White gloved pilots

[Noam]

Why do JAL pilots where white gloves? Any other groups do this?

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Air Neverland... but they only wear one glove. (base, snare, rimshot, cymbal!!!)

 

[Huck]

20 years ago the joke was:

What did Brooke Shields' gynecologist find?

Michael Jackson's other glove....

 

[canyonblue]

He was cheatin' on Webster?

 

[On Your Six]

The Japanese are the last of the "Gentlemen" pilots out there... I hear the JAL guys also wear top hats and monicles. Either that or they are SUPER SWEATY....

 

[canyonblue]

General Bulkharter what a pleasent surprise...

Surprise yes, pleasent no.

Background Music

 

[bigsky]

That just seems to be a traditional uniform. I have noticed other workers and I believe even some police also wearing the gloves.

 

[80/20]

I was told it was easier for the marshaller to see cockpit hand signals....(?)

 

[Freddie Spencer]

...add japanese cab drivers to the "white glove list".

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

I once enlisted the services of a whore in 'Cuna who was wearing white gloves.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

The way some pilots wipe down the cockpit and nervously sanitize their hands, I think many wish they could wear gloves here.

 

[Trojan]

It is a custom passed down from the Japanese military. Since all the world's airlines have their history steeped in military tradition, it's a suprise it is not seen more. The Japanese culture still respects the uniform, as does many Latin cultures. Mexicana pilots often out-Delta the DAL boys for looking like Generals. At least a couple of years ago, JAL crews still had their bags delivered to their rooms like diplomats would, instead of having to schlep them through the lobbies and airport terminals. I guess here in America, since we want our uniforms to be without gloves, hats, ties, and jackets, we will soon be treated and paid like the bus drivers we look like.

Guess I'm still old school, shoes get shined, hair gets cut, hat goes on, jacket buttoned, and I still expect the respect that goes along with it.

T

 

[Ty Webb]

Originally posted by Trojan :

I guess here in America, since we want our uniforms to be without gloves, hats, ties, and jackets, we will soon be treated and paid like the bus drivers we look like.

Sorry, but the hat has to go. I don't equate respect with hats. The skycaps wear hats . . . . the maytag repairman wears a hat, and if I remember correctly, so did Ralph Kramden, who was . . . . a bus driver.

Norton wore a hat, too, but I don't think it was required.

 

[klhoard]

White Gloves

The gloves are OK, as long as they don't start tying white scarves with the "Rising Sun" around their head prior to taxi. . . .

 

[Diesel-9sRule]

Guess I'm still old school, shoes get shined, hair gets cut, hat goes on, jacket buttoned, and I still expect the respect that goes along with it.

T [/B]

Amen to that! Thanks for posting how I feel as well

 

[canyonblue]

Since all the world's airlines have their history steeped in military tradition, it's a suprise it is not seen more.

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. IAL was launched by S. Instone & Company a maritime shipping line. It's pilots were required to wear the blue uniform of a ship's 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.

 

[Trojan]

"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

 

[KLJ]

Trojan,

I don't usually throw in my two-cents worth; however, I must disagree with your opinion. You wrote:

"... 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."

Whatever respect you receive by wearing a uniform (whether as an airline pilot, a military member, etc.), has EVERYTHING to do with those who have worn it before you. The respect you gain from your uniform is a gift from those who have previously worn it with distinction and earned respect for the particular group signified by the uniform. It may be too harsh to say it has nothing to do with you; but I believe it has little to do with "your actions alone."

KJ

 

[Midnight Mike]

Yep, the Japanese pilot wear the white gloves, when I was at NCA, they wore gloves, there was one pilot who a rebel and wore black gloves, not sure if they wear white gloves anymore.

Kind of funny, but in Japan the taxi drivers wear white gloves, I guess the pilots read about Crandall and realized there was no difference between a pilot and a taxi driver.

 

[Trojan]

KLJ,

I have reread my post and understand your comment. My intent was not to discredit nor diservice those before me in the uniform. Just the opposite, I am quite proud of the uniform, hat included. I was responding to the "Skipper from Gilligan's Island" remark from a previous post which really suprised me. I should have said, even though there are some who do not wear the uniform proudly or correctly, I will let my actions speak for themself by looking and acting professionally at all times while in uniform.

T