The Airline Pilot Hat: What will become of it?

[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.

 

[ackattacker]

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.

x2

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

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

 

[UALRATT]

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

... But it is just a superficial (and arhaic) symbol from a bygone era.

:bawling: also from a bygone era are good salaries, QOL, respect, professional pride???? Loose the gold wings, the epilettes, the strips, and grab a pink rollerboard while you're at it cause the black "Prudy Neat.." is too pilotee.

Whine as much as you care too, the hat is here to stay. Try the ones at Premeir. I'm sure you can have one custom fitted...

 

[Abernathy]

Whine as much as you care too, the hat is here to stay. ..

The whole reason this thread was started is because the hats are going away...via policy.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

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.

Valid point Tom. My point is as individual professionals, why do we need company policy or other external factors to make the decision for us.

Professionalism and the image of it, is simply a choice.

The question is, why are so pilots choosing to reject that choice.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

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.

So why do pilots wear hats to picket? What is the difference between everyday?

 

[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...