Originally Posted by Perm11FO

The parka is a perfect coat. With the liner, you can pretty much withstand exceptionally cold weather (ANC and Incheon in winter). Without the liner, it is highly functional as a coat and does a fair job of repelling moisture.


Now, talk is going around that the long overcoat magically transforms us into a more "professional" looking crew force. That style coat has no epaulettes, no stripes, nothing to identify you as a "professional" airline pilot any more than the parka. Yet, some contend that the parka is not "professional." Furthermore, what is the functional status of a long woolen coat in precipitation?

I'm just not sure how one non-functional and utility inhibited woolen coat can be even seriously considered. I am just hoping that, if the long woolen coat is forced through the pipeline, that the parka is not removed from the list of acceptable options.

I'm not sure how this initiative fits in with the stated goal of better correspondence, openness and transfer of ideas between mgt and the line guys. Many line pilots want the parka, yet the mgt march seems to be toward outlawing it.