No More Hats at ExpressJet

[cathal]

we have a rule at Mesaba that says you can show up up dressed in whatever you're wearing at the time, as long as it is more convienent for you to fly like that then delay the flight.
A buddy of mine was junior manned and showed up in shorts and sandals. I once showed up after "calling in honest" in cords and a polo. None of our passengers got off despite our unprofessional attire. I'm sure they all figured we were filling some sort of schedule gap and were happy we showed up to fly.
You really think they care if you have a hat on? The only difference between someone with a hat and one without is the hat. I could be wearing a hat so you'll think I'm a dork or because I am a dork. Either you can fly or you can't. The hat doesn't make any difference, and enought of us don't wear them now that the public no longer equates hats with position.

 

[agonyairfo]

Exec jet pilots are some of the best dressed pilots. They don't wear hats. I feel like a big goof in my oversized hat and one size fits all polyester uniform. Sky caps wear hats. CEO's don't. Burger flippers wear hats, professors and doctors do not. Additionally, with all these young pilots now (myself included) a hat makes you look like some kind of wannabe. It takes off about 5 years too. I feel like I am playing dress up.
Southwest's no hat policy has obviously taken its toll on passenger perception and subsequent ticket sales, right?
That being said, I would gladly wear a hat and button as many buttons as they could stuff on my blazer (Delta) if I could be a DC-8 or a Clipper captain back in the day with a crew of smoking southern belles in the back. Times have changed.
I would like a nice business type suit that fits well.
Sorry for rambling. Early show, couple of drinks yada...
While we are talking about hat usage and its impact on public perception, maybe it is time to ask what painting a classic 737 white and orange and slapping a big Hooters sign on the side makes the flying public think about us in general.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

But seriously. With everyone complaining about the low wages, and horrible QOL...you're honestly fighting management about wearing your hats?
Maybe you should put more time and energy negotiating higher pay or QOL, than about a hat you have to wear in view of the public.
I guess being an airline pilot these days, is all about a fashion contest to see who can look the "coolest"
IMHO

Back on track.... actually this is the point. There is no fight with management. The only input management has is indirect in that they want to get rid of that hat cause it makes pilots less unique. Nothing special about you, nothing special about your pay...

More time and money spent in negotiations is useless if the public and management thinks we are sloppy or not unique as pilots. This is the very point. Dress like you are worth 200K and you have a better chance of negotiating it. Or work rules or whatever is important to you...

Dress like a Flight attentant and gate agent....get paid closer to one...

We can easily control apperance and behavior....

I just don't get why pilots don"t want to present the image of...a Pilot.

What is this backlash about guys that want to wear hats are ego maniacs or on a power trip? The hat is a pain to wear but it is also a symbol. Are the anti hat group embarrassed to be pilots? Anyone with a pysc degree?

Give me a good reason not to wear the hats besides

I hate, burned it, pissed on it....
FOD bait

 

[Falconjet]

I think you have heard plenty of reasons against the hat. Put me in as another 20+ year military hat-wearing, right wing conservative old man who absolutely hates wearing a hat. I also don't think wearing the hat has any bearing on the public's perception of our professionalism. Plus, being a cargo weenie, the public very rarely sees me anyway.

I will say this, when I check my bags for a deadhead trip I only use the skycaps that wear hats, because I'm sure that they are more professional than those that don't.

Ok, that last part was sarcastic, if you couldn't tell, but the point should be obvious.

At FedEx the hat and service dress type jacket are both optional, and I think that is the way to go. I personally prefer the leather jacket and have seen guys look like slobs in the service dress jacket and the leather jacket. The individual can display their pride in themselves and their professionalism in whatever they are dressed in. Some doctors, nurses or PTs look quite dapper in their scrubs, others just look like slobs. Same thing.

My personal opinion is that the flying public really couldn't care less about whether you are wearing a hat or not.

And they say that ours is a country divided!

FJ

 

[Garf]

I choose to wear the hat because I am proud to be an " Airline Pilot".

The hat is part of the Airline Uniform.

 

[AviatorTx]

My personal opinion is that the flying public really couldn't care less about whether you are wearing a hat or not.

And they say that ours is a country divided!

FJ

Truer words have not been spoken. At least here on the forum.

Just like the flying public does not care that the RJ F/O's could be on welfare. They don;t care ebout the hats. All the public cares about is getting from point A, to point B, safely.

While I might be proud to be an "Airline Pilot" I choose not to look like a dork by wearing the outdated uniform equipment. I'm former military also. Even in the Army, hats were preffered not to be worn on the flight line, and defenitely not indoors, such as an airport terminal, unless you were carrying arms.

 

[Britpilot]

The hat is part of the Airline Uniform.

It's not part of ours anymore.
Very few pilots knew how to buy the correct size and wear the hat correctly anyway. It is beter now the thing has been laid to rest. RIP hat.

 

[cfi76]

The lawyer who wears the expensive suit exudes confidence, style, and professionalism. He does not wear a hat.

The doorman in my girlfriends building who looks as if he spent the entire week sleeping in his uniform (with three stripes on the sleeve I might add) does.

 

[Nova]

Is that lawyer or doorman paid any differently as a result of their dress?

 

[Cosmo1999]

What is this backlash about guys that want to wear hats are ego maniacs or on a power trip? The hat is a pain to wear but it is also a symbol. Are the anti hat group embarrassed to be pilots? Anyone with a pysc degree?

Give me a good reason not to wear the hats besides

I hate, burned it, pissed on it....
FOD bait

I dont wear my hat because my airport car leaks oil from time to time and it works perfectly for catching those pesky oil drips so I dont dirty the driveway.

 

[414Flyer]

). Now I can finally wear some product in my hair when I go to work.

People actually say that? I thought that was just a joke when I saw that once
in a tv show. You dont by chance know the Crab People do you?

 

[nimtz]

People actually say that? I thought that was just a joke when I saw that once
in a tv show. You dont by chance know the Crab People do you?

Whatever I'm so totally gayer then you are Kyle!

What's gay is that this thread, as I figured it would, has gone on for six pages...

 

[RubberDuck]

someone post a poll for hat or no hat see where we land. I say F^^k the hat.

 

[Air Biscuit]

I have a dumb question. Instead of fighting over your hats, why don't you tell us the status of your new TA?

Did you vote on it? When will you vote on it?

PS. All you anti-uniform guys should just go down to AF and buy some cargo shorts, a wrinkled shirt with a smutty jargon and a pair of flip flops. Then go hope your pax will accept your command presence should you ever have the need.

Maybe it would be a good idea for the President to appear on TV in a 10-gallon hat, a buckskin shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. Judges should come to court with open collars and cutoffs; no reason for those stupid old fashioned robes.

How's it going surplus? As far as the contract goes we will know in less than a week as to the final vote. My vote is a big fat no. It is a giant step backwards as far as hard pay, less than you guys and duration of the contract. The union and ALPA are using scare tactics into getting people to vote yes. Basically saying that we will never be released under Bush and that is what it will take to do any better, so we better lock in the slight gains now and live with it.

As far as the uniform goes I like you're idea. Cargo shorts and flip flops for me. I stay locked up in the front anyway. It's not my responsibility for what I'm getting paid.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

someone post a poll for hat or no hat see where we land. I say F^^k the hat.

Perhaps I got it figured out....

Pay a pilot 300K to fly big jets, with defined benefit plan, great healthcare, bennies, etc.. and he will wear a 17th century ship hat with feathers in it and you can call him a Clipper Capt....or whatever you want....

Lay the pilot off, destroy his career expectations, put him debt, get him a divorce and he'll take that airline hat, light it on fire and throw it freesbie style into the nearest dumpster......