Leather jacket?
 

I searched and didn't see an answer...

I'm a new FO showing up just in time for the Chicago winters. Do most people wear the god-awful trenchcoat or buy a Leather jacket?

I'm leaning towards the leather... can anyone confirm for me the Envoy Leather is the same jacket that AA uses? I'd hate to order a jacket to find out I'd be replacing it when I'm just getting it good and broken in (around flow time?)

Specifically, my previous (military) uniform jacket was made by Pop's Leather and was AMAZING quality and much better quality. However, on their site they claim the American Airline and American Eagle jackets have slight differences... Anyone know what those are?

Seems like the trenchcoat would just be a pain/bundle in the cockpit, and replaces the blazer in the winter, too.

Thank you!

AA pilots aren't approved to wear the leather jacket anymore. AA wanted us not to be able to wear the leather jacket either, but we have it written in our contract that we can wear it (for now). It's a mix between guys wearing the trench coat or the leather. I wouldn't say it's a pain to wear the trench coat- the airplanes have closets it hangs in.

Wow, I didn't know AA had banned the leather... Well, that makes my decision more difficult then. I'd hoped to be able to wear a new leather jacket for the rest of my aviation career... so basically if I buy one now it will only be useful at Envoy.

OK. Thanks, that is great to know!

Is the trench like a typical 3/4 length topcoat, or is more like a Burberry Style flasher coat? Additionally, how strict is Envoy in regards to winter coats...IE can one purchase a more fitted topcoat style that is a similar color and wear that with minimal grief?

The leather jacket with pilot bars on the shoulders is also useful for loitering around college campuses. Ask me how I know.

Ever watch a WWII movie? See the SS Officers? That's our trench coat. I kid you not. Invading Poland is optional.

Just use your current Pop's jacket. The Eagle/envoy jacket is just a black A2 jacket with their name patch and epaulettes.

Extra points given if you wear the trench coat with shorts on college campus

Make sure you have your hat on and eppulettes while doing so.

Not even a challenge. Try the coat with skivvies. PROB40 you might get jock itch after 30 minutes. Ask me how I know. Maybe the skivvies gave me jock itch.

Wait, this generation calls it skivvies right?

Stop..just stop. A true professional goes skinny dipping with the eppaulettes duct taped to his shoulders. And wearing aviators.

Hero status if you swan dive into the pool.

Yeah... I doubt that'll work. ;):p

The Navy jacket is Brown, has no epaulets and is a different cut. Mine has a detachable fur collar, so I could remove it to look more like the AA jacket...

However... Mine has my callsign/patches handpainted on it, and the liner was replaced with tropical hawaian luau shirts. hahaha I'd love to wear it, but it is GAURANTEED not according to uniform regs.

https://www.airwarriors.com/communit...74fed64c50cde0

Do yourself a favor and get the "optional" all-weather coat, or what I would've called a short overcoat in the service. It's a reasonable weight that packs down, falls to around the knee, has a zip out Thinsulate liner, and repels water. It'll keep you warm for most of the winter, and without the liner makes a fine raincoat the rest of the year.

That issue trench coat must've been designed by someone who never wears a trench. That said, it'll keep you warm for the couple of days when it gets really cold at ORD. Pairs nicely with DSCP's finest issue leather dress gloves if you still have those.

On a side note, the ORD ramp gets slushy and wet with deice during the winter. I found that ankle boots, like chukka type, paid dividends in keeping water off of socks. Low quarters don't cut it then.

My wife was instructing an FFDO class in Artesia a few years back. Everyone gets to wear the standard FLETC 'surf suit' consisting of blue gym shorts and blue gym t-shirt. She had a student pin epaulets to the shirt. Hand to God...he pinned his 4 stripes to his FLETC t-shirt at the range.

I've heard that AA may be considering a leather jacket option to be added 2019. I for one would welcome it. I prefer the blazer but a leather jacket option would be nice for those winter trips when you don't want to have to pack an extra heavy coat.

Just don’t wear your tie and wear your leather jacket. No one will know your a pilot.

What ab wearing the cardigan? If you're wearing it, do we still have to wear the blazer? Can't find anything in the fm1 that is explicit, nor does it even mention the cardigan.

There isn't any specific guidance, but as far as I know, at mainline one can wear it as a replacement for the blazer. As such, folks did that last season. Throw wings and boards on it, and you're good to go.

The sweater and the all weather coat (shorter overcoat) are good options. I contacted Twinhill regarding these optional uniform items and they stated that they cannot order them since it is not listed as one of the items on my Twinhill list on my online account. Any guidance on how do I go about ordering them is appreciated.

That is incorrect. The company very deliberately prohibited the leather jacket option at AA. Now, that doesn't mean that everyone stopped wearing it over there.

Wasn’t he talking about the cardigan?

He was. I am not smart.

None of us are very smart; why else would be hang out on APC?

Hahaha! Truer words have never been spoken.

You can order them through twinhill after your account updates 30 days after your new hire date. It is a pretty quick turnaround from order to shipment.

A pipe and monocle are required when wearing the cardigan. Feathered fedora optional-but recommended.

Is the zipper cardigan the way to go? There is also the gauge sweater and the short all weather? Which one is the way to go? They are all approved I assume since they are on their website.

Thanks for the help fellas. I'll try my luck with just the cardigan once it gets chilly.

Order the all-weather and don't look back; it's the most versatile uniform item of the lot. You'll want to hit a tailor to get the sleeves shortened correctly (bring blazer along for that).

That said, I like the cardigan in the winter. You could possibly get through nearly all of winter in ORD with that as a layering piece in conjunction with the all-weather (which has a zip in Thinsulate liner). Reserve that trench (sans belt) for the absolute coldest days.

When we make the initial uniform order - what is paid for by the company, and what are we responsible for? It seems there is conflicting information between the contract (we pay 50% on a prescribed replacement schedule), and what the TwinHill / My.Envoy reads...During initial rollout of the new uniform, the company will provide the core garments at no cost to the employee.

I don't want to pay for 50% of 6 pilot shirts, as I have a closet full of A Cut Above shirts that are still nice, but if it is all free - I am not going to turn it down!

Thanks for the info.

I was hired just over a year ago, all our uniform pieces were paid for by the company.


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No you paid for half. Look at your deductibles from a year ago. I was in your class. ;)

I started seeing payroll deducts for $25 about 6-8 months after getting hired.

Negative Ghostrider. I was never charged. I just double checked to see if I missed it.


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You will pay 50% the initial roll out was last year when they changed the uniform. Confusing terminology.

Leather Jackets
 

I read that AA donated them to a homeless shelter in Fort Worth.

You resurrected a thread from over two years ago for that deep thought? Look, like it or not, leather jackets are an authorized item here. Wear one if you like and don't wear one if you don't. Simple as that.

Does anybody have a picture of the trench coats AA and Envoy wear? I'm weird and dress in 30's and 40's style as much as I can daily so I have an Air Force double-breasted Navy Blue overcoat (below is the exact listing I bought; not me in the photo I'd obviously have a tie and a button-down shirt. Call me weird all you want won't change my mind on dressing formally)
https://i.imgur.com/hQmPLSc.jpg

Yeah No, that won't fly, no pun intended. Not only is the color wrong but so is the style.

OK, since I don’t want to raise the ire of the political correctness police, I won’t call you weird.

But really, a new profile to post that?