The Airline Pilot Hat: What will become of it?

[Rez O. Lewshun]

x2

The most important function of a uniform is to identify that you are in fact a pilot.

Stand next to a gate agent and FA and the pilot idendity is lost. Like it or not.... hat = pilot.

Long ago in ages past the decision was made to dress airline pilots up like naval ship captains. OK, whatever, fine, it's dorky but it conveys the correct aura of weighty command responsibility and is unquestionably a crew uniform. Now some airlines decide its OK to dress like some strange hybrid of navy ship captain, WWII Bomber Pilot, and the Orkin Man. It's inconsistent, defeats the purpose of a uniform since it looks like any Joe Schmoe, and conveys an aura of heading into combat from which we may never return. Hardly what most passengers would like to see.

Good point.

And don't get me started on all the multi-colored uniforms sprouting up. Sorry JetBlue but while the uniforms look OK they are the start of a very bad trend. Eventually we'll all be color coded and I don't want to be stuck with purple. Remember SkyBus? They looked like park rangers. Leave the cutesy/trendy uniforms to the FA's.

/rant

So instead of starting trends... stick with tradition, that includes the hat. Look like a pilot get paid like a pilot. Look like a gate agent or FA.....

 

[Abernathy]

Look like a pilot get paid like a pilot. Look like a gate agent or FA.....

Yes that works...

 

[PCL_128]

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.

I'm with Rez on the hat, but I agree with you about the leather jacket being a far worse trend. Nobody wants to be hurtled through the air at 80% of the speed of sound in an aluminum tube under the command of......The Fonz.

 

[waveflyer]

Dude-
you guys are 10 years late to the conversation-

both the hat and the leather jacket trains have left the bldg.

But if you really think that re-instituting the required bellman hat will automatically increase pay--- we're in trouble ...

Well, you are... I'm paid quite nice and can wear my uniform how I want as long as it's sharp

 

[Chest Rockwell]

Right. Dream on brother. I wore a hat (and the USN style blazer) at Delta for many years and not once got a positive comment from anyone about the uniform except during Christmas tie season.

At SWA I often hear positive comments about my flag ties and the leather flight jacket. Not one comment about my lack of hat.

FA (females) also like my semi-white shirts and my Old Spice after shave.

Hat wearers do stand out at SWA though - not in a good way.

I never got a complement when we all wore hats and never expected one.

I you can't handle guys wearing hats, that's your problem. Grow up.

 

[airmack]

I vote we get rid of the leather jackets and move to flip flops, bermuda shorts and Panama Jack t-shirts

 

[PCL_128]

But if you really think that re-instituting the required bellman hat will automatically increase pay--- we're in trouble ...

I don't think it has anything to do with pay. It's just a matter of professionalism.

 

[Guppiedriver]

Stand next to a gate agent and FA and the pilot idendity is lost. Like it or not.... hat = pilot.



Good point.

So instead of starting trends... stick with tradition, that includes the hat. Look like a pilot get paid like a pilot. Look like a gate agent or FA.....

Who cares!!! Are you so insecure that you can't stand the thought of being misidentified as a FA or gate agent?

I've been told by a few hatters, that because I don't wear a hat someone might mistake me for a Mesa Airlines pilot. My response, "I couldn't care less".

If I show up for work looking like a CEO, will I get CEO pay?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I'm with Rez on the hat, but I agree with you about the leather jacket being a far worse trend. Nobody wants to be hurtled through the air at 80% of the speed of sound in an aluminum tube under the command of......The Fonz.

Agreed, the leather jacket has merit, but in the end, it is counter to our image.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Dude-
you guys are 10 years late to the conversation-

both the hat and the leather jacket trains have left the bldg.

But if you really think that re-instituting the required bellman hat will automatically increase pay--- we're in trouble ...

Well, you are... I'm paid quite nice and can wear my uniform how I want as long as it's sharp

Why did the FedEx pilots, who never wear hats, do so when they picketed?

Why did the CAL pilots wear hats when the demonstrated on Wall Street? (seriously, if they did not, would it have been clear to the pubic [not us but the public] as to what profession they represented?)

Why did the UAL pilots when they picketed HQ this week?


Pilots at LUV don't wear khakis. FAs do. It is easier to tell the difference.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Who cares!!! Are you so insecure that you can't stand the thought of being misidentified as a FA or gate agent?

only in my paycheck. you?

I've been told by a few hatters, that because I don't wear a hat someone might mistake me for a Mesa Airlines pilot. My response, "I couldn't care less".

Then get paid like a mesa pilot. Do you care now?

If I show up for work looking like a CEO, will I get CEO pay?

Would you be able to indicate that you have no soul? Actually, that is what pilots think they are doing... losing the hat to look like MBAs, all while mgnt is skillfully molding our image to look like FAs. We are blue collar labor, not white.

I don't think it has anything to do with pay.

If you are told long enough that you are just a airport worker or something less than you are (battered wife syndrome combined with Stockholm syndrome) you'll start to believe it.....

It's just a matter of professionalism.

Correct. It is too bad that the non hatters don't understand what is professionalism. Take a sampling of pilots and ask them what is professionalism and they will have a very hard time quantifying it. Sure they can emulate it, but they cant define it.

Professionals are self regulating. They don't let outside influences dictate how they behave. The argument for no hat is social and self awareness. It is based on a personal feeling of acceptance by groupthink and personal comfort.

 

[osoaus]

Nobody wants to be hurtled through the air at 80% of the speed of sound in an aluminum tube under the command of......The Fonz.

Yeah, but the cool thing is when you snap your fingers, the chicks come running.

 

[UALRATT]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/airlinepilotsassociation/sets/72157623526237713/show/

Looking at the distant shot can you ID a pilot?

BTW, I think it's the nicest looking uniform, with cap off course, around...

 

[eaglesview]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/airlinepilotsassociation/sets/72157623526237713/show/

Looking at the distant shot can you ID a pilot?

BTW, I think it's the nicest looking uniform, with cap off course, around...

Did you mean "off course" or "of course?" I think the pilots looked much better wearing their hats than they would of without.

 

[UALRATT]

Did you mean "off course" or "of course?" I think the pilots looked much better wearing their hats than they would of without.

I am all with you on that...