AirTran uniform

[Parethd70]

Perhaps a Gary Cherone avatar would be more suitable?

 

[-9Capt]

Perhaps a Gary Cherone avatar would be more suitable?

That's a brief period of time we're all trying to forget.

 

[shuttlepilot]

Thanks for the info, unfortunately I can't retrofit my current uniform. I'm flying in blue colors right now.

 

[njcapt]

The uniform slacks from HPI totally suck. I bought three pairs as a new hire and they're already getting shiny and thin after four months on line. I needed flat front slacks (dwarves don't look good in pleats), so the lined ones weren't an option. I'd get a good look at the color/weave of the fabric in class and get your slacks from a cop shop. You could find much higher quality duds and not pay the Joe Leonard surcharge for the HPI trash.

FL only offers Van Heusen uniform shirts (which I intensely dislike) and they (along with everything else you order from the company) have AirTran monograms on them. This theoretically restricts you from having an adult beverage on your commute home if you strip your brass and braid off. I'm transporting, so this isn't a restriction to my quality of life, anyway. I've been extremely happy with the Wings brand uniform shirts from Pilot House I have been wearing for the past six years (no shizzle, six years). I'll buy them again.

I thought the uniform hats FL supplied were utter crap. They used to use Bancroft, but apparently they went out of business or something. They are supplying hideous, low-quality hats these days. Some of my classmates bought a given size based on the sample they had at the training center, but the actual item was way larger than the sample, so they look like five-year-olds wearing daddy's uniform hat. You guys know who you are.

Personally, I carefully cut the embroidered patch off my ATA hat and used the FL brass. Problem solved. Unfortunately, my ATA hat was in sorry shape so I eventually used the guts of my American Eagle hat (only suffered five weeks of use), put the ATA fabric, braid, buttons and FL brass on it and it looks like new. You could get away with using old US Airways, Transtates, Midway, or ATA stuff without any problem. Check eBay, but be ready for the FBI to contact you if you buy there.

I have never worked at an airline less anal about the standard of fabric and color of their uniforms. Strange, since they seem anal about everything else relating to uniforms. If a previous airline's uniform is anywhere close in appearance to the HPI crap, you could easily use it.

FL Joe apparently has a real hard-on for the leather jackets we're allowed to wear, so as time goes by the accessories for the jackets become harder to find. Recently, the name patches became unavailable from the uniform shop. I bought my leather from Pop's Leather, and could not be happier with the experience. They supplied the velcro epaulets and have the name patch available, as well. They ask for twenty two different measurements to custom tailor your jacket for you and have more than a dozen different options for your jacket, including a concealed carry pocket you can use if you don't live in the United Soviet Socialist Republic of Illinois, like me. Even though the jacket is made in Turkey, I ordered mine on Saturday night, and received it the next Friday afternoon. No sh!t. Fits this dwarf like a glove. I see a large number of 'tranny pilots wearing leather jackets that look like they were made from goat rectum or were bought at Hot Topic for a four-year-old. They look like tools. Pop's uses righteous-quality calf or lamb skin, so I have guys asking me where I got mine all the time. Only cost 290 bucks with a zip-out Thinsulate lining, too.

I was happy to find out that my PNTCO bags would fit under the cockpit jump seat in the 737, including my 27" international bag. One of the pockets drags on the supports for the seat, but it would take years to wear it out.

Lemme know if you have any other questions.

 

[Toecutter]

If you plan to stay at Airtran, I would go with Abbott's. They are expensive, but the quality is great and they will tailor it to fit you right. For the hat and shirt, go two blocks over to Crew Outfitters (Flight station) They make their own brand of shirts that are cheap, but don't fit all that bad. For the overnight bag, get the Costco/Kirkand bag. It fits great in the 737 and it has a lifetime guarantee. I had one that was three years old with a bad bearing. Took it in, and they gave me a new bag. Not a bad deal for 100 bucks.

 

[Flash]

I agree the HPI mdse sucks. I found better quality pants at m and h uniforms and shirts from Abbotts. Someone told me Kohls had a similar pant to ours but lo and behold I bought a pair and they are about 4 shades different, can pass for summer use though with no blazer

 

[mnboyev]

no dockers (or the like)...please....lord they look so unprofessional......no doc martins either...have some pride.....lol...Abott pants are great..and will last for a few years...HPI..well..cheap but will only last about a year or two...if ya don't catch the pocket on the lav door handle....

abotts or flight station in atl...

 

[75M]

Thanks for the info, unfortunately I can't retrofit my current uniform. I'm flying in blue colors right now.

I'm probably missing something, but if you are flying in blue colors right now, do what Steeler Fan said. I was flying in blue at my last job and all I had to buy was a tie, epaulettes a hatbraid and restripe the jacket (which you won't have to do until November 1st). Total cost, about 65 bucks. Good luck.

And everybody knows -9 is a guitar guy...If he's gonna have a Poison avatar, it's gotta be C.C. DeVille.

 

[shuttlepilot]

Maybe I'm colorblind or just blinded by the sun. I thought AirTran's uniforms were black.

 

[njcapt]

Maybe I'm colorblind or just blinded by the sun. I thought AirTran's uniforms were black.

Nope. Relatively standard Navy Blue.