Change in Livery
 

Looks like they are considering changing the livery again….

Survey is up on Wings/Jetnet.
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAirlines

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...40752641_n.png

So your choices are:

That horrible flag thing, or...
Two different logos, and a somewhat difficult to read "American" on an otherwise completely gray fuselage.

What??

So provide two horrible choices with the current flag scheme only being slightly better and then declare victory that they've given the people what they want.

The AA on the tail, although once great on the original paint job, just does not work with the rest of the new fuselage paint and font.

Btw, it will probably change again in 5-10 years.

I like the proposed one better. The flag logo doesn't work for me.

What about this?

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...91776418_n.jpg

For the record my vote is to keep the flag, the proposed one looks boring.

Between the two, I'd vote for the classic 'AA', but only because it is instantly recognizable. The new mish mash looking flag still doesn't look good to me. With that said, the 'AA' doesn't mesh that well with the new 'eagle' logo.

That's an interesting idea for the tail but made me immediately think of Air France's paint scheme.

I'm not savvy enough to put together what it would look like. But I think it might look ok to use the current US Airways tail on the bird. It would be a lot like the way United merged their livery, but with more compatible logos. It's still a flag, but with the heritage that Parker likes to preserve.

Its not a flag. Its the depth gauge for the New York City river system.

I agree, the new scheme with the classic AA tail looks odd. But the new scheme is just plain bad.... Lose, lose Me thinks....

The old polished airframe with the AA on the tail will always be my favorite but since the planes have to be painted the one with the flag is much better then the other one. The other one is two different logos on one plane....makes no sense. And now that I've seen the new a lot it's grown on me. Definitely stands out and is unique. Could be worse...we could have the UA/CAL one:)

The new tail is hideous. Classic all the way.

That one looks very sharpe.

I voted for the new tail, time to move forward.

My marketing background suggests the proposed tail is a horrendous identity crisis. New logo on the fuselage and old logo on the tail. Bad for consumer brand recognition.

I don't have a dog in the fight, but my vote would be on the current flag option.

As thrilled as everyone is to have the ability to debate the great debate of what livery the airplanes should wear. This is a glimpse into the insight of the incoming management.

How much did Horton pay for the new marketing scheme/branding/livery? How much is US going to pay to come up with something new. From the looks of it. It was pretty much the cost of a sandwich for someone to photoshop the old AA onto the tail, and a bad job at that.

So instead of saying, we are going to make a mark and do this right, they come out with some cheesy deal, and everyone feels warm and giddy because they get to click to vote.

Wasn't the current US scheme hatched basically for free by someone at HQ with some extra time on their hands?

Shades of things to come...

That's ridiculous. I feel warm and giddy alright but has nothing to do with the paint job.

new livery stinks. grows on you like mold. logo stinks. all those millions on a advertising agency just to get euro trash in gray. put up pictures of all oneworld members and look at the livery. AA's ad agency should be sued for using someone else s intellectual property. if you can call it that.

Go with the US livery.

If WE had a choice, a NEW livery from scratch. But given the current choice, I vote for the Classic tail. Cheaper to maintain and obvious brand recognition. Besides in a few years from now, when AA is making money, a whole different livery will most likely emerge.
In the mean time, get rid of that hideous CUBANA look alike tail!!

I vote for this paint job! Ha! Ha! ;)

Photos: Boeing 767-231(ER) Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

I agree, I voted for the classic tail but not because I think it looks good. The new livery is ridiculous and the other option is bland and thoroughly uninspired like United. Lesser of two evils.

All joking aside, I really hope we expand the heritage airbus series with the addition of a TWA tail. I think that last livery they had was one of the finest to ever fly.

I agree 100%. I think United made a huge mistake combining the Continental tail with the United name. Every time you look at it you do a double take.

Same thing with combining the old and new AA designs. It has to be one or the other. Like it not, the flag tail already represents the "New AA" to a lot of people.

In the attached letter from Doug Parker on the website he says that they will continue the heritage series with TWA and USAirways aircraft.

He also explains why they aren't willing to spend more money on a complete redesign. You can tell he hates it, but that in the end he's not going to spend a bunch of money post bankruptcy to redo something that's already been done and partially implemented so employees can feel all warm and fuzzy about their airline. It's a cop out, but it's also a financially responsible decision. Welcome to the new American.

Hopefully they get the uniforms right.

I have to admit- I didn't particularly like the new paint scheme either. It first reminded me of a Cubana/Colgan identity crisis. However, after some time, it's slowly growing on me. Also, given the choices, I think a combo of the legacy scheme and the new scheme reeks. I like the old logo, but only on the old paint scheme. Given the two choices, and that a complete "redo" is out of the question, I'll be voting on the new scheme.

Hey, if Doug doesn't like it and we vote it in the scheme he dislikes in it's entirety, then perhaps this increases the odds of a "do-over" with time.

Regardless of paint scheme, I'm just looking forward to moving along and working together at the "New American". Cheers!

I know it's only rumors at this point, but it doesn't sound like they have.

As others have said, the alternate livery is boring and shows brand confusion. The flag tail is loud and sort of obnoxious, but it gets attention and it could be argued that the flag tail represents the US Airways addition. Barring other more original ideas, I'd go with the flag tail version.

I don't like the two logos on the alternate option. If it were up to me my first choice would be scrap it all. Second would be scrap the new logo and keep the tail with the old eagle in the front. Of the ones given I think I'll vote for the new look all together because the other choice looks hobbled together, almost like the PI/US transition paint schemes.

The only reason I'd vote for changing the tail would be if having the eagle on the tail was vastly less expensive. That new tail looks hard to apply and maintain.

But, whatever. I don't think passengers really care unless the paint is peeling or the airplane is dirty. Then they think that if they don't take care of the outside then maybe they don't take care of the rest of it.

I just went to wings and it's careful to say this isn't really a vote, they are just getting our input. I'm thinking we are too far in this to change. Parker doesn't like to waste money. We'll see.

80ktsclamp,

Please edit the original post to add a voting poll between the two paint schemes!

Thanks!
FBW

New uniform will be black or blue, no double breasted, and includes hats. Put the dark grey thing to bed, it's not happening.

So long as it isn't double breasted.

No hats...

I second that. I remember walking through DTW with a friend and noting all the delta guys with no hats on. He pointed out those we're former Northwest guys that don't wear them. It will be the same thing here.

are you at airways now?

You mean "were you at Airways" There is no more airways. Pardon me, it just makes me happy to say that.

I don't think I can edit it to add a poll. You guys will have to start your own thread with a poll if you want one.

Wrong.

Until theres a single operating certificate, US Airways very much still exists, as a division of the American Airlines Group.

The new paint isn't that bad, and a LOT of passengers I've talked to really like it.

We as pilots are very traditional. We like the tried and true. But the old aluminum AA "paint" scheme is dated, badly. AND unless the aluminum is kept spotless and $hined, it looks like crap.

I was also told that there are so many layers of paint on the old jets that they actually weigh less after being stripped and painted with the new. So much for the "Save weight, save $$" logic.

Hats - no one at AA will wear them. Period. We finally got rid of them. If they force the issue and make them mandatory, there will be no compliance except check airmen.

"Oh, I should have a hat? Are you going to take me off this trip because I have no hat? Good luck getting another pilot with manning the way it is."

Hear, Hear.... Same goes for Airways. Only guys that wear them are the guys that no-one wants to fly with or the really really old guys who's hair looks like someone slabbed on some cool whip on their heads.

I always said I doubt they will enforce any hat rule. Are they really gonna fire someone for not wearing a hat?

Maybe a DL guy could chime in... I heard a story (sounds out there) that for hat compliance at DL they had "hat cops" that would ask where your hat was. If you couldn't pony up.. They would scan your badge and have a new one delivered to your home. Payroll deducted of course.

Not to me it doesn't. Not to the stock market either. You're getting caught up in the details.