The Airline Pilot Hat: What will become of it?

[Abernathy]

My company is also kicking the crap out of every airline in the u.s.--- and our hats are optional, we started the leather jacket deal, and our FA's will sing goofy songs.... if only they still wore hot pants and gogo boots... ;-)

i'll stick to my guns and say i know my role. If my company thought it was imperative to our image and marketing that i wear the hat- I would. A professional wears the uniform the way their company wants it worn.

I'll also stick to my guns that i haven't heard a great argument that the hat would lead to better revenues for the company, or a better contract for us. tenuous at best.

The pilots who are hard up for hats are that way because they are insecure about themselves. They are probably unmarried and their whole existence and identity is linked to their job as a pilot. They are way too proud of themselves and take themselves too seriously. That's pretty much it. They need constant reassurance that they are "in command" and think it makes people stare at them in awe in the terminals. They need to think that because it helps stroke their damaged ego. In their mind, these people are staring at them thinking "wow a pilot" when in reality the are thinking "What a fatty. I hope he doesn't have a heart attack on the way to Memphis. Why is he wearing a hat? Is it sunny in here or something?"

 

[UALRATT]

The pilots who are hard up for hats are that way because they are insecure about themselves. They are probably unmarried and their whole existence and identity is linked to their job as a pilot. They are way too proud of themselves and take themselves too seriously. That's pretty much it. They need constant reassurance that they are "in command" and think it makes people stare at them in awe in the terminals. They need to think that because it helps stroke their damaged ego. In their mind, these people are staring at them thinking "wow a pilot" when in reality the are thinking "What a fatty. I hope he doesn't have a heart attack on the way to Memphis. Why is he wearing a hat? Is it sunny in here or something?"

Dude the post above is symptomatic of distinct psychological/emotional conditions of invidiousness or narcissistic personality disorder. No, no I'm not a psychiatrist. Just slept in my own bed last night.

Trust that's not really the sentiment of all you anti-hatters?

 

[Bjammin]

The pilots who are hard up for hats are that way because they are insecure about themselves. They are probably unmarried and their whole existence and identity is linked to their job as a pilot. They are way too proud of themselves and take themselves too seriously. That's pretty much it. They need constant reassurance that they are "in command" and think it makes people stare at them in awe in the terminals. They need to think that because it helps stroke their damaged ego. In their mind, these people are staring at them thinking "wow a pilot" when in reality the are thinking "What a fatty. I hope he doesn't have a heart attack on the way to Memphis. Why is he wearing a hat? Is it sunny in here or something?"

I wear the hat and I'm married, 2 teenage kids, have way more going then just my job, and am way more proud of being a good husband and father then flying airplanes around. I'm very secure in my existance and also understand that being a pilot is not the "end all, beat all" for most people, but I do want to do my job well and make sure I convey a professinal demoner to the folks that trust me and provide my pay.

Bottom line, when I see an enlisted Salior, Marine, Soldier, or Airman walk through the terminal and they are polished, ironed, covered if needed, and probably have had a much tougher exsistance then any airline pilot that day I feel pride and respect for them and are happy to have someone like that on the front lines. How does that not directly compare to us in the front of the plane? Hats have been part of uniforms for over a thousand years and just this current group of airline guys thinks it doesn't matter any more? Coincidence that this is also the bottom of airline pay and public perception? I know that the hat is not the reason, but it is an illistration of an attitude that could have led us here.

 

[waveflyer]

the argument isn't whether to shine shoes or iron shirts-- i agree 100% and also feel it's part of our duty to be physically fit.

The thread is about the hat.

I say the hat is a company made decision and has no bearing on the professionalism of the flight crew. There are a 1000 other factors that come into play well before the hat will ever be on my radar.

 

[Abernathy]

I wear the hat and I'm married, 2 teenage kids, have way more going then just my job, and am way more proud of being a good husband and father then flying airplanes around. I'm very secure in my existance and also understand that being a pilot is not the "end all, beat all" for most people, but I do want to do my job well and make sure I convey a professinal demoner to the folks that trust me and provide my pay.

A. It was kind of a joke
B. I didn't say people who wear hats are insecure. Just the ones like Rez who think its blasphemy to not wear it.
C. It's "end all, be all" and "professional demeanor"... Come on, people.

 

[Bjammin]

"End all, beat all" works , demoner is my bust.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I bought a hat simply because our company tracked how many we got. 99% of us use them for picketing...period. You can see even some folks without hats showed up, and of course were welcome. Hat sales indicated potential picketers. So--I do own a hat--I simply choose not to wear it.

So why was the hat ok for you when you walked the picket line? That is the big question that hasn't been addressed.

Why is it when we want better pay we wear the hat to picket but the next day it is back comfort and ease.

Note: we get the freight dog lifestyle..... it doesn't apply here...

Hats FOD engines. Hats are hot. Hats take up space in suitcases better used for running shoes, extra t-shirts, or porn magazines. They also look stupid. But if its required you wear it...just like I did in the Air Force. But even the AF, which makes our airmen wear reflective belts in a combat zone, has the sense to keep hats off around airplanes. That should tell you something right there...

The hat isn't being advocated for walk arounds. Again, we get it, the hat cramps your layover style....

Perchance a better effort on saving the profession would be to develop good communicators, solid sticks who can pass things along. If you want to do a hat crusade--do as you see fit. If FedEx makes the hat madatory--I'd wear it. Hell...I'd wear a pink tutu if that's what it took to fly F-15s (...yeah...here come the Eagle jokes). But if the biggest issue you have is with hats...have at it. Pilots wore hats in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, because most men of the times did too. Times change. Uniforms change. Airplanes change. I don't particularly want to go back to flying ADF approaches and using HF radios to make position reports, and I really don't want to be lugging a damn hat around all the time either. It'd be nice to be in the 1960's world of "Catch Me if You Can..."...dapper uniforms...hot flight attendants, etc etc. But c'mon...that's the movies...and those days have gone.

So you are a product of your environment and fashion trends?

And I can tell you this...I certainly don't need a hat to go on strike. You need some money saved up, and you need backup plan. You need the ability to know when you leave it could be your last day in the industry. I think our pilot groups know that. And no hat is gonna make a dime's worth of difference to a group of pilots when they have to make those tough choices.

So why did you get one....



Again... the hat is part of the image and brand. It is not about comfort, style, fashion, convenience.....

In our ubiquitous world of consumerism, we should have an understanding of branding.

Who owns the pilot profession brand? Who controls the profession, its image and value? If management did, what kind of image would they have for us?

Fashion trends? Layover convenience? Economic trends? Are these factors what determines for us or professional image?

 

[LearCrj]

I have to agree with most of what waveflyer has said. I work for an airline where. as a political move, the company made the hat optional. Wwhy wouldn't they. I think they were in there office and celebrated when we, UAL ALPA, degraded our own uniform. "Oh look the pilots want to lower the standard they had for years."
I also work for a company where we switch back end crews almost every flight. During the winter when we are all wearing coats, nobody can tell who is who until we sit down in our respective seats. This forum is full of disgruntled people that don't care about the profession. That's fine it's your life. I for one think three things should stay constant
1. You want paid like a professional, look like one.
2. You want the public to have any degree of respect for you, look the part.
3. DO NOT allow scumbags like Glen Tilton lower your own level of professionalism. Is that the attitude that got you the job? If you allow that, he wins.

In the end, I personally opt to wear the hat.

I think a better idea is to ban fat ass out of shape pilots!

 

[Linedriver]

Myself, I keep hoping I will forget my hat somewhere or maybe it will fall off and get sucked up by some Boeing driving by. Nope, can't get rid of it even by chance. It keeps hanging around like luggage!

My hat.