When I was hired by US Airways they had a campaign known as "Impressions of Excellence" that was implemented due to extensive research of our core customer.
The general consensus was that airline passengers sacrifice control in order to take advantage of air transportation. They can't say, "Stop the bus! I want to get off!". They have to trust that the flightcrew is safe, professional, and conservative.
The psychology of the situation is,
whether it be right or wrong, that first impressions will dictate how the passenger perceives you.
My personal opinion is that airline pilots should wear the traditional airline pilot uniform including the hat. They should be clean-shaven with a conservative haircut. If your airline allows you to waver from that professional image in order to allow you to wear a leather jacket and throw away the hat -- I might ask "Why?"
Those who know me also know that i'm extremely ANTI-ALPA... but even
Ican see that "dumbing down" flightcrew experience will result in the traveling public's perception that this person is worth less. I believe it is a negotiation tactic. Maybe i'm wrong. But you never see a picket line with a bunch of yahoos in leather jackets listening to Ipods walking along.
So imagine this:
You're going in to the hospital for surgery that may save your life ... or end it. You are scheduled to meet the surgeon and he walks in wearing an AC/DC t-shirt, torn blue jeans, a pierced lip, and blue hair... oh, and he's listening to his ipod.
Do you trust this individual with your life? Or would you feel more comfortable with the traditional stereotypical Doctor outfit? (shirt, tie, labcoat, etc)
You have been wrongly convicted of a crime and you are standing in court facing the jury when your lawyer shows up wearing a similar outfit to that above. He speaks with poor grammar and in general presents himself poorly.
Would you prefer that attorney, or the more traditional brand?
Sure, our passengers buy tickets based on the lowest price. But we've learned over time that they're afraid. They're afraid of turboprops -- that's why you're all flying RJs. They're afraid of turbulence. They're afraid of ice. They're afraid of thunderstorms.
They have sacrificed all control over their lives to you. And the ONLY way that they can determine how good of a pilot you are ... is to evaluate your attention to detail in the way you present yourself.
If you are clean cut, professional, and "look the part" of the professional airline pilot. They believe that you take that same care and effort in the way you fly your airplane.
If you look like slob or a high-school dropout, then THAT perception will become their reality too.
Is it fair? Probably not. Is it fair that you chose not to go out with an overweight woman in college because she wasn't "your type"? No. But perception is reality.
I'm no longer an airline pilot. But I am a frequent flier now. I'm not going to lie to you guys. I'm PETRIFIED to go fly on RJs these days!! Why? Partly because thanks to reading message boards like this I know you guys are listening to Ipods in flight. Partly because I know how little total-time is in the flight deck and that, perhaps, the Captain may have never deiced before because he upgraded so fast...
But mostly because I SEE you guys walking through the terminal and my perception of your appearance is not one of excellence. You may be Chuck Yeager in the airplane, but we -- your customers -- don't PERCEIVE you that way.
Is that right of me? No. And I know better.... but what about Joe and Cindy Tourist who fly once a year. They only have one way to judge your flying skill and determine if they trust you...
Put the hat and blazer back on and get a haircut. I don't care if you look 17. But you darned well better wear the legacy of airline pilot with pride.
Sincerely,
A Corporate pilot who no longer has to wear hats, jackets, or ties.
