The Airline Pilot Hat: What will become of it?

[denny]

Hat or not when you guys go to Costco please, take your epaulets off and your ID badge. It really degrades the profession when some of you go grocery shopping in full uniform.

 

[waveflyer]

This guy wears his hat-- and is definitely my kind of pilot(!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWkoAivVOlA

 

[Abernathy]

Rez, you're such a hypocrite. It may be my perception that the hat does not make one more professional and looks silly on some people, or that the flying public doesn't care, but it is entirely your perception that it does and they do.

In reality I feel sorry for you. You are so insecure that you tie your professionalism and image/personality to a company required artifact.

Also you are not nearly as deep and insightful as you think you are.

 

[Abernathy]

ALSO Rez,

What you really should have your panties in a bunch about instead of the lack of hats is the one uniform article that actually DOES look unprofessional and almost demeaning: The Leather Jacket. Looks trashy and well, unprofessional. Unless you're a professional biker. In which case it might look professional when you're at a biker gathering.

 

[j41driver]

Is this the most important topic to discuss in our industry? Who CUCKING FARES?!??

 

[UALRATT]

I worked for an airline that changed the hat policy to "hats optional". It was awesome because you could tell immediatley who the contol freaks were by who kept wearing the hat. My beef with the hat is they are so darn uncomfortable. Why can't someone make a hat that doesn't have a hard leather head band that fits nobody and is lined with plastic so it traps all your head it in and causes you sweat like a pig?

Don't work for the company nor am I a shareholder. Just thought you can use the information...

http://www.premierhatco.com/?page=shop/index&

These are the guys that use to make those great hats for the original Bancroft company.
FYI, Superior bought the name Bancroft but the Bancroft hats they currently make are not of the same quality as the original. Premier are the best.

•Premier’s DRI FIT - Designed by Premier Hat - Wear tested and perfected by line pilots!
•New DRI-LEX® moisture wicking breathable lining.
•Perforated crown protector with card holder allows heat to escape.
•New Microfiber sweatband designed and proven to wick moisture away from your head.
•Same quality construction and traditional look as the classic style Premier hat.
•One-piece quality construction.
•All seams are lock-stitched for durability and reliability.
•All eyelets have back up washers for strength and stability.
•Posts have screw-backed buttons - not wire-backed buttons.
•Front stay is made from twin wire steel - not plastic.
•Stay is covered with matching lining material for a clean, finished look.
•Matching tape includes stiffener in crown seam.
•Sweatbands have reeding to create a natural roll and cushion that keeps stitches away from your head.
•Genuine Clarino™ First Officer visor tops and leather bottoms laminated and cut "in-house" - not imported.
•All hats come with a 100 % satisfaction guarantee

Check this out http://www.3dvo-models.com/clients/Blackstone/links/01127/model.php

 

[BOYCAPTAIN]

What hat?

 

[Abernathy]

Don't work for the company nor am I a shareholder. Just thought you can use the information...

http://www.premierhatco.com/?page=shop/index&

These are the guys that use to make those great hats for the original Bancroft company.
FYI, Superior bought the name Bancroft but the Bancroft hats they currently make are not of the same quality as the original. Premier are the best.

•Premier’s DRI FIT - Designed by Premier Hat - Wear tested and perfected by line pilots!
•New DRI-LEX® moisture wicking breathable lining.
•Perforated crown protector with card holder allows heat to escape.
•New Microfiber sweatband designed and proven to wick moisture away from your head.
•Same quality construction and traditional look as the classic style Premier hat.
•One-piece quality construction.
•All seams are lock-stitched for durability and reliability.
•All eyelets have back up washers for strength and stability.
•Posts have screw-backed buttons - not wire-backed buttons.
•Front stay is made from twin wire steel - not plastic.
•Stay is covered with matching lining material for a clean, finished look.
•Matching tape includes stiffener in crown seam.
•Sweatbands have reeding to create a natural roll and cushion that keeps stitches away from your head.
•Genuine Clarino™ First Officer visor tops and leather bottoms laminated and cut "in-house" - not imported.
•All hats come with a 100 % satisfaction guarantee

Check this out http://www.3dvo-models.com/clients/Blackstone/links/01127/model.php

Rez spontaneously ejaculated after reading this. "OMG the seams are lock-stitched."

 

[eaglesview]

ALSO Rez,

What you really should have your panties in a bunch about instead of the lack of hats is the one uniform article that actually DOES look unprofessional and almost demeaning: The Leather Jacket. Looks trashy and well, unprofessional. Unless you're a professional biker. In which case it might look professional when you're at a biker gathering.

On this we are in complete agreement.

 

[tomgoodman]

Fashion flaps

The hat is a brand icon and image for the public.

I agree, and personally liked the hat, never doubting that its main purpose was to aid in marketing our service. Since deregulation, the public has adapted to much greater changes in their flying experience than seeing hatless pilots, so this is probably not a big deal, unless we make it one.

A few years ago, our local symphony offered a few "casual concerts", with the musicians wearing blue jeans and golf shirts. After some grumbling, most patrons got used to the idea and ticket sales were brisk. I still prefer the aesthetics of formal attire, but the musicians own the orchestra and they play very well, so "de gustibus non est disputandum".

 

[RJLoser]

Don't forget the back packer pilots. There's a good look. Maybe we should go all out and start wearing fanny packs!!

I'm definitely in for the fanny pack movement.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Those are just old and tired responses- pilots were the ones who changed the hat requirement- do you really think mgmt cares about our hats one way or the other- hats aren't representative of a mindset at all- your mindset is representative of your mindset-

Yes I do think management cares. During the golden age, it was all about instilling a belief that the best pilots were flying because the round motors and other technology wasn't as safe. Pax never have been able to directly judge pilot performance so image is the indicator for pax. Now, with the accident rate down and air travel common place, management cares to devalue our image. The honorable CEO's of the past are long gone, when the pilot image was a valued commodity. Now, CEO's reject that image because it suggest they have to pay for education, responsibility and training. Look at JB and VA. At jb FAs, pilots, gate agents, rampers etc.. are all called crewmembers wrapped up into one employee group. They are all worthy of the same 401k, healthcare and other bennies. At VA they don't really look like pilots as we know it. This is intentional by management to water down the professional stature of pilots, allowing them to pay less.

If pilots can be perceived as a quickly replaceable widget without a professional image, then they won't have to pay as much.

if you haven't noticed the business world has changed- you'll see a much different style at every business than you used to- and yes - it is more casual- and that's not necessarily bad- it represents a change in what matters- that competence matters more than the appearance of competence.

We are not cubical operators. Cubical operators rarely have implications of safety resulting in death.

That said- wear it all you want- but if you have the need to judge me bc I don't - (which you won't ) that probably won't go well for you

There is no judging. Why do the non hatters feel judged? I started this thread with a consideration and provided lucid reasons.

As you've seen the non hatters argument is always from their perspective, their comfort both physically and socially. It is never from the understanding of how the image is perceived from the public's view.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I agree, and personally liked the hat, never doubting that its main purpose was to aid in marketing our service. Since deregulation, the public has adapted to much greater changes in their flying experience than seeing hatless pilots, so this is probably not a big deal, unless we make it one.

A few years ago, our local symphony offered a few "casual concerts", with the musicians wearing blue jeans and golf shirts. After some grumbling, most patrons got used to the idea and ticket sales were brisk. I still prefer the aesthetics of formal attire, but the musicians own the orchestra and they play very well, so "de gustibus non est disputandum".

Tom,

What does the muscians wearing the jeans and polo shirts signify? In addition that was a specified 'casual concert'.

Shall we have specified Hawaiian shirt flights? Casual Friday flights...

The point is... why change to not wearing the hat? Because the faishon trend says we are more relaxed and cool?

 

[denny]

No one seems to understand this thread. Guys, do NOT go grocery shopping in complete uniform. And there are some that need to be reminded to not wear their ID badge while drinking in the bar in complete uniform.

I'm serious here!

 

[SMcC]

I can't believe you guys are still discussing this!!!

The hat is so very insignificant. The skills that reside just below the hat are what is important!

Personally I am very glad to be rid of the hat, but if it became a required uniform item again I would wear it. If it brakes your heart that hats are going by the wayside then go ahead and wear it with pride. But it is just a superficial (and arhaic) symbol from a bygone era.

 

[GuppyWN]

Rez,

You're 7 pages deep and not making much progress. We could have done this in two posts.

1. Yours (wear the hat)
2. Mine (YOU weart the hat cause we're not doing it)

Gup

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Rez,

You're 7 pages deep and not making much progress. We could have done this in two posts.

1. Yours (wear the hat)
2. Mine (YOU weart the hat cause we're not doing it)

Gup

They way I have my profile configured we are only at three pages. It all depends on how you view it.

 

[tomgoodman]

Curmudgeonly speaking....

The point is... why change to not wearing the hat? Because the faishon trend says we are more relaxed and cool?

I do not favor such a change, especially if negotiating capital must be spent to obtain it. My point was that if such a change is made, the public will quickly adapt to it, just as they have accepted far more serious reductions in the aesthetic traditions of air travel. I wish they would not, but they do.

 

[scoreboardII]

True, I bet they left their hats in the cockpit when they ran off the end of those runways.

This from a Turd who displays this as her signature:

"Whoop Whoop, Pull Up".........Disregard

 

[waveflyer]

No- I've said it a few times Rez- I believe the traveling public could care less about the hat- esp the FO hat which looks just like a skycap or doorman.