Originally Posted by
Cycle Pilot
No... Embarrassing is being in ATL yesterday and seeing a Pinnacle pilot with big old "Dog the Bounty Hunter style" sunglasses sitting on the back of his head, a huge silver belt buckle, Doc Martin style shoes, and listening an MP3 player while walking through the terminal. Embarrassing is seeing pilots walk through a terminal with their shirts dirty and half untucked. Embarrassing are the past couple of accidents, and how pilots had total disregard for flying their aircraft safely. Have some pride in yourself and your career (regardless of how much you make) and the public perception will shift.
I agree to a point, though its near impossible not to have a wrinkled shirt after flying 8 legs in 15 hours with no APU. Its difficult not to have a stain of oil/grim on the back of your shirt after preflighting 8 times. Its very hard not to have stains on your shirt from the fast food you had to eat on the flight deck during your cruise which was only 15 mins.
Our world has two classes. Guys who work like dogs and guys that dont. I give the guys that hump it 5 plus legs a day a little latitude.