Pilot Hats

[328jetdriver]

Who likes to wear them? I think it looks ridiculous on me. Friends and family say the same. To big for my head. Unfortunately we have to wear them. This thread is all in good fun, not venting.

 

[bud5437]

If your hat is the wrong size, of course it will look stupid. I'm from the old school. I still remember when people got dressed up in their Sunday finest to fly on an airplane. I also remember when the overhard rack didn't have doors and they were designed for coats and hats. I guess you can figure out I'm an OLD fart. You're correct. I've been an airline pilot for 36 years and when I got hired, it was an honor to wear the hat I had so long yearned to wear. Now you young guys probably look at your uniform with disdain. True, we don't garner the respect from the traveling public we once did, but I can assure you, no matter what the public thinks, I'm still proud to put on my hat every trip. I feel just a little more professional, whether the customer thinks so or not.
Go ahead youngn's, flame away
Captain C. Weisser
A330-International Check Airman

 

[Beechnut]

Couldn't agree with Bud more!

Well said,

S.

 

[CatYaaak]

I guess you can figure out I'm an OLD fart. You're correct. I've been an airline pilot for 36 years and when I got hired, it was an honor to wear the hat I had so long yearned to wear. Now you young guys probably look at your uniform with disdain. ...

Bud, the times, they are a-changin'. Don't you get it?...they don't want to mess up their moussed, structured hair.

 

[Mayday911]

I have only been in the airline business for 3 and 1/2 years and enjoy wearing the hat.

Mayday.

 

[JBcrjca]

Yes, the times have changed alright. I have no idea what purpose the hats serve. They look dorky, the bills are too short to block the sun, and they don't have ear-flaps to keep your ears warm in the winter. On the other hand, if it's raining I guess they do keep the water off the melon, and they make a good place to hold wallets/phones/change/keys as you proceed through security checkpoints.

I rarely wear mine; usually I just carry it around. I'll wear it if my hands are full, or if I see a chief pilot/uniform police guy nearby. Sadly, I lost my hat at LAX last month, and even though my name/base was printed inside, it still hasn't found its way back to me. I guess I'll have to buy a new one to carry around. That way I can look like an airline pilot.

 

[Beechnut]

Worn properly, the hat does block the sun. The lower rim of the hat should be parallel to the ground when you stand with good posture and the bill should rest "two fingers" off your nose. Meaning, you should be able to rest your right pointer on your nose, and your middle finger, should just touch the bill.

Wearing the hat back off of the forehead, showing your pretty bangs is incorrect.

S.


P.S. Polish your shoes. They look like crap too.

 

[CaptBuzzard]

The company I was hired by, but didn't start at yet because of postponed ground school doesn't even issue them. I have tried them on and I look stupid in them, but I wish I could say to the rest of you that I work for someone that makes you wear them.. It is the 21st century and those hats have been around since beginning basically. They really don't make anyone look any less or more professional. They do mess up young guys' crispy hair like mine, but they do cover bald spots too. I would wear one with pride. I will also say that when I was younger and would go to the airport if my dad was on a business trip I would spot those hats first and know that it was an airline pilot. I personally like the pilot uniform(everything) and can't wait to wear one one day.

 

[T-Gates]

Hats

Personally, I like the hat. It does feel dorky sometimes but it is part of the uniform. It looks good when well-maintained, not when guys let it get ratty and dirty. Some guys don't wear it when it is required and it makes the whole pilot group look dishevled. I saw one AA F/O walking whith her captain and she had no hat, no jacket. Her captain was in full uniform with Jacket and Hat. Looks unprofessional for a crew to be dressed very differently in the view of the public.

Bottom line if your company requires it, wear it. If not, (i.e. jetBlue) don't. Easy as that.

--03M

 

[Rottweiller]

I wish they would make the back of the cap more durable - I mean mine is almost worn out from carrying the darn thing

Still have to wear it around the domiciles as you never know if the hat police are in town.

 

[mullet]

If your not going to wear it leave it at home!!!!
I wear mine, but be sure and not blame the hat for looking dorky!
Best hats I find are Bancroft's (Military Caps). If could be worse, you could work for Airborne and wear those Grey curtain's as Uniforms.

 

[B190Captain]

I like the hat too. It covers my bald head.

 

[spike]

You look like a F/A(G)

You wanted to be an airline pilot and the hat is part of the uniform. You took the job and agreed to follow the dress code. Have some freakin pride and wear the uniform of a pilot. The uniform commands a certian amount of respect. Functionallity has little to do with any formal dress.

What is the function of your stripes, ties, blazers. Basically they are just for show and a little distincition. Do your job and wear you **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** uniform. I have only been with the airlines of year and I am thirty, but I am sick of the F'in attitude that certian people decide they just aren't going to wear it.

Yes it does look funny initially. But the hat looks much better than the younger pilots walking around looking like flight attendants.

Be proud to wear the uniform.

Leather jackets look stupid on airline pilots. Sorry but black jackets don't match blue pants and hats. The just look stupid.

 

[spike]

censored

5 CENSOREDS because I used the word DAM.

 

[328jetdriver]

I guess we got both sides. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of where I am today and do wear my hat. That doesn't stop me from feeling how bad it looks. Maybe its just how I think it looks. Like shoes, shirts, pants, etc, not everything looks good on people.

 

[spike]

Let me clarify

Put it on and look in the mirror and it looks stupid on all of us. But wear it at the airport, at work and it looks normal. The public has been used to it for years and I never thought it looked stupid until I had to wear one.

In the publics eye it is normal and respectable. Just don't look at yourself in the mirror.

 

[GCD]

Let me see...cutesy hair style for young girls to like...or the traditional, professional, and accepted look of an airline pilot...

I'm sure some of you moused-up pretty boys prefer no hats.

Of course, I find it an honor to wear my hat, even when it's 110'F outside.

Hats don't make an airline pilot, but an airline pilot wears his prescribed uniform with pride.

That's right, hats don't make an airline pilot. That's unfortunate because if they did, some of you could put a hat on and be more qualified.

By the way 328, you need some lessons in grammar and spelling before you can wear a hat with pride.

 

[inthepool]

I've wanted to fly for the airlines since I was 5 years old, and the day I get my hands on my wings, boards, AND hat will be one of the greatest days of my life (too bad the hiring pool is many deep and I'm at the wrong end). I can't wait to wear the hat. Like Spike said, if we all do it, nobody looks stupid.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Hey,
I like my hat, because it keeps my head from freezing off in Fargo, during the winter time.
After awhile it will get the 50 mission look, just wear it out in the sun, the hat gestapo will leave you alone, and the chief pilot's carpet will stay new and shiny.
Ola
PBR

 

[FR8mastr]

I dont mind the hat, I also used to look up to the pilots wearing them with respect and admiration as a kid. You are correct it only looks stupid on yourself if at all, if you look at other folks it just looks like the uniform.

 

[luvthedc10]

Maybe when you're at a hotel you might blend in as a bellhop, however, at the airport there is no mistaking an airline pilot when a hat is worn. That is reason enough to wear one. I think everyone would agree in our profession that it was not easy to achieve this job, so wear the hat and respect the profession and its tradition. Otherwise, as I have experienced, all you get are questions from people that think you are a flightattdt/customer service rep.

Hats must still be something that the public respects since every other week we have a parent with a child come up to the cockpit wanting to take a picture of their kid with a hat on. Sometimes tradition is just better left alone.

 

[cl-65link]

At some airlines in the past, if you were caught in the terminal without a hat on(in uniform), a fine($) could be forthcoming from management. I don't know if this is still the practice at any airlines today?

 

[flap operator]

Sure, they might look a little goofy - but it's apart of the tradition and history of aviation. That aside, this is a modern world and the functionality of the hat is gone. But it is apart of the uniform at the airlines who use them that way. I agree - when alone, it looks weird, but at the airport it tlooks kinda sharp. I personally think that the uniform looks incomplete without the hat. The uniform looks even more incomplete in the summer when we take our jackets off, but that's a whole different ball game. I wanna laugh at the folks who bring their hats with them, but choose to carry instead. YOu go through the effort in remembering to bring it, then crarry it, you might as well wear the dam thing! I always remind myself when I think I look like a walking billboard with my hat on (large hatpin), that I expect the company to hold up their end of our contract - the least I could do is hold up my end of the bargain.


FO

 

[AV8OR]

Always have liked it and always work a little "50 mission crush" on it so it doesn't look so dorky. Unfortunate the prestige of the job hasn't been as resiliant as the uniform style.

If you have to wear one, count yourself fortunate in this market!

 

[Deftone45075]

Of course I havn't had to wear one yet, but I don't think the hat is such a bad thing.

Now as for you guys who are insulting some for using mousse or gel, and styling their hair, that looks a lot more professional than you with your dull, messy hair going in all directions like you just got out of bed. You'll be taking off that hat some time, and then it will show.

Or maybe all of you against us who comb our hair are just old and are losing all of yours. So maybe it's a jealousy thing.

 

[Intruder One]

The hat looks stupid,very few and I mean very few look decent wearing one.They are outdated and and of no use.I agree with JB on this one.This is the 21first century lets look like it.

 

[StopNTSing]

We just went hats-optional recently at SWA and the overwhelming majority have chosen to leave them home. I never really minded wearing it, but decided to just follow the trend on this one.

Oh and for Spike, while you may think the leather jacket looks stupid, its practicality during the cold weather months is undeniable. What would you rather drag around on a 4-day:

blazer, trenchcoat, and non-uniform jacket----or.....

leather jacket?

 

[spike]

leather

It was an opinion, but like the hats if enough people are wearing them they don't look as bad.

I said LOOK stupid, because they don't exactly match blue uniforms.

I think I am starting to lean toward the practicality, but now my legs are going to freeze off.

 

[328jetdriver]

Hey GCD you got me on that one. Don't tell me what I have to do to wear my hat with pride. I DO wear it with pride. Again, that doesn't mean I have to like the way it looks, so relax. Have fun. I'm not bashing anyone, so why do you?

 

[Kingairrick]

Maybe it's not the hat?