Hats: Yes or no?

[FN FAL]

The city bus drivers around here all wear a uniform hat. All of the Skycaps that work at my local airport wear a "pilot" style hat. Even the bellhops at the local upscale hotel wear a hat thats part of their uniform. Seems to me if we want to distant our look from these reportedly undesirable people, we should dismiss the hat.

Who reported that Bus Drivers, Sky Caps, and Bell Hops are "undesirable people"? That's pretty eletist and condescending, don't you think? Our society needs all sorts of people and jobs to make it run well. I am glad there are folks out there who do ALL the jobs that we all need to be done for us, from picking up the trash, to drawing up a will. I know some lawyers who may be rotten, but that does not make the trade itself to be occupied by "undesireable people".

I was busy on the ramp the other day and a very professional looking black dude came over to say hi to operations. He must have worked over by us before and wanted to say hi to old friends.

But the funny part, was the fact that he had that stupid looking brown UPS pilot uniform on, including hat.

You can run with that, in any direction you want.

 

[601Pilot]

Ditch the hats. Very few of the people like to wear them and
they don't look that great anymore to the passengers. Only
your lower grade workers wear this type of uniform these days.
At ASA one of our CPs compared our jobs to McDonalds; I think
that most of the McDonald's workers wear hats. I hope we are
thought of more than that, but you never know. If the ex-military
pilots are still in favor of wearing hats, then make sure we don't
wear the cover inside! This really chaps my A$$!

 

[cl-65link]

There are still a great deal of respect and mystery about being a pilot. The more you look like a bus driver, the faster you get paid as one. I'd say the hats stay.

That's all we are anyway, "glorified bus drivers."

 

[surplus1]

With all the troubles that our industry is facing today I find it "ineresting" that we have time to cast a hundred and seventeen votes on the subject of wearing a part of our uniform.

Perhaps we shoud "update" our "look" by issuing a bottle of gel and tube of highlighting hair die to all pilots (and while we're at it, ban all the bald dudes). We might also get new pants that hang half-way down the bottocks and expose the the brand-name waist bands on our boxers, while sporting a WWII leather jacket (not and update but apparently de riguer to the young stud's machismo). As for the shoes, by all means switch to stylistic Michael Jordan sneakers (with a little bling), but don't forget the pants that are too long for your body so that you can be certain to walk on their bottoms as you parade through the terminal. While you're at it, get rid of the ties and unbutton you shirts so we can all see your chest or your cleavage and admire your gold chand with medallion.

If we need to update we might as well go all the way.

PS. Instead of calling that old guy Captain, we probably should upate to something like "Bro" or "Dude".

 

[Tim47SIP]

Get rid of them!

As a retired military member, I can assure you that the drive to keep the hats on indoors (or anywhere else) does not come from us. I have spent 22 years taking my hat off indoors and on the flight line. Taking the hat off indoors shows respect and professionalism. You don't know how many times in ATL that I have been approached as a bell hop while wearing my hat. When I just carry the hat in my hand, passengers never seem to have a problem knowing who I am. I have had several people ask me "why do you guys wear your hats indoors? It looks very disrespectfull". When the captain gets up to greet the passengers after the flight, he leaves off his hat. There certainly is no sense of unprofessionalism there, so what is the difference any where else?

As a minimum, hats should be banned from the flight operations areas. They are truly a safety hazard. I have watched several people who have had their hats blown off by wind, jet, or apu blast run after them blindly to almost get nailed by an ATR prop or bus.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Hats are just another hassle I don't need. Personally, I just don't want to worry about a hat that doesn't keep your head warm and can easily be crunched or forgotten when busy concerning yourself with flight operations. They just get in the way. My way would be a professional pilot shirt with eppaulets and functional, all weather jacket or coat that is more appropriate for preflights and walking around in the weather than a dress jacket. All the jacket and hat does is invite folks to ask for directions.

 

[70Cuda]

Bottom line.........I've definitely noticed those pilots who like to wear the hats have "egos" to support. They want to ensure everyone in the airport and hotel knows they are big-shot airline pilots. Don't even try to deny it!!!!! Almost all the guys I know who are low-key and without attitudes don't like to wear that rediculous thing.

Hats are outdated, are a pain to carry around, serve no purpose, and don't make you a professional. They just boost the ego of those with tiny things between their legs.

 

[crashpad]

Yeah, but everyday is a bad hair-day for me so the hat comes in real handy...heeeyyyy...who told you it was tiny!?!?

 

[AirBill]

Bottom line.........I've definitely noticed those pilots who like to wear the hats have "egos" to support. They want to ensure everyone in the airport and hotel knows they are big-shot airline pilots. Don't even try to deny it!!!!! Almost all the guys I know who are low-key and without attitudes don't like to wear that rediculous thing.

I've noticed just the opposite. Most guys who don't like to wear them are metros who don't want to mess up their hair gel.

My choice: keep 'em. Or, at least keep them as an optional uniform piece. There's a movement afoot where I work to get rid of them all. That and the blazer. In its place would be a leather jacket. Now tell me, which is more of a symptom of an ego that needs stroking: a uniform hat or a leather jacket?

 

[AirBill]

Sorry, hit the button twice.

 

[Axel]

Not this again

Grow up.

Did you accept the position? Then wear the GD hat. You agreed to it when you took the job. Don't wanna wear the GD hat? Get a job that does not include a hat with the uniform.

Punks.

 

[NHaviator]

wtf?

settle down there buddy...who are you the GD pilot hat police or perhaps you own a GD uniform company? GD!

 

[T-Gates]

That's all we are anyway, "glorified bus drivers."

Yeah, and for all of those that don't feel the need to wear the hat when they are supposed to, we don't even look bus driver-like.

I hope enough of my bretheren at PCL can find thier f'ing hat so they can walk the line with Mesaba come January 9th.....

 

[bud5437]

Hey fellas, I'm a retired Airline Pilot. I've been doing this for the last 36 years and quite frankly, I was proud to wear the hat. We earned the PRIVLEDGE to wear it. I would venture a guess, with 12,000 pilots on furlough, if you asked them if they would return to work on the condition they wore their hats, I would bet they would do it in a heartbeat.
Now, being an OLD FART, I have to tell you, I have kicked co-pilots off the trip because they wouldn't wear their uniform properly. The hat is still a part of the uniform isn't it. I see a lot of young guys carrying their hats. Well, all that establishes is that their hat fits their hand. Put it on your head where it belongs and be proud to wear it!! Also, as long as I'm making myself sound like a real butt hole, I think a crisp clean hat (no 50 mission crush) looks really professional. Flame away. We will never fly together so don't worry about hurting my feelings.

 

[climbhappy]

i've noticed alot of major guys have removed the donut from inside the hat to give it this natural air force B-17 look. Is that the more stylish way? i just switched employers and don't have the money yet to buy a new hat, so when i do i guess i'll splurge if only it helps me commute and look like a pilot when I commute.