You are dating yourself. The average public high school does not have uniforms, and hasn't for well over 25 years.

I like the uniform..but I am glad I dont have to wear "The Hat".

Gee... the MOST professional flight crews I have ever flown with wore nomex flightsuits..... just one rung above coveralls...... imagine that. I do believe a uniform of sorts is required.... just not the hat and tie.

No, I'm not. 1980's birthday - been to any large city lately? Dallas, New York, Oklahoma City, Houston, New Orleans. Most school districts are making the switch back. Smaller towns are the exception.

Well said.

Gotta agree with the calls for the bag on a comfort level. Otherwise, go AF style with respect to the tie. Short-sleeves = tie optional. Hats also have no place indoors or on a flight line.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't one of the reasons that pilots and FAs wear uniforms is in the case of an emergency situation? The thought process being that passengers would be much more inclined to follow the instructions of someone who looks like they're in charge and know what they're doing. If pilots were to be wearing something business casual, then that pilot yelling at you to not take a certain exit could just as well be some guy traveling to a business meeting.

I'm not sure if companies actually take that into account when designing their uniforms, though since it's not a very likely situation to occur.

Not really. Airlines started with the hats right around the time that technology made it such that planes were competing with ocean liners. The airlines wanted the "ship's crew" image to instill confidence in the passengers. Hence, the hats.

They're not overly annoying. The "Coat, no hat" look is offensive, though. If you're going to do the "hats off to management" gig, at least remove your coat to complete the out of uniformity.

I do think that the blazer coats should be replaced with bomber jackets...but that's because bomber jackets look snazzy while the average uniform coat is "meh". (The jacket makes coat-no-hat less ugly, IMO...)

weirdo......

You know how I know you're gay...?

I hear people talking about Virgin Americas Uniforms....how do they look??? anyone got pictures???

I for one think no ties in the summer....if its good enough for a US Navy Officer....its good enough for me : )

Ok, but they have been there from the beginning, and are apart of what people think of when they hear the word "airline pilot".

I don't care for the hat when its summer and your only wearing the short-sleeved white shirt... then the hat doesnt really match it.. altho it doesnt look bad, either.

Then again though, the blazer with no hat looks stupid as well. If you wear the blazer, and not the hat, it just looks all wrong. Its either the blazer and hat, or the white shirt with no hat. For me anyways.

So, um...where's the poll?

Why is there all this bad rap about ties and hats? I personally like ties. They've grown on me ever since I started having to wear them while working at a restaurant. My favorite are the American flag ties that Southwest pilots wear (or used to wear). As for the hats, well they're kind of cool looking as well. I'd have no problem with wearing them. They look classy, like the blazer.

I'm for full uniform. But that's because I actually like formal attire.

As for the "professionalism," I work at a restaurant and have to wear a tie. Pilots are certainly more professional than waitstaff!

Then join the Navy

tried both them and the Air Force in HS.....spine injury from football would have kept me from getting a pilot slot.

knowing what i know now.....I should have gone to warrant school for the US Army

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1071/...ce14fb.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1197/...4e1b74.jpg?v=0

Black button down shirt, black pants, belt, silver wings. No tie, no hat, not sure about the epaulettes.

Looks like a good uniform to me. Keep the pilots happy is always good for bidness.

My last few trips to Europe, very few foreign crews wore their hats. A whole BA crew walking through the concourse was hatless. Ditto with an Iberia crew. They do wear their blazers during summertime, though. I think the hat is going bye-bye in this day and age, just like the when the FAs lost their hats.

Yeah, should be some sort of uniform, but casual for sure. Ties are a form of torture.

ties suck. enough said haha

We should all wear t-shirts that look like a uniform with a tie and all. It says that I like to be formal, but I'm here to party. Just like a tuxedo t-shirt.

Id never seen those before... They look like theyre going to a funeral... I think Id rather wear my tie and hat before wearing a black long sleeved shirt in the summer

so do the hats

Yeah, especially if you happen to go to places like SLC, DEN, DRO, PHX, BOI, GTF, LAX, SNA, SBP, and so forth.

Those Virgin American uniforms make the pilots look like waiters! It's ridiculous. That's why ties are necessary. Like I said before, ties can be fun.

How about the next time you go to a funeral the funeral directors are wearing khaki pants and a bright blue polo.....come one folks. Let's be classy.

I am pretty tired of reading this thread. Those of you who don't want to wear the uniforms I say this, "quit being a baby and grow up. Your a big boy now!"

Uniforms = discipline. Something many grew up without.

A good example is a article I read a while ago:

In 1995, parents in Long Beach, Calif., decided that putting schoolkids in matching clothes would steer the classroom focus away from sporting the right shoes and hack to learning. The numbers agreed: Since they mandated uniforms five years ago, overall crime in the school district has dropped by a startling 91%. Suspensions are down 90%, sex offenses have been reduced by 96% and vandalism has gone down 69%. Arnold Goldstein, Ph.D., head of the Center for Research on Aggression at Syracuse University, believes uniforms work by promoting a sense of community,, allowing troubled students to feel part of a supportive whole. Says Goldstein: "There is a sense of belonging."


You can find that article here

Psychology Today: Uniform Improvements



The numbers don't lie and when they allow anyone to fly airplanes these days the uniform and how it is worn is often the first sign as to whom you may be flying with for three days. Does the tie worn loose show a lack of caring? If the shirt is wrinkled des this mean this person is sloppy?

We all think it.

Delta is the biggest Uniform Nazi airline around, there standards are high and I commend them on keeping them there. You have to admit, they look professional and I feel a lot more comfortable seeing them get on the airplane than some unshaven dude with a back pack and sun glasses on....INSIDE!!! Get real!

Oh and another thing...if uniforms weren't necessary; shouldn't the military have quit using them along time ago when the budget got tight?

Their pilots AND their flight attendants, and even the gate/ticketing agents, look sharp.

Just saw the Virgin America uniforms:eek:. Wow I thought the Jet Blue uniforms were pretty bad. This uniform sets a new low. Remind me of undertakers.:eek:

As for all the suggestions about slacks and a polo shirt and crap like that...if you guys want to wear that kind of stuff I think places like southwest are hiring flight attendants. :eek:

Holy crap!!! Those are the VA pilot uniforms?

I saw a VA pilot in uniform yesterday at SEA and thought he was a flight attendant. I didn't know he was a pilot until I saw those photos. That crappy excuse for a uniform needs to be replaced desperately.

Whatever dude, I go to work to make money and have a good time. I have always thought pilot uniforms look gay. Believe me nobody cares. I would rather wear the undertaker clothes.

ahh... no I don't believe you that nobody cares. However, I do believe that you would wear undertaker's garb to work. That part I do believe.
If you would rather wear that garb instead, I know for am a fact that you could get a well paying job as an undertaker.... Hey you wouldn't have to wear that 'gay pilot uniform' as you describe. Don't know if you would have as much fun though? Maybe you would.

I used to be an part time funeral director....it was a good job and is my fall back...and even we as FD's didn't wear all black....that uniform just makes you look like you work at Brookstone or Cosi

Talk to people who are unfamiliar with aviation. When they fly an airline, they want their pilot to look like a pilot. Perception is everything in life. Also, there have been numerous reviews of VA where a major complaint has been the pilot uniform.

You don't have to agree with that sentiment, and you can hate what you wear, but you chose a profession where standardization and repetition is not only expected, but required. Deal with it.