White gloved pilots

[cargoflyr69]

OK, so the history of the airline pilot's uniform is pretty neat... Can anyone tell me why peanuts became the airline snack of choice (up to a few years ago)? Why peanuts?

 

[airbuslovely]

I wonder if in cruise, they still have to keep the gloves on. On a 14 hour flight, my hands would get a little sweaty I would think.

 

[cloudpuncher]

I'll have to admit that after wearing gloves for most all of my flying career, I felt a little "naked" flying without them when I made the transition to the civilian world. The white calfskin flight gloves we'd trade with the RAF guys were always great to wear. It was never an issue getting "sweaty" on long flights...even with ocean crossings in a fighter....14 A/R's across the pond. I guess I'd have to question the airline pilot that wears gloves though...a bit strange since it's not part of the tradition.

By the way, the Japanese taxi drivers wear different gloves than the pilots, which also wear different gloves than train drivers. Each type of glove represents a slightly different social status in the hierarchy there. Some are made of felt, others leather, other types of fabric...just depends on your profession.

cloudpuncher.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Saw a Corporate pilot strutting around in New Orleans not too long ago wearing black driving gloves, the type with holes in the knuckles and no fingers. Short sleeve pilot shirt, epaulets, and black leather gloves..........looked like he should have been out busting heads for some mafia family.

I guess he figured he looked cool...........Tool came to mind instead.

 

[cloudpuncher]

Concur.

 

[B190Captain]

"Actually the introduction of Airline uniforms was not of a military dress, but rather that of a Ship's Captain's uniform. The earliest known pilot "uniforms" were first worn by pilots flying at Instone Airlines in 1919."

You are correct about this interesting story in aviation history. But take it one step further, do you know what the maritime shipping uniform was based on? Yep, you guessed it, a military uniform, so that a civilian's ship captain would receive as much respect and authority as a military's ship captain.

"So rather than some far pining to feel were are allied in a wool and polyester kin to Chuck Yeager and the type, we are probably 3 degrees of separation from the Skipper on Gilligan's Island."

Don't know about that, the respect I expect and receive as an airline pilot has nothing to do with the actions of those before me, but by my actions alone. Part of the reason we as airline pilots enjoy some privledges in life (such as the "opportunity" of a good income, respect of our peers, envy of the landlubbers, "coolness" with our grandkids) has to do with our image in society, which, whether you like it or not, is tied to our professional uniform. You are correct, we don't need a hat or fancy starched shirt to land a jet in a blizzard with min fuel, but as long as some of our passengers want a "sharp dressed man" in the cockpit instead of someone in jeans and a baseball cap with the attention span and history consciousness of an MTV addict, I'll proudly look my best for them.

Geez, with my thinning hair, I need that hat anyway ;-)
t

AMEN to that!!!

As for the thinning hair, just buzz it all off.

 

[Mungusaurus]

Gloves

I'm gonna get flamed like mad for this, but!
I started flying in the ATC in the UK (kinda like ROTC) and we were issued the white RAF calfskin gloves, this was thirteen years ago, now I feel weird if I am not wearing a glove on my flying hand. All the people I fly with probably think I am nuts but it gives you a more positive feel in my opinion. Plus if you are flying in hot weather you do not have to keep holding your hand up to the air vent to dry the sweat off.
And as another point if the dirty bstrd who was flying before you didnt wash after going #2 the fecal coliform bacteria is a nasty one! thanx, Mung.

 

[barondriver]

I instructed at a school a few years back for ab-initio ANA pilots (Al Nippon) They wore the gloves from day one in the Bonanza until graduation, and then into whatever equipment they were awarded. Strictly tradition and professionalism. That's how they gauged it anyway.

 

[climbhappy]

Does one also have to remove their shoes before entering the
cockpit?

 

[F70pilot]

I wear white gloves when I fly at the insistance of my CP. They have a big L on one of them and a big R on the other one as sort of an aide memoir to keep me from doing foolish things.