New Pilot Uniform

[Stick-Shaker]

Certain AC pilots are sporting a new pilot (trial) uniform. New tie, and new single breasted jacket, and no hat! I heard that Capt. DL was seen today wearing it?

[Embraer190]

The hat is the best part though!

[TopperHarley]

The hat is the best part though!

It makes a good passport and custom card holder... that's about all its good for!

[North Shore]

Keeps your head from expanding once you've made it to the big time?

[Four1oh]

And here I thought only the riff-raff didn't wear hats!

[Tiny Voices]

Keeps your head from expanding once you've made it to the big time?

Nope! Just get a bigger hat.

[hithere]

Any pictures or reason why on earth they would consider changing the uniform?

[Dick]

Lighter uniforms, better fuel effiency...

[thrust set]

"And here I thought only the riff-raff didn't wear hats! "

No, the riff-raff also don't wear tunics......

[rudder]

Wander through US airports and look at pilots in various states of undress. Some have hats, some do not. Some wear tunics, some do not. Some even wander about with IPODs fully installed

Here at home we see some pilots with their tunics slung under their arm or stuffed on their rollerbag. Hats are carried or similarly crammed on rollerbag. Back packs are now apparently in vogue. Even saw one the other day with one of those furry little tufts under the lower lip - what is that all about?

Image is part of the profession. If we concur in diminishing the image then we are complicit in diminishing the perceived value of the profession. Harry Steele called us glorified bus drivers; lets not play into that ignorant stereotype.

[Jaques Strappe]

Rudder

I absolutely agree. It is hard to be taken seriously when you are wearing a bomber jacket and a baseball cap. Sometimes, south of the border, I can't tell the Captain from the Cabin Crew. The current "generation" just doesn't seem to get it.

[teacher]

Agreed,

Not that I'm comparing myself to them however:

- You don't see a doctor walk wearing cowboy boots and jeans
- A lawyer in a hoody and track pants
- Or a police officer in beach wear (bike cops not included )

As much as many guys hate the hat and other parts of the uniform, if you want to be treated like and paid like a profesional you have to act like one and look like one. Sad but true. I havn't seen the new uniforms however I just hope they don't go to casual.

[neophyte]

Hey Teacher,

Have you ever seen an airline pilot wearing any of the following?

- cowboy boots and jeans
- a hoody and track pants
- beach wear

Losing a hat or sporting a leather jacket doesn't make you riff raff. Acting like riff raff makes someone riff raff.

Neo

[Captain Jack]

Well said Neo, well said

The current "generation" just doesn't seem to get it.

You're right we don't get it. We don't get how weak pilots sporting blazers and caps all of a sudden become strong pilots.
I think it's great what AC is trying. Trying to casual it down without losing the professional look.
Flying airplanes is a step up from driving a bus, but a step down from commanding a submarine, maybe the uni's could meet somewhere in the middle?

[E-Flyer]

Lighter uniforms, better fuel effiency...

Priceless answer

I think having lighter pilot's would help as well ! Watch them emphasize a weight restriction on the ACA medical, if there currently isn't one.

I guess that would be illegal though, unless it's approved as an exception.

[My Name is Earl]

If hats are no longer standard issue at AC/Jazz then enrollment at the flight schools may dwindle.

[E-Flyer]

If hats are no longer standard issue at AC/Jazz then enrollment at the flight schools may dwindle.

Hey there's an idea, let's run a professional pilot program where they have hats as well, not only 1 shoulder epaulets, but pilot hats with golden maple leaf trims as well...

[teacher]

I couldn't agree with you more Neophyte, however obviously exagerating, I was trying to make a point. I just feel that over the years pilots in North America have for some reason tried to dumb down our profession. Not that a hat will make one more respected (or smarter) it's our recent culture of taking the respect and mystic out of being a pilot that is hurting us. I just don't want to see the trend continue, I for one prefer the more formal look, as hard as it is to keep my hair look'n good under that thing

[Four1oh]

our recent culture of taking the respect and mystic out of being a pilot that is hurting us.

Maybe part of the problem is that since the public has seen us as mystical for so long, that a few of our own has convinced themselves that they are indeed mystical? Maybe giving the public a reality check would give a few of these egomaniacs a reality check as well? I could think of a few doctors who need de-mystifying as well. Nothing wrong with looking and being professional, but let's not kid ourselves here, we're just regular people doing hero's jobs...

[rudder]

Well said Neo, well said

The current "generation" just doesn't seem to get it.

You're right we don't get it. We don't get how weak pilots sporting blazers and caps all of a sudden become strong pilots.
I think it's great what AC is trying. Trying to casual it down without losing the professional look.
Flying airplanes is a step up from driving a bus, but a step down from commanding a submarine, maybe the uni's could meet somewhere in the middle?

What makes us strong pilots are the licences that we carry in our pockets and the years of experience that we have in our log books. The purpose of professional appearance is to remind the travelling public and our employers of these not insignificant achievements.

[Jaques Strappe]

Well said Neo, well said

The current "generation" just doesn't seem to get it.

You're right we don't get it. We don't get how weak pilots sporting blazers and caps all of a sudden become strong pilots.
I think it's great what AC is trying. Trying to casual it down without losing the professional look.
Flying airplanes is a step up from driving a bus, but a step down from commanding a submarine, maybe the uni's could meet somewhere in the middle?

Well Captain jack, It used to be a privilege to fly and customers would dress and act, accordingly. Flight Crews wore properly pressed uniforms and treated each other with respect. You and I both know that a nice uniform does not make a good pilot but in the eyes of the public, a well dressed flight crew instills confidence and respect, while the guy who looks like he slept in his shirt, does not.

Somewhere along the way, we decided it was ok as a passenger to show up in a tank top and track pants showing about as much tact and class as a member of the Jerry Springer cast. In response to that, North American airlines, or fly by night discounters, have seen fit to follow that same path by dressing down their employees. Just ask a cop ( one profession where they have not "dressed down" their people ) what his most powerful weapon is. It is the uniform along with how he carries himself and the image he represents. I see pilots each and every day in the terminals and the European Flag crews are all well dressed and certainly stand out against the bomber jacket and backpack crowd in the customs lineup. Besides all that, what is wrong with our current uniform? Why spend or rather, waste a bucket full of money, we don't have on some pathetic "dress down" ?

BTW, publicly stating that you think that commanding a multi million dollar aircraft is one step above driving a bus, will simply ensure that you get that bus driver salary you deserve. Case and point about the "current generation."

[Soixante-Neuf]

.

[Stick-Shaker]

Its true...I saw it in the flight planning room yesterday. Same color tunic/pants, light blue tie, and 3 button/single breast jacket, and the hat is not part of the new uniform (so far). It looked much better than the dated double breast jacket.

Very similar to what it is now, except for some updates that maintains the professional style of the uniform. But, I say keep the hat (or make it an option for those that want to wear it).

[teacher]

Light blue as in the new paint scheme?

[Dick]

brokeback blue