XJET Leather jackets

At my airline we have the option; hats are optional also. I'm in leather in the winter with no hat unless it's freezing cold! After all these years of flying, it's nice to see the uniform police go away!
 
I still actually like the full uniforms. I mean if you want to bring up the standard, then appearance and attitude have to go with it, IMO.

out of JFK, it's a requirement for the DAL international guys to wear their hats...to me, it just plays the part of "international man of mystery".








Kidding... I mean it really plays the part of "professional at the wheel". :)
 
I think the leather jackets look just fine. Professional AND pratical, with a bit of military style.

I personally don't wear jackets to church (a tie only rarely), much less work. Suit and tie is for bankers and laywers in my opinion. I became a pilot because I don't want to wear a monkey suit every day.

College degrees and suits have nothing to do with professionalism or my ability to fly a plane. I have seen examples on both sides well educated, well dressed incompents, and complete pros with only a GED.

Needles to say I'm all about bule collar flying.
 
BobDDuck said:
Couple of things...

First off, on the ipod comment. We had a 59 year old offline (same parent company though) jumpseater on a 35 minute leg today. He was actually a must ride but took the jumpseat to get an extra passenger on board. He walks in, hands me his jumpseat form, pulls out the jumpseat and doesn't say anything else. He then takes out an IPOD, puts in his ear pieces and proceededs to blare some of the worst country I have ever heard. He plays his IPOD right through the taxi and take off and landing. We get to the gate at the outstation and he takes out ONE ear piece, says "thanks for the ride", and gets up and leaves.

It ain't just the new guys. (And I bet his hair would have been frosted and spiked, but it was already white and he didn't have enough left to spike.)
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Why did either you or the captain tell him to stow the ipod until above 10k and then stow it below 10k?

Sterile cockpit, and all!
 
It always easy to spot the XJT guys in EWR. CAL is blazer/overcoat/hat required in the winter for domestic guys and year-round for international.

Personally I think the blazer looks much better for a pilot group. But thats JMHO.

The worst looking thing however is if one guy is in the blazer and the other one is sporting leather.
 
specialK,

If you're EWR based, you'll fit right in with the leather. The trench coat looks sloppy on most pilots, and the blazer is useless in winter. I wear the blazer for about three weeks then switch to leather. Back in the day, Perrone jackets were the company standard, that's what I have (calfskin/no shoulder boards/zip-out liner) and wouldn't trade it for anything. I've seen the other company's jackets that were mentioned here, and they don't compare. And yes...I've been to Pop's.

I'm not sure if they are company reimbursable anymore, but you'll still get the inside embroidered with the COEX logo and your initials, and nametag/wings. They are company approved as many senior pilots still wear them. If you're up in EWR gimme a shout and I'll let you try it on for size, which I recommend as leather coats are cut a bit different. ~$500
http://perroneapparel.com/store/proavboards.htm

Good luck!
SF
 
Chris_Ford said:
And a blazer ought to be enough. Coupled with an overcoat you're good to -40.
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Chris, I thought the same thing last year. I'm a huge fan of the blazer/overcoat/hat look over the leather jacket/hat look, but to be honest: the blazer/overcoat just doesn't cut it. Especially when the wind is screaming. The overcoat and the blazer are not great wind-breakers.

Then, there is storage once you're in the plane. Also, there's the need to bring another coat if you want to do something on your overnight. It's a hassle. Huge, big hassle.

You'll see this winter. ;)
 
PCL_128 said:
Amen. You want to be a pilot? Then dress like a professional pilot and not like the Fonz.
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You know as well as I do that there's plenty of guys at PCL that wear the blazer instead of the leather and are far from professional.....

Just b/c you look the part doesn't magically make you a professional pilot. Also, just b/c I wear a leather jacket doesn't make me LESS of a professional pilot.

God, I think this is one of the stupidest arguments I've ever found myself in. Airbus rulz!!!!11!!!1
 
Honestly, too many people go overboard in their concerns about "professional appearance." The leather jacket can look professional if it fits properly and is kept clean. I am one of the no-hat, leather jacket types, with my gelled-up hair as well. I could care less if some peer of mine construes that as "unprofessional." That is laughable, because you are talking about someone who takes great pride in doing this job the way it is supposed to be done and going the extra mile to make the customers happy.

Why do I wear no-hat and leather? Because it is comfortable and functional. I can throw on my leather quickly to go out on the ramp and personally help the rampers on those nasty snow-like-hell days in Syracuse, instead of neatly hanging my dry-cleaned blazer in the closet and radioing operations from my heated cockpit. Not to mention I don't look like a psycho flasher wearing a trench-coat to a bar/restaurant with jeans and gym shoes. At least I look semi-normal.

I've found that being comfortable and happy means I exude that attitude towards the customers. If I'm all stuffy in the blazer/trenchcoat/hat combination, I don't feel as laid back and comfortable. This is the 21st century... "Looking the part" is out, and "going an extra mile or an extra ten miles" in the customer service department is in.

To the original poster, the Skyliner jacket linked in the second post is the "official" leather jacket for XJT. The Perrone Leather jacket was the "old" style, and we changed vendors. Some of us still have the Perrone jackets. We don't wear epaulets, but we have leather nametags.

I wish people would worry about actually flying the airplane smoothly and professionally, and trying to keep the customers coming back, before worrying about looks. You know, be the part rather than look the part.

Of course, you are talking to a guy who wears fun Christmas ties during the holidays, which also is a "no-no" with the "professional" crowd. The customers love it though.
 
Booker said:
So...What exactly are the "stripes," "so that we know you're pilots," that were referenced in you-know-who's voice mail of 19SEP?
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Haha, that's awesome. I made that suggestion last year via Pilot Report. Pretty much worded exactly the same.
 
Booker said:
So...What exactly are the "stripes," "so that we know you're pilots," that were referenced in you-know-who's voice mail of 19SEP?
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Just listened to it. That's fine. Maybe it's the new, up-coming trend of the year at XJT. At least they're issued.
 
kellwolf said:
You know as well as I do that there's plenty of guys at PCL that wear the blazer instead of the leather and are far from professional.....

Just b/c you look the part doesn't magically make you a professional pilot. Also, just b/c I wear a leather jacket doesn't make me LESS of a professional pilot.
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Looking the part is one element of being a professional. You can be the best stick in the world and follow every procedure to the dot, but the passengers only know what they see from your appearance when you walk up to the gate. They don't see how you behave professionally on the flight deck. They don't get to see you ace your next PC. They only see your outward appearance, and they do judge you and your airline on that basis. Passengers expect to see the traditional air line pilot uniform that has been the standard for three-quarters of a century. A guy wearing a leather jacket, no hat, and spiked hair appears to many pax to be a "rebel" or a "cowboy." Pax want to see a straight-laced professional, not the Fonz.
 
PCL_128 said:
Pax want to see a straight-laced professional, not the Fonz.
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Once again, we're apparently talking about different groups of passengers. SWA would be in serious trouble if what you're saying is 100% the case. I think the leather jacket can look professional if worn properly with the rest of the proper uniform. It isn't like a motorcycle jacket with chains and studs on it. And the last time I checked, the Fonz didn't have epaulets.

But to further beat the horse to death, I'm pretty sure passengers aren't all that concerned with appearance OR professionalism as long as the ticket price is right.
 
kellwolf said:
I'm pretty sure passengers aren't all that concerned with appearance OR professionalism as long as the ticket price is right.
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Unfortunately, that is spoken like a true genius.

And for you leather-loathers out there, didn't the profession of airline pilot BEGIN with leather jacket wearers? (ie. David Behnke) How about aircrew profession as a whole (WWII Bomber Crews)
I'm glad to return to tradition. If that meant a polyester blazer with cuff stripes, or the flasher-type raincoat, I'd be happy to return to that as well.

SF
 
I'm getting a bomber jacket to wear with my uniform this winter. The boxes don't really care how I look. Or I might get one similar to my avatar.:)
 
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