Lids

[rvg203]

Funny glider pilot hat for me. Kind of resembles a boonie hat but with a smaller brim. Sometimes I wear a cap, but no button on top. One of the pilots in my club knocked his head on the canopy in strong rotor turbulence and the little metal button almost knocked him unconscious.

 

[ShyFlyer]

...it all started with making the hats optional.

I don't know if it's that so much as a generational thing. My job requires a uniform and you'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many times you'll see someone wearing the short-sleeved uniform shirt with a long-sleeved undershirt. The concept of "looking professional" simply escapes them. They'll do what ever they want and don't understand why they're getting written up for a uniform violation.

 

[derg]

how many times you'll see someone wearing the short-sleeved uniform shirt with a long-sleeved undershirt.

Get out!

Really?

 

[X-Forces]

I don't know if it's that so much as a generational thing. My job requires a uniform and you'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many times you'll see someone wearing the short-sleeved uniform shirt with a long-sleeved undershirt. The concept of "looking professional" simply escapes them. They'll do what ever they want and don't understand why they're getting written up for a uniform violation.

That would surprise me.

 

[Jet]

I bought the hat but it's still in the box wrapped in the original plastic. We have too many other things to remember to bring. I do always wear the long sleeve pilot shirts though which doesn't seem to be the norm.

 

[dasleben]

I bought the hat but it's still in the box wrapped in the original plastic. We have too many other things to remember to bring. I do always wear the long sleeve pilot shirts though which doesn't seem to be the norm.

Just don't forget to put the shoulder harnesses through your epaulets before takeoff.

 

[ShyFlyer]

Get out!

Really?

I kid you not. Happens in the winter mostly as they're too lazy to ask the office for long sleeve shirts.

That would surprise me.

I work in Private Security. Lots of facepalm.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

I don't know if it's that so much as a generational thing.

The quote came from a chief pilot at a major airline where the average pilot is not some youngster. This is simply an issue of people thinking they can get away with a lot more once you start relaxing uniform standards. The same concept applies in offices with dress codes. Once the "casual friday" nonsense started, it spread and got worse. Suddenly every day was casual friday. And then business casual stopped being khakis and a polo shirt, and started being jeans and an untucked shirt. I refuse to do business with any of these people. If I show up at a car dealership and the salesman doesn't have enough respect for the customer to wear a tie to work, then I'm turning around and heading to the next dealership down the street. It's not just about pilot uniforms, it's about professionalism in general.

 

[cmill]

Some people take themselves too seriously.

 

[FlyingScot]

My Boss is from Mexico,

Here is my uniform and lid

 

[Autothrust Blue]

I bought the hat but it's still in the box wrapped in the original plastic. We have too many other things to remember to bring. I do always wear the long sleeve pilot shirts though which doesn't seem to be the norm.

I have a fear of snagging a fire handle or thrust lever.

 

[dasleben]

The quote came from a chief pilot at a major airline where the average pilot is not some youngster. This is simply an issue of people thinking they can get away with a lot more once you start relaxing uniform standards. The same concept applies in offices with dress codes. Once the "casual friday" nonsense started, it spread and got worse. Suddenly every day was casual friday. And then business casual stopped being khakis and a polo shirt, and started being jeans and an untucked shirt. I refuse to do business with any of these people. If I show up at a car dealership and the salesman doesn't have enough respect for the customer to wear a tie to work, then I'm turning around and heading to the next dealership down the street. It's not just about pilot uniforms, it's about professionalism in general.

I will simply say that if you venture outside the AirTran routemap, you might be surprised to find that your opinion of what constitutes a professional pilot uniform doesn't necessarily coincide to what much of the world thinks. A basic example: Japanese pilots wear white gloves with their uniforms because they feel it presents a more professional appearance than bare hands. Does it bother you that JAL/ANA pilots might consider it unprofessional that you don't wear them?

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

I will simply say that if you venture outside the AirTran routemap, you might be surprised to find that your opinion of what constitutes a professional pilot uniform doesn't necessarily coincide to what much of the world thinks. A basic example: Japanese pilots wear white gloves with their uniforms because they feel it presents a more professional appearance than bare hands. Does it bother you that JAL/ANA pilots might consider it unprofessional that you don't wear them?

White gloves have never been a part of the pilot image in this country, so it doesn't really matter here, because people don't expect to see it. If I had a job flying in Japan, where that is part of the traditional pilot image, then I would absolutely wear the gloves, since that's what is expected of a professional pilot in that culture. Likewise, the hat has always been a part of the pilot image in this culture until the new generation with their spikey hair came along and didn't want to conform with tradition.

 

[mikecweb]

I'll throw another one out there from the peanut gallery. From what I hear while sitting in the back, age is the single most confidence inspiring trait for the general public. Fact is if you look under 52 3/4 or over 68 2/3 they are judging you poorly based on age.

On the contrary another thing I find funny about those that don't want to wear the full monkey, as soon as there is a public event involving the union everybody looks like the commercials the airlines run on TV. Obviously you feel the public will react to your perfect uniform while holding a sign on a picket line but when you fly your 4-day you feel some stuff can be omitted without public reaction.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

I'll throw another one out there from the peanut gallery. From what I hear while sitting in the back, age is the single most confidence inspiring trait for the general public. Fact is if you look under 52 3/4 or over 68 2/3 they are judging you poorly based on age.

True. Of course, we can't really do anything about that one. You can't change your age, but you can change your uniform appearance.

On the contrary another thing I find funny about those that don't want to wear the full monkey, as soon as there is a public event involving the union everybody looks like the commercials the airlines run on TV. Obviously you feel the public will react to your perfect uniform while holding a sign on a picket line but when you fly your 4-day you feel some stuff can be omitted without public reaction.

Yep. Very true. Ever notice that you almost never see a SWA pilot wearing his hat at work, but virtually every commercial on TV for SWA shows the pilots wearing their hats? Hell, they're usually wearing the blazer instead of the leather jacket, too, and there's probably only a grand total of a dozen SWA pilots who even own the blazer! When it comes time for PR, the airline makes absolutely sure that the traditional image is displayed. I think that should tell us something. Professionalism isn't just for picketing and commercials.

 

[FlyingScot]

Yep. Very true. Ever notice that you almost never see a SWA pilot wearing his hat at work, .

I had jumpseated on SWA for 5 years and wondered why I never saw a hat. I actually googled "SWA, pilot hat" and the only thing a cursory search produced was a toy version of one. Then one day I was walking through an airport and had a pilot in hat nod to me as I walked past and wondered why, then realized he was the Capt that just brought me to that airport. The hat must have been a rare edition, collectors item.

 

[derg]

One of my colleagues over there wears his and the blazer, but he's old school, "original gangster" SWA. But does a lot of PR work including some of the older commercials.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

I had jumpseated on SWA for 5 years and wondered why I never saw a hat. I actually googled "SWA, pilot hat" and the only thing a cursory search produced was a toy version of one. Then one day I was walking through an airport and had a pilot in hat nod to me as I walked past and wondered why, then realized he was the Capt that just brought me to that airport. The hat must have been a rare edition, collectors item.

I actually see a nonzero amount of Southwest pilots wearing them. Captains, mostly. But they do exist and are regular-issue items.

 

[X-Forces]

Yep. Very true. Ever notice that you almost never see a SWA pilot wearing his hat at work, but virtually every commercial on TV for SWA shows the pilots wearing their hats? Hell, they're usually wearing the blazer instead of the leather jacket, too, and there's probably only a grand total of a dozen SWA pilots who even own the blazer! When it comes time for PR, the airline makes absolutely sure that the traditional image is displayed. I think that should tell us something. Professionalism isn't just for picketing and commercials.

Check it out.

No hat, and a leather jacket. Naturally it is the FO and not the Cpt. The Cap is in the blazer, hat, and looking very captain like.

Then again does anyone really ever take a Southwest commercial seriously?

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Notice that the only one they let speak and be in front was the guy with the hat? There's a reason for that.