I am still trying to figure out exactly who cargo management thinks they are trying to impress by forcing their pilots to wear the monkey suit. In pax travel we are in front of the end customer. In cargo no one gives a crap on the ramp. being able to wear something more normal should be a perk of the job.
There are places we go where being in the monkey suit helps while working. There are places where the monkey suit hurts. We're still a 121 airline, so they have us wear it. In my prior life, it was all about a low profile, so we wore business suits on all of our flights. The company says wear the monkey suit, so we wear it. The thing I don't understand is Ameriflight and places like that wearing it. If you're loading freight, why on earth are you wearing a white shirt? Why do CFI's wear the monkey suit? That's insane!!
Having said that, from my understanding on the issue at us specifically (MRDSCC), is they want people in uniform in case of an evacuation. Once we get to cruise, it's all pajamas, or relaxed uniform, whatever goes within reason...then before TOD, we get professional again. It is what it is.
The beard thing...if you want that, go overseas, and you can have anything you want. In the US, for the most part, if you're on with a US 121 carrier, though shall not have anything but a mustache. It is what it is. My goatee is mostly blonde now (screw you, it's blonde, okay ;-) )and I'd like to keep it, but I'm no longer flying for Airnet. Gotta do what the boss says.
