sitting in a long ranger with nothing on but cowboy boots, shorts, and a head set. Looked comfortable, but slightly out of place. It takes all kinds I guess.

 

.....oh yeah, and the machine was running!!

 

bbutt

[T-rex]

Ya, my 'custom' made blue coveralls sure didn't fit the way I thought I measured them. If they would of taken some time to read over the questionaire I sent in with regards to my measurments, maybe they would of been a better fit. Never mind the "praise the lord" propaganda tag sent with the 'flightsuit.'

 

As our good friend 407 stated, wear what the job dictates! Sometimes, rubber boots and a set of good John Deere green coveralls is best! Enjoy the gaspatch! Watch out for those pigs....they burn!