ASA hats

[VGerect]

When NWA was having a survey of the pilots to see if they wanted the leather jacket, one of the NWA MEC reps sent out an email to his pilots that included his response to the survey. Part of that response was this: "I (personally) think wearing a leather jacket diminishes our image as professionals, which may be the intent." I believe he's absolutely right. You are playing right into management's hands and helping them along in destroying the image of the professional air line pilot.

These are the same "Professionals" that agreed to a 39% wage concession and the loss of their DB retirement plan.
Maybe they need to learn contract negotiation from some "blue coller" teamsters in the trucking industry. (Master Freight Agreement)

 

[HelloNewman]

I actually really do not care about the "pilot image". What the public thinks is obviously irrelevant. If they wanted pilots with hats so bad then they would fly on the airlines that have pilots that wear hats. One of the previous posters brought up a good point. Bell boys wear hats, love boat captains wear hats, skycaps wear hats etc etc. The bottom line is wearing a hat does not distinguish a pilot from any other transportation/service related profession.

All I really care about is making a decent wage and being able to enjoy my life. Currently I am doing both. I do my job, go home when im done and go find a good joint where the pianos hot and the gin is cold.. I really have no desire to get an industry leading bar raising contract. As long as we sit around 2nd or 3rd im perfectly content with that. I am not content with being at the bottom but as long as we are in the mid to upper tier I am happy. I don't need a hat to tell me I am a professional. I pass my checkrides, I know my SOP pretty well, I am friendly to passengers, I do all I can to make the airline on time, etc. I do all this without a hat and we usually have pretty happy passengers.

 

[FmrFreightDog]

Although I have posted on this thread more than once, I am going to go ahead and nominate this thread for "dumbest discussion ever". We, as pilots, are being assaulted at every turn. The blazer won't make a difference. The hat won't make a difference. Rez, et. al., you can proudly wear your hat all day long. As long as someone else is there to undercut you, it ain't gonna make one damm bit o' difference.

I can see the discussion at some G/O right now....

"You know, airline X can do the job better and cheaper than airline Y"
"True, but airline Y makes their pilots wear hats."
"Excellent point. Airline Y must employ only true professionals. Who should we go with."
"I'd say airline X is better for the bottom line and for the stockholders"

But, hey, if it makes you feel better wear the hat.

For the record, I've picketed without the hat, and I don't think it took away from the point my sign was trying to make.......

 

[Terrain Terrain]

everytime I see the title of this thread I think it says "A$$ HATS"

oh well....

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I would submit that airlines are making the leather part of the uniform simply because it diminishes our authority and respect. It's one more step towards making us nothing but a bunch of blue-collar workers. When NWA was having a survey of the pilots to see if they wanted the leather jacket, one of the NWA MEC reps sent out an email to his pilots that included his response to the survey. Part of that response was this: "I (personally) think wearing a leather jacket
diminishes our image as professionals, which may be the intent." I believe he's absolutely right. You are playing right into management's hands and helping them along in destroying the image of the professional air line pilot.

Valid point.... your arguement against the leather is mine against the hat.

I don't think the leather deminishes our image. It just displays it differently. I think not wearing the hat waters us down. Dilutes us...

If you admit that one is better than the other, then why do you continue to wear the leather? If you agree that the blazer is better, then it seems to me that you would do what is "better." Why wear something inferior?

I think the blazer is sharper whilst the leather is more practical. Both have its bennies. I am grey on the issue... it is not black and white. I can see the pro and cons to both. I am compromising on the issue...

Hey, I'm not that opposed to the glycol.

But do you know how glycol feels about you!

 

[jeroom]

bump.

This thread is really getting boring, don't you think so Scott?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I actually really do not care about the "pilot image". What the public thinks is obviously irrelevant. If they wanted pilots with hats so bad then they would fly on the airlines that have pilots that wear hats. One of the previous posters brought up a good point. Bell boys wear hats, love boat captains wear hats, skycaps wear hats etc etc. The bottom line is wearing a hat does not distinguish a pilot from any other transportation/service related profession.

Translation: I don't want to work. I'm lazy, apathetic.. you know I am the consummate definition of ....whatever...

All I really care about is making a decent wage and being able to enjoy my life. Currently I am doing both. I do my job, go home when im done and go find a good joint where the pianos hot and the gin is cold.. I really have no desire to get an industry leading bar raising contract. As long as we sit around 2nd or 3rd im perfectly content with that. I am not content with being at the bottom but as long as we are in the mid to upper tier I am happy. I don't need a hat to tell me I am a professional. I pass my checkrides, I know my SOP pretty well, I am friendly to passengers, I do all I can to make the airline on time, etc. I do all this without a hat and we usually have pretty happy passengers.

But I want the reward.. give me what I want. I say I'll accept 2 or 3rd but really 4th or 5th is fine... 6th if it means you'll quite bothering me....


Newman... I have rode you like a showpony for this whole thread. You are like my ten year old; bull headed and insistant on being, despite counter productive attitudes. I don't know if you are young, dumb or flamebaiting. Well maybe some others will point out your destructive attitudes to this profession and kindly invite to find another job. I shudder to think the choices you'd make during a job action...

 

[ArcticFlier]

Please

 

[ArcticFlier]

let it

 

[ArcticFlier]

go, already.


AF

 

[buscap]

Most important factor

These are the last and most definitive points on this topic:

1. Leather is just as professional looking as the blazer, if worn properly and of the correct size. When the gut gets to big to zip it up, get a new jacket. Just like the blazer.

2. The leather is much more functional than the blazer, mostly due to the pockets and inclement weather performance. With the professional appearance between the two being equal, leather wins, hands down.

3. Classic pilot hats are a throwback to a different time, much like knickers . Their functionallity is ludicrous at best. Not much good for keeping the sun out of your eyes and useless in bad weather. Put them out to pasture.

The US Army went to berets for all the wrong reasons. Esprit de corps and all that. They got rid of a really good headcover, which kept the sun out of your eyes and covered your ears in a pinch to prevent frostbite. All to make our soldiers appear more professional.

Pilots with no hats look more professional than pilots wearing what is now viewed as a ridiculous throwback.

4. Professional appearance is important, but goes way beyond throwback saucer caps and polyester blazers. It's about not having a gut, posture, personal grooming such as a haircut, nosehair, eybrows, and even your freakin ear hair....you old piece of crap, bad breath breathing, pants stretching, saucer cap loving idiot!!

5. And while you're at it, don't be telling me I need to wear a hat and polyester blazer to look professional while you haul your fat butt thru the airport, pulling that tattered flight-kit with about six big stupid stickers advertising your membership in every club from MILE HIGH to CSA (Cleveland Steamer Association).

 

[ASADriver]

I don't care if you like the hat, don't like the hat, wear the hat or don't wear the hat. Buscap is right - it is more than the hat. The "kids" with their backpacks and the old guys with stained shirts and guts are worse.

I really like the ALPA dude (Rez) telling us we would make more money if we wore our hats and voted for the Democrats. It is that line of thinking that has turned me off to ALPA.

 

[Terrain Terrain]

every time i see this threads subject I think it says "ASS HATS"

 

[AV80R]

Hats are leftovers from military era, when the majority of airline pilots came from the military. Therefore the only airline where hats should be mandatory is FedEx!

Sorry guys - couldn’t resist

“When pilots do informational picketing all of a sudden they want to be noticed and respected and paid more.”

Yeah, if I wear a hat I’ll get more respect!? Phuuulease - RezO.Luwshun - Respect is something that’s earned not worn!

Oh, almost forgot – RezO.Luwshun - ALPA sucks!

 

[zawillif]

3. Classic pilot hats are a throwback to a different time, much like knickers . Their functionallity is ludicrous at best. Not much good for keeping the sun out of your eyes and useless in bad weather. Put them out to pasture.

This may come across as a joke. . but I was taught that the hat isn't so much for sun out of eyes (which works good for me anyway in the summer) but to identify the pilots as figures of authority. It should say something that cops where the same hats. I was also taught that the hat is one of the few things you should make sure you have with you when you do an evacuation. A mob of people is much more apt to listen when the guy barking orders at them has a "stupid" looking hat on.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Still..... no one wants to adress directly, Dave Webb, MEC chairman, saying Hats were part of his efforts to get the LEADING contract.

No one has and so far no one CAN use professional reasons against the hat. The hat is all about image and perception. So far, it s all personal reasons why the hat is no good.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I really like the ALPA dude (Rez) telling us we would make more money if we wore our hats and voted for the Democrats. It is that line of thinking that has turned me off to ALPA.

That is ALPA fault for not explaining to you how your career works.

And that is your fault for wanting to be a professional pilot and not realizing HOW your career is determined.

All the kids with stars in thier eyes at ERAU, UND and the FBO's..... dreaming out flying big jets, with lots of days off and earning lots of money.. not ever realing that the way to all of that is thru politics.....

It is not really about Dems but simply pro pilot candidates.

The reason why FedEx is where it is today is because Fred Smith was successful on CapHill.

The reason why SWA is where it is today is because of their gains on CapHill.

It might be hard to believe but the reason ALPA is still around is because they have had success on CapHill.

It is easy for Fred Smith and Herb Kelleher to be effective. As CEO's they don't have to convince thier people that CapHill is the playing field.

However, ALPA has a hel! of a time convincing thier pilots.....

 

[SuperKooter]

What is worse? Not wearing that ugly hat that usually is dirty and doesn't fit right or the lifer that hasn't seen his own penis since 1985 because his belly is so big?

For the the fatty is as bad as you can get. Get some of these lifers to lose some belly (maybe they eat too much because they earn so much).

 

[SuperKooter]

Can anyone effectively argue that the hat is counter productive during picketing? If it is good enough for picketing then why not for everyday? Anyone?

Picketing is counter productive as is.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Picketing is counter productive as is.

Why?.