Originally Posted by Rightseat Ballast

Every example of unprofessional appearance I have seen from a regional pilot, I have also seen from a major pilot. Backpacks, unpressed shirts, sunglasses being worn inside, frayed pants, wrong colored pants, brown belts and shoes that should be black, iPods, all of it. Pilots are passive-agressive people, and we rarely interact with our bosses. We show our independence by not complying with uniform standard in our own way. Likewise, we change call outs to something of the same meaning but more entertaining, we deviate from profiles without just cause, and we disregard "stupid" memos and bulletins. Its all passive-aggressive behavior, and it is encouraged by our peers. To make it worse, we rarely are seen or observed by our bosses, (CP, DO, Check Airmen, etc), and therefore we rarely face correction or discipline. We know how to do our jobs right, which is why we straighten up and fly our recurrent sims and line checks perfectly in accordance with our books, and then go on our next trip and goof around in some way. We all know better, and yet we all choose to act out. We are the reason we are unprofessional. It has nothing to do with pay (once you are off first year pay, at least. new guys can hardly afford new luggage or new uniforms or an iron). We all put on our best professional acts when we were flight instructors, or interacting with charter clients.

Perhaps the lack of a military background in most pilots hired since the mid 1980's is the cause. When a disciplined past was common among 75% of airline pilots, non-military pilots just fell in line with the majority.

Or, perhaps our companies just don't care. It is too expensive to care. Look around you at work. Remember when ramp workers actually wore a standard uniform, and tucked in their shirts? Remember when gate agents would actually make an effort to come to work looking like they came from home and not some all night bar?

Or, it could just be our culture, and not just pilots. Casual fridays, business casual attire, jeans at work, jeans at church... America is caught up in trying to be casual. There is no pride in formality. There is no pride in self image. Its all about being "hot", being the rebel, or being the slacker. We all try to get away with something for the sport of it, like 6 year olds who don't want to wear a nice shirt and tie to Christmas dinner. Proper appearance used to command respect. Now, a professional image makes others look at you as some crabby old kook. Defiance is cool. It gets you more respect from junior co-workers. It asserts your authority. When did this happen?

Southwest pilots were the cool kids who didn't wear hats and had leather jackets. They were a cross between war pilots of old, the american cowboy, and the high school bad kid. I remember pilots making fun of them. Now, many pilots want to be them. Major airline pilot groups have removed the hat from the uniform, and added the leather jacket. You are more likely to see sky caps wearing a hat than certain pilot groups. We present an image to the public, and we live that image. Our attitudes are undermining us, and unfortunately there is no one to make us do otherwise except ourselves.