Gotta ask the DAL hat ???

[Sedona16]

Double breasted suits are tough to pull off for most folks. For pilot uniforms, it's an even bigger stretch, for pilots in general (mostly big bellied) it's damn near impossible. When most of Delta's new hires were trim, fit military folk, it worked. But these days, in reality, most of the Delta guys can't pull it off and it doesn't look good. But that's just my opinion.

I dissagree. In fact sometimes I am surprised how some of the "Joe Average" looking captains look different when I see them walking down the terminal in the doubled breasted suit compared to white shirt only in the summer you can more easily see that gut. Id say it slims better than a single breasted jacket. I have always thought the Delta guys looked very sharp and that has to do with the uniform. In my limited experience it does command respect when worn properly. Cant say Im a big fan of hats but I wear mine until if/when the rules change.

 

[No.W.]

I wear my hat...even though it looks funny...because my bald head gets too cold in the winter. We aren't required to wear hats either. I agree...if the company says wear it...then wear it. It is fairly simple. And by and large I think the Delta guys in SLC look a lot more professional than my cohorts at SkyWest.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

To quote from a recent meeting:

Nothing says "regional pilot" like a leather jacket and no hat.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I like the hat and need to find a source for those little elastic baggies that fit over the hat to provide all weather cap-ability for upcoming winter DTW and MSP walk arounds.

Fins-

First off.... take the shower cap from select hotels and use that as a "superior" jimmy hat. Should keep your Deltoid hat and all that...


At my regional... about 3/4 of the guys that got hired at the majors during this last window in 2007 wore hats.. Many were ALPA volunteers too....

Much of it is an attitude and a mindest.... I know you know what I mean!


I wear the hat because I want to be recognized as a pilot. We are an exclusive and unique group.

Management wants us to look like everyone else... so they can pay us like everyone else...


That hat is a symbol of the profession. As always when the hat thread comes up for air every 3 months or so... the anti hat types always argue their position from personal convenience. Oh the arguments that I don't meed a hat to be professional are just cover for personal convenience..

There is no professional reason not to wear that hat... only personal....

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

Personally, I'm neutral on the whole hat issue. I had to buy one, so if it's just sitting here, I might as well wear it.

At most NWA lattitudes, you have to wear a stocking cap outside for the walk around anyway, otherwise your ears would fall off.

What I DO mind, however, is not being able to use my jacket. Not only did I pay $$ for it voluntarily, under the assumption that I'd get years of service out if it, but the loss of convienence that it prodvides over the overcoat is significant.

Nu

 

[KCPilot]

This message is hidden because Tanker Clown is on your ignore list.

Gotta love this feature!

 

[slinky]

I don't mind the uniform. I think that the jacket looks very nice. It is a pain in the ass to wear, but I think that we look good wearing it. To those guys who say that they are just too fat to wear the jacket, I say work out.

I kinda think that it is pathetic that guys/girls are "too fat" to get into a uniform. Work out, eat less, maybe drink a few less beers, do something to live a healthy lifestyle and you will look good in your professional life.

The people who complain about being a fat guy and not looking good in a Delta jacket are the same people who will slam on fat FA's.

Rant over

Slinky

 

[jehtplane]

To quote from a recent meeting:

Nothing says "regional pilot" like a leather jacket and no hat.

quote]


That is absolutely ridiculous. So SWA pilots are regional, AA pilots are regional. How about we are all just AIRLINE PILOTS from my brother the B1900 FO to my sister the UPS 747 Captain. We all do the same job just in different equip. If you think anything different than you are a pompous A@#.

 

[General Lee]

Heyas,

Personally, I'm neutral on the whole hat issue. I had to buy one, so if it's just sitting here, I might as well wear it.

At most NWA lattitudes, you have to wear a stocking cap outside for the walk around anyway, otherwise your ears would fall off.

What I DO mind, however, is not being able to use my jacket. Not only did I pay $$ for it voluntarily, under the assumption that I'd get years of service out if it, but the loss of convienence that it prodvides over the overcoat is significant.

Nu

Looks like you will be getting a $400 allowance for new uniforms at Delta. That should help a bit.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[clippyrip]

Looks like you will be getting a $400 allowance for new uniforms at Delta. That should help a bit.

Bye Bye--General Lee

It is a good thing too. I'll just finish paying off the NWA uniform and then it will be time to buy the Delta one. It's only ten bucks a month(for the NWA uniform) but for some reason I hat paying for a required outfit. On the hat front, if it was optional I would opt out, since it is not, I will wear it with pride. Hopefully they have a youth size...my head is small and I'll have to tuck my ears in to get er to fit. That won't look professional.

 

[FLY.80]

The hat is part of the uniform. If you don't like it don't wear it, but don't be surprised when someone calls you on it. If you don't want to comply with company policy then please QUIT!!!!

I get really tired of guys picking and choosing what rules they want to comply with.

GMAFB..

 

[800Dog]

The hat is part of the uniform. If you don't like it don't wear it, but don't be surprised when someone calls you on it. If you don't want to comply with company policy then please QUIT!!!!

I get really tired of guys picking and choosing what rules they want to comply with.

GMAFB..

Ever violate sterile cockpit? Ever read at cruise? Some guys who have the biggest hard on about hats violate other company policies. The above and the failure to wear a name tag during the summer are the most frequent violations of DALs FOM I see. Relax!

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Ever violate sterile cockpit? Ever read at cruise? Some guys who have the biggest hard on about hats violate other company policies. The above and the failure to wear a name tag during the summer are the most frequent violations of DALs FOM I see. Relax!

Pathetic.... others break different rules, so its ok for me to break the rules I want to.....

Make your own choices... and don't use others to rationalize your poor ones...

 

[Ty Webb]

Not the frigging hat thing again!

Oh, God, not the stupid hat thing again.

Every year or two, this subject comes up.

Three things are for certain-

1) The Baldies love the hat

2) The Guys that like the hat really like the hat

3) A fat, sloppy guy with a hat is a fat, sloppy guy with a hat

Glad the merger is going well enough that all you guys have to worry about is hats. Could be a lot worse . . . . !

TW

 

[PurpleInMEM]

Uniforms and hats....LOL

Outdated, ridiculous costumes of a bygone era.

They can make all the 'rules' they want, but they're really only rules if we (the sheep) follow them.

What are they going to do? Shoot you?

 

[DAL737FO]

The hat is part of the uniform. If you don't like it don't wear it, but don't be surprised when someone calls you on it. If you don't want to comply with company policy then please QUIT!!!!

I get really tired of guys picking and choosing what rules they want to comply with.

GMAFB..

It's funny how the hat has become a source of rebellion and management, management pilots and checkairmen try and be the "Hat police". I had an experience close to what another guy had earlier in the thread.

I was on T concourse moving out smartly to the B concourse having a typical MD-88 day (45 minute turn with an aircraft and concourse change). I was going down the T concourse escalators and I took my hat off since the venturi effect on those escalators cools my bald head down (why did they make the hat with a plastic liner?) I hear someone yelling "Do you have a hat?" from above. No kidding there was a Captain leaning over the top rail yelling down the escalators for me to put my hat back on. (which I was going to do anyway when I got to the bottom). He then came down the elevator and ran me down. By now I have my hat on which I usually wear. He proceeds to lecture me about the FOM and professionalism. I listen to his rant then I ask him if he has read the entire section about uniform wear and pilot grooming policy in the FOM. He now has a deer in the headlights look in his face. I then tell him "I have my hat on I am now in compliance with the FOM. If you want me to, I will escort you to the nearest bathroom so you can shave your mustache to within the FOM standards"

You see while this guy had a hat hard on he also had a huge fu man chu mustache that went below around his mouth and down to his jawbone. He looked like a bullrider in a pilot uniform. Our FOM mimics your typical military wear and appearance manual. A mustache must stop at the corner of the mouth and no farther. This cowboy was way outside the FOM but he had his hat on.

So how is it that someone so viceral about hats is so loose when it comes to the other parts of the same section of the same manual?

Short version just wear your hat so you don't have to put up with the harrassment.

 

[KCPilot]

That's one reason why I wear the hat, so I don't have someone getting off at telling me to put it on. It's unfortunate but all organizations have tools like the above Captian that live for this kinda stuff. Just remember "Don't give the prick the satisfaction."

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Uniforms and hats....LOL

Outdated, ridiculous costumes of a bygone era.

They can make all the 'rules' they want, but they're really only rules if we (the sheep) follow them.

What are they going to do? Shoot you?

This coming from a MIL guy?

So you followed the rules in the MIL cause they'd shoot you if you didn't...

So now the threat is gone and you are a rebel? What is your cause?

 

[PBRstreetgang]

argue all you want. the fact remains - girls like the double breasted uniform.

Only if they are girls who like girls! thats hot!
PBR

 

[PBRstreetgang]

This is pathetic. The profession is in the crapper and we're arguing about hats. Just put the damned thing on if it's required and stop whining. If it's not required, then do whatever the hell you want and stop telling me that my hat is "outdated."

Your hat isn't outdated, PFT is and you were on that bandwagon. The profession is in the crapper because of guys like you, reality check, you are the problem!
PBR

 

[ron burgundy]

Some people look retarded in the hats and look more professional without the damn thing on. Especially if you've got a small head.

Hats should always be optional. No one should be forced to wear anything on their head. It's demeaning. But no one really takes the thing seriously enough to make an issue of it. Except Delta, apparently.

But whatever. If it makes your life easier at work, I guess wear the stupid thing.

I'm sure your post was meaningful, however, who is the girl in your avatar?

 

[dtfl]

Sinatra was the last man on the planet that looked cool in a hat.

Jesus was the last person to be fashionable in sandals...but folks wear Birkenstocks every day!

 

[N2264J]

Re: Gotta ask the DAL hat?

Interesting, I typically find them to be the best pilots flying the line. They seem to have the "Big Picture" and have a firm grasp of the obvious stuff that you and your kind cannot seem to understand! Best of luck with your future as a yes voter, management wannabe and anti-pilot self!! You are too good to be a line pilot.

So you're saying that the best Delta line pilots are the unprofessional ones, yes?

Would I be correct in assuming this didn't come up in your interview?

 

[EmeliaE]

Dude, if you want to be sloppy, go for it. Do I get respect wearing the uniform? You bet. I have not been "disrespected", because I have an answer for everything, and usually they can't say I am wrong. Are they mad at Delta? Probably. Do they take it out on me to my face? Very very rarely. Maybe the uniform scares them. If you look sharp, then you can demand respect from passengers and airline workers. Maybe not management, but from regular folks--YES. If you are a fat slob with a gut, maybe not as much. Sad but true. If people are yelling at you jehtplane, maybe you need to get a haircut, workout, and find a tailor. Really, you need to look in the mirror. Get some confidence BOY. Keep laughing too. You sound like the Joker in "The Dark Knight."(PS--I am Batman)


Bye Bye--General Lee

Well said, General!

Recently, I stood near the gate, wearing my hat and 3 stripes and all that with my captain (no hat) and the flight attendants. One of the passengers came straight to me and addressed me as a Captain and asked a question. After I answered, the little midget captain with his sloppy uniform (ya know, wrinkly pants above ankles, wrinkles shirt with spots lose tie, lose top button on his shirt, no hat, unshaven, etc., had the balls to ask me: “…why didn’t you tell him you’re ONLY (he emphasized on ‘only’) a first officer and ‘I AM THE CAPTAIN’.

Respect…you bet! You get that with a sharp looking uniform. Keep it up!

My ‘Hat’ off to the General!

 

[aurip]

Wear it if required but most folks that say it commands respect or is an authority symbol are control freaks that have problems with just about everybody: Gate Agents, Flight Attendants, other pilots, ATC, ground crews, etc... and goes on and on and on.

Where I work, if somebody wears the hat and isn't a check airman, managment type, or an older Ex-Braniff, Eastern dude then they are probably a control freak or over the top anal. Either way it is not fun for the F/O.

The hat is dead.

There was an accident at my airline a while back. The captain grabbed his hat during the evac and stepped out into the scattered, upset passengers. When he put on his hat, the passengers saw it, congregated around him and the rest of the crew and were probably safer for it. I'm just saying that if all it does is draw attention from scared people in a bad situation and help them calm down, it's not such a bad thing.