Pilots wearing backpacks??? lets get campy?

[Monster Buck]

Idiot non-uniform wearin, bozo shoe wearin, crumb cake dorks that put mainline stickers or tags on their bags so that others might think they fly the big jets, wear their tie half undone, or thier clip-ons half off, or even no tie at all walking through the terminal, or think that if they just take off thier tie and boards they can drink in the bar, or commute more comfortably in disguise............ degenerates.

 

[ERJDRVR2]

I have one better !!

I just DH to CVG in the back of an MD80. While reading the paper I looked up to see some jack-off wearing his headsets with boom mike !! I thought I must be mistaken. Clearly I was mistaken and just some guy wearing a Bose noise XL headset. NOPE, a Comair Cpt was wearing his Bose headsets in full uniform in the back of the MD80.
I do nto think the back-pack is that big of a deal if you are hauling books to study from, but this IDIOT was an embarrassment to us all.
Someone needs to tell him to knock it off.

 

[hbrow15]

It is all about preception. What does your fellow pilot think? If you don't care what your fellow pilot thinks than you have an attitude problem.


At UAL (correct me if I'm wrong fellas), the company buys your bag, so they can have policy that says no stickers, including company and ALPA. Some guys do..most guys don't at UAL.


I have ALPA stickers, US Flag, and of course my BAFAN Sticker. Sure no stickers would be better, but I don't think my stickers are embarrassing to my fellow pilots or would cause concern for my passengers...

I flew with a guy that a simple 'dmb' sticker..... no big deal. Considered it myself...

Now the stickers that say "I'm not a pilot, I just stayed at a Holiday Inn Last Night" might be funny to the user, but the pax afraid of flying might not find comfort in it.


I guess I could be percieved as a self proclaimed annoying pain in the as$. My intent is to offer opinions and influence. Not dictate.....

does this mean that if a fellow pilot told you they thought your stickers on your flight case was unprofessional you would remove them?

I'm not sure how you can relate backpacks to school kids but not stickers? my daughter has "Dora the Explorer" stickers and all kinds of other stickers she gets from school for doing something good on her notebook and backpack. I would imagine her stickers are just as important to her to have on her school kid style backpack as you do on your professional flight case. I personally dont care if a guy has stickers on his or her flight case it's just not my thing. I'm sure there are things the guys that have been around for an extended period of time did when they first started that they were told would be the end of the idustry as i'm sure when we're the "cagy old vets" we will have something to say about the "kids" coming behind us. If anything I find it more of a concern that we(myself included) are spending this much time debating backpacks when NWA is in the processes of busting unions and talking about farming out the the Pilots flying to Champion Air, another ALPA unit. I guess management really is smater than us, they can slide this under the radar by reading this board and see what really matters to us......stickers and backpacks..

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

does this mean that if a fellow pilot told you they thought your stickers on your flight case was unprofessional you would remove them?

I'm not sure how you can relate backpacks to school kids but not stickers? my daughter has "Dora the Explorer" stickers and all kinds of other stickers she gets from school for doing something good on her notebook and backpack. I would imagine her stickers are just as important to her to have on her school kid style backpack as you do on your professional flight case. I personally dont care if a guy has stickers on his or her flight case it's just not my thing. I'm sure there are things the guys that have been around for an extended period of time did when they first started that they were told would be the end of the idustry as i'm sure when we're the "cagy old vets" we will have something to say about the "kids" coming behind us. If anything I find it more of a concern that we(myself included) are spending this much time debating backpacks when NWA is in the processes of busting unions and talking about farming out the the Pilots flying to Champion Air, another ALPA unit. I guess management really is smater than us, they can slide this under the radar by reading this board and see what really matters to us......stickers and backpacks..

Well...someone asked so I replied...

Not sure how an american flag or an ALPA sitcker that says "70 years of safety" is an issue.

Now if you daughter or mine had a sticker that said, 'I toke the rock', I'd be concered. Quit trying to black and white the issue.

As far as NWA, bankruptcy.... as I said, backpacks and stickers is representative of attitude. Most airlines that offer career employment know how to detect "attitude".

With the right attitude we can unify and beat managment at its game. When there are pilots that are distracting by carving out thier own convienences and genre, like backpacks, Bose headsets, "anti establishement" stickers, it it also divisive...

Get the point? We not me.

 

[Velvet Jones]

Morman or Moron?

A few weeks ago I was sitting in a hotel van with my crew while awaiting the arrival of another crew at the airport. I was watching for the other crew to appear when I noticed a young man with his white shirt, black pants and tie wearing a backpack standing on the curb near the van. I mentioned to the others seated with me, "I wonder if the Morman guys are coming along with us."

Shortly thereafter, the "Morman" shifted his backpack straps which revealed to me that he was wearing three stripes on that shoulder. No hat and wearing a backpack! Who knew?!? I was staring a real airline pilot! It also turns out that he was not one of the crew members going to my hotel.


Sure, he may be able to out-fly me six out of the seven days of the week, but I did not get any sense of confidence looking at him. Image isn't everything, but it is a HUGE part. Get in the game.

 

[brewerdog]

I agree, backpacks are for school kids and campers, not pro pilots

 

[hbrow15]

Well...someone asked so I replied...

Not sure how an american flag or an ALPA sitcker that says "70 years of safety" is an issue.

Now if you daughter or mine had a sticker that said, 'I toke the rock', I'd be concered. Quit trying to black and white the issue.

As far as NWA, bankruptcy.... as I said, backpacks and stickers is representative of attitude. Most airlines that offer career employment know how to detect "attitude".

With the right attitude we can unify and beat managment at its game. When there are pilots that are distracting by carving out thier own convienences and genre, like backpacks, Bose headsets, "anti establishement" stickers, it it also divisive...

Get the point? We not me.

you dont see how your stickers is a problem but you said earlier that it was about what your fellow pilot thinks so again if a few had a problem with it would you remove them.
obviously it's not black and white for you but it is for me.. If the company allows it then its personal preference it not then there is no discussion you dont do it. Example my company does not require hats, so I dont wear one in the summer uniform, but as a military guy that was a hard adjustment being in uniform without a cover but it's more comfortable being based in IAH, but when in the winter I always wear a hat. I always thought the short sleeves with a tie looks stupid, we look like an office copier repairman. i never wore short sleeves until I was with the airlines. I think if you wear a tie long sleeves look more professional but my company does not allow long sleeves without the blazer. As it was said before this is just one of these things where we agree to disagree so everyone follow the companies guidelines.

 

[210FR8DOG]

I carry all my food in my backpack for a 4 day trip since I'm still a starving 2nd yr FO. Our 2nd year pay here at TSA is lowest in the industry for a jet operator. Yes, even lower than Mesa. Their's goes to 28 2nd yr. Ours is a whopping 25! Catches up on 3rd yr, though, up to 33 an hr. 5 more months.............!!!

 

[Tank Commander]

Airline passengers look like bus passengers now and act like them to. Air fares look like bus fares. Now airline pilots are looking like bus drivers, but most of them wear their hats…….

 

[darkvw]

I use a backpack to carry my charts and jepps in, hang it on the back of the right seat ( or in front if no one in it) makes it easier to reach during the flight. Ii has a handle on the top tho' so I carry it like a piece of luggage thu the FBO's and airports. In response to the look , I see no problem if it matches the rest of the luggage and looks better than the ones you get for the school kids.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Reason number 417 not to wear a backpack to the jet:

"I wonder if the Morman guys are coming along with us."

 

[BenderGonzales]

I don't agree with Rez on almost ANYTHING.

I think his views on Wal-Mart are absurd. 9 time out of 10 I read his posts and think that he might be unstable.

But this time I'm behind him 100%.

We can not be expected to be treated like professionals and compensated like professionals if we are incapable of CARRYING ourselves like professionals.

That means that give the same attention to detail to the way you LOOK as you do to the way you fly your airplane.

Yes, friends. Backpacks are unprofessional. If you REALLY need that extra storage capacity, most luggage manufacturers make a "gym bag" that matches your luggage and is designed to go over the handle of your rollaboard and clip to the top.

If you were lying on the operating table, the doctor shows up wearing a t-shirt that says, "Beer: Getting White Guys Laid for 200 years", shorts, and sandles... is that ok?

If you're in a courtroom being defended by an attorney who, instead of a suit, wears a wife-beater, sweatpants, and nikes that light-up when he steps... is that ok?

Like it or not, first impressions matter. We operate in a business where a large percentage of our CUSTOMERS are first-time or nervous flyers. They hand over control of their lives to you professional pilots.

REGARDLESS of how good a "stick" you are -- they will snap to judgement of you based on your appearance. They have nothing else to go on.

REGARDLESS of how little you get paid, or how little they paid for their ticket, your obligation to be a professional is not lessened.

Maybe you kids could LEARN a little something from the older guys who are giving you a hard time -- if you would just park the attitude for a little while and LISTEN.

Or don't. And by the time YOUR kids are old enough to go to work for an airline, maybe it will be no more dignified a career than a fry-cook for McDonalds.

 

[Shobra]

If you saw the comair pilot wearing their headset and it bothered YOU why didn't YOU say something to them or pass a note or or ..... instead of just posting it hear and asking that someone do something... aren't YOU someone?

 

[BornAgainPagan]

.

We can not be expected to be treated like professionals and compensated like professionals if we are incapable of CARRYING ourselves like professionals.

That means that give the same attention to detail to the way you LOOK as you do to the way you fly your airplane.

Yes, friends. Backpacks are unprofessional. If you REALLY need that extra storage capacity, most luggage manufacturers make a "gym bag" that matches your luggage and is designed to go over the handle of your rollaboard and clip to the top.

If you were lying on the operating table, the doctor shows up wearing a t-shirt that says, "Beer: Getting White Guys Laid for 200 years", shorts, and sandles... is that ok?

If you're in a courtroom being defended by an attorney who, instead of a suit, wears a wife-beater, sweatpants, and nikes that light-up when he steps... is that ok?

Your post is a one big nonsequitur. A backpack is not anything like a physician wearing beer shirts, sandals and shorts or attorneys in wife-beaters, sweatpants, Nikes etc............not even close. It's a bag and the bag is a tool of the trade. What difference does it make if it is slung over your shoulders or strapped to your suitcase?

 

[semperfido]

it is just a trendy thing adopted by the more youthful end of the group...and trends come and go. now what is really dumb looking is a 50something with a backpack and rubber colored bracelet

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Your post is a one big nonsequitur. A backpack is not anything like a physician wearing beer shirts, sandals and shorts or attorneys in wife-beaters, sweatpants, Nikes etc............not even close. It's a bag and the bag is a tool of the trade. What difference does it make if it is slung over your shoulders or strapped to your suitcase?

BAP. Don't use big words like nonsequitur that I have to look up....

How about taking the burden of proof.. You tell us the difference between wearing your luggage or pulling it?

Perhaps BenderGonzolas was stretching the examples too far with the beer T-shirt and wife beater, however it was used to illustrate the point. If you take the time to read this entire thread you will see the argurements against the backpack very effective and quite clear. In addition they support promoting and defending the professional image. The arguements for the backpack are centered towards the convienence of the individual.

Finally, to try and define a back pack as a professional pilots tool of the trade is insulting to every true professional who spends hundreds of dollars on Scott style leather flight cases and Luggage Works type overnight rollerboards instead of a $30 schoolboy backpack.

That dovetails deeper into the issue. The rest of us are working hard and taking the time to polish our shoes, press our shirts, comb our hair and spend the money to get professional gear so when we come to work we can represent the 100,000 Air Line Pilots properly.....

Then along comes someone trying to game the system at everyone elses expenses.....

The backpack is representative of the larger issue....

Respect for yourself and your fellow pilots.

We not me.

 

[dogismycopilot]

The backpack fits headsets, jepps, and an ops manual that says nothing about wearing a backpack or using a flight case while on duty, and almost anything else I can think to throw inside. It works out great for me, check it out. I can also hike on those long overnights!

http://www.kelty.com/Kelty/index.cfm?fuseaction=Packs.ShowProduct&type=Pack&ID=104

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The backpack ...........works out great for me,

My point........clearly stated.....by you.....




We not me.

 

[spitfire1500]

If I ever see a pilot with a backpack on in our terminal, I'll personally take them aside and stuff him or her inside it!

Ill wear my F'in backpack if I want asshole! You even come near me and Ill shove my fist down your throat!!!

 

[dogismycopilot]

Perhaps the so-called 'professional image' all pilots are supposed to portray is different from company to company. Corporate culture dictatates wide and varying degrees of acceptability in uniform style and the use of other 'accessories.' A BE1900 operator flying into and out of uncontrolled fields in Wyoming or Colorado breeds a certain outdoor-type culture that may be more comfortable sporting the backpack. In fact, the passengers may relate better to such a pilot. Instead of 'look at that pilot's gay hat and flight case' there may be a 'hey, that's the same pack I use. I wonder if they've skied any sweet jumps lately.'

On a similar note, there is never any excuse to wear an unkept or sloppy uniform. That's why God created irons.

-Dog