tmaxon@dallasnews.com
Staff Writer
Published: 16 March 2015 09:09 PM
Updated: 17 March 2015 10:50 AM
As American Airlines Inc. wraps up testing on proposed new uniforms, its pilots have spoken: They don’t like them.
“While individual perspectives varied, the consensus is that the uniforms as tested are unacceptable and management needs to identify a new uniform vendor,” the Allied Pilots Association told members in a hotline message last week. “The testers cited concerns regarding material quality, uniform construction and fit.”
In particular, the uniforms weren’t cut to fit different physiques, from slim to … uh, less slim. Some pilots developed rashes while wearing the new uniforms. The blouses for female pilots were too revealing. The double-breasted coat wasn’t too popular. And they’d like the option of a leather bomber jacket, too.
American is wrapping up a three-month test this week of new uniforms for pilots, flight attendants, gate agents and other employees, with a goal of rolling out the final versions next year. The last time uniforms were redesigned was 20 years ago.
APA spokesman Gregg Overman said the union is confident that all the problems will be sorted out. The pilots are excited about the airline’s direction, he said.
“We certainly embrace the idea that the uniform should reflect status, that we are a global carrier. This is all for a good cause,” he said.
Speaking of the fit problem, Overman said the uniform didn’t take into account that bodies change as people get older.
“We’ve got pilots in their 30s all the way up into their 60s. With that, you’ve got a variety of physiques. So we advocated three distinctively different types of fit: athletic, average and what is termed classic. When we got to the test phase, it became apparent there wasn’t enough range there that accommodates the variety of physiques, both on the male and female sides,” he said.
As to the problem with rashes, Overman said: “Clearly, you don’t want to trigger allergic reactions. We’re talking about something that our pilots will spend a fair chunk of their lives in.
“More than anything, our goal is to get it right. We think the wear test will be very helpful in addressing problems that otherwise would have cropped up after the uniforms were rolled out, and I don’t think anyone wants that,” Overman said.
American spokeswoman Chris Singley said the wear test is working just as the company had hoped by identifying the shortcomings of the uniforms, both for function and for employee acceptance.
“Overall, the comments have been quite positive. But the system is working because we are hearing about all manner of things. Some of them are very complimentary, and there are a couple of things we have as takeaways that we’re going to go and address. But they’re minor, relatively speaking, and nothing that concerns us greatly.”
One complaint by many employees has been that gray pieces in the proposed uniform are drab. Singley said American is looking at adding some “pop of color.”
In addition, she said, the testing has focused not just on how the uniforms look, but how they function. For example, the flight attendants’ uniforms must be stretchy enough to allow them to perform all their functions during a flight.
The uniform designers will take the feedback and try to address them before another wear test, expected to begin in a few months.
Singley said employees are excited about getting new uniforms, as evidenced by the feedback management has been getting.
“Part of that reason is because employees are ready for fresh new change that reflects the brand and the personality of the new American Airlines. This is important to people, and we want to get it right,” she said.
