Uniforms

[suupah]

You got to be F**KING retarted to think you are going to get a better contract because you dryclean your shirts...

ding ding ding. common sense shall prevail.

These uniforms piss me off anyway because they lend to the impression that we are highly compensated. People see that uniform and they think Six figures. Attracting too many people to this phony industry

 

[UnstableAviator]

I take a little pride and try to look good at the start of the day, but after 1300 hours of duty and 4 aircraft swaps during the heat, the uniform definately doesn't look the same.

Overall I think the standard pilot uniform is not ideally suited work wear for what we do. Its uncomfortable, hard to keep clean and pressed, and just generally not practical for the long days we all have to put up with. Maybe someday John Q. Public won't expect to be flown by pilots in white shirts and ties.

 

[CaptETWes]

We all love to fly and we all take pride in oursleves as professionals, but I think anyone, regardless of what they do for a living, who has to work for slave wages tends to get a little discouraged. I'm not saying to go out of your way deliberatly to send a message to management by trying to bend or skirt uniform policy, but give me a break if I don't wear my company assigned hat, winter coat, harwear, windbreaker, or whatever other ridiculous accessory managment deems appropriate.

So Excuse me if I don't wake up an extra hour early in the morning to press my pants, iron my shirt, and shine my epaulets and shoes. Their are two levels of uniform professionalism, the minimum (standards) and the perfect "I'm so happy to be a pilot" style. I for one am at the minium standard, the way one dresses is a reflection of moral.

Since it's blatent that regional airlines don't care about moral why should I go above and beyond spending more time and money to make the company look better?

Do you really think the flying public takes the way you dress as a direct reflection of your morale? That is one of the most idiotic things I've heard recently. Other pilots are just about the only people that would have clue as to your "fashion statement." So the struggles of an airline pilot can be seen in how he dresses? Absolutely not. It does not take an hour to do all the things you say; 10-15 min. tops with the most of that time waiting for the iron to warm up.

In the end, people are watching you and looking you over. I dress appropriately because when I was hired I agreed to do everything that is outlined in my company's FOM. That includes looking my best everytime I'm on the job. I personally would not want to give an airline my money if the staff did not take basic pride in their appearance.

I am not the uniform police nor have I ever called a fellow pilot out because my interpretation of how a pilot should dress may be different than his. That's just my take. I would feel the same way if I worked at McDonald's.

PS - how do you shine epaulets?

 

[bailout]

Uh, you need to read your Homer quote again,...

 

[Joe Schmo]

Do you really think the flying public takes the way you dress as a direct reflection of your morale? That is one of the most idiotic things I've heard recently.

Now is that REALLY that idiotic?

 

[belchfire]

I agree with you that we are highly trained professionals and should look the part.

I also believe that we should be paid the part, so I'm going to play devil's advocate for a bit...

If they wanted you to look like a legacy carrier pilot your uniform cost should be in direct porportion to legacy pay...why should a regional pilot go through the terminal with all the pax thinking "there goes another $100K/yr jerk" when you're getting 20 or 30???

WE are helping them perpetuate the lie that we are well compensated pros...

There is a story once from a while ago that Eagle pilots qualified for food stamps and some of them were getting them. It is said that AE forbade their pilots from getting food stamps because they didn't want the public to know how poorly the guys were paid.

I don't know if it's true or not.

But there is a lesson in the story...though perhaps it wouldn't be good for the image for pilots at regionals to look like homeless people it would get the message out of what is happening in this industry. For things to change a message must be sent out loud and clear to everyone...

 

[wickedpilot]

Can't pay for dry cleaning if you're struggling just to pay the rent or put food on the table. Certainly can't buy new uniform items if living within poverty guidelines. Not an excuse. Fiscal reality.

Amen brotha...Amen

 

[aero]

bla bla. i now hate myself for reading this. obviously you are all huge geeks. do you really concern yourself with this. sucks to be all of you! p.s. i dont think there's another industry or profession that throughs the word "professional" around more than this one does. do you feel that inadequate?

 

[MINIME]

I agree in principal with the original post. The other day I saw a guy with a backpack, a small goatee and tie undone walking through a very busy terminal. I was amazed to say the least.

Wether we're fairly compensated or not, the flying public still holds us to a higher standard. Most of them haven't the slightest clue. It's painfully obvious to me on my commutes to and from work. Besides, I still want and NEED for all the Gals to think that I make megabucks!

 

[IamHYPOXIC2]

"Well folks, we would have been on time but I'm going into my 13th hour of duty and I needed to shave again during our 30 minute turn time. Sorry for the delay, but I must remain professional at all times. Have a great flight."

 

[Long Time Gone]

Actually saw a PSA male FA with pants down to his ass, the bottoms of which were hemmed perfectly so he could wear them as such, spiked hair, and a plastic spike through his eyebrow so his piercing wouldn't close. This was at the hotel in PWM. He was getting out of the van at the hotel at the time. I turned to him and told him that if he was on my crew, his pants would have been pulled to his ankles a long time ago, as well as him going home for the day until he wore more appropriate clothing. His captain looked at me and just rolled his eyes.

 

[EDUC8-or]

Sorry guys, I just have to vent here.

To all regional pilots: TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR APPEARANCE!!!!!

This isn't about hat or no hat, backpacks, iPods, or frosted hair.

This is about wearing your tie when walking around the terminal. This is about not walking around faded dockers. For god sakes do not wear a worn out red baseball cap around the terminal while weraing the rest of the full uniform (saw that last week - looked very professional from the neck down - looked like a hung-over frat guy from the neck up). Female pilots - please don't wear hot pants and walk around the terminal yelling into your cell phone about what a b---- someone else is.

Thank you for your time. Now back to our regularly scheduled flaming.

It ain't just us regional pukes!

I'll add on to your vent, how 'bout using an iron sometimes as well?

 

[kingairpilot]

I dress very professinally. but when my stuff starts to wear out, i can almost guarantee you i am going to get the dockers or just wear ratty stuff. Mostly on principle. My company expects me to wear a specific brand and style that is very expensive. they pay me a crappy salary and on top of that expect me to pay for my own uniform. The first time around i had to shell out 10% of my take home pay for 6 MONTHS!!!:angryfire

Rant over

You wanted to be an airline pilot junior. You took the job. If you did not know what the pay scale was before you took the job, whose fault is that? If YOU don't want to live up to YOUR end of the bargain, look for another job. Otherwise, be a professional and suck it up.

Just my .02

ka

 

[SkiDawg]

to Joe Schmo:

Arguably the BEST Avatar EVER!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Joe Schmo]

Do you really think the flying public takes the way you dress as a direct reflection of your morale? That is one of the most idiotic things I've heard recently.

Hey I just something that is more idiotic than that, a First Officer who calls himself Captain.