True hat story:

An assistant chief pilot (once upon a time), saw a pilot talking on his phone in the boarding area for his flight. The crew was awaiting an aircraft.

The ACP asked: "where is your hat?" Captain replied: "it's in my bag."

ACP replied: "why is it not on your head?" Captain replied: "My head doesn't fit in my bag."

ACP replied: "you are relieved of flying duties for the day. Go home." Pilot did so.

ACP informed crew scheduling. Crew scheduling cancelled flight as no Captain was available. ACP was relieved of his ACP duties.

 

What bothers me a hell of a lot more than this disaster of a new uniform is my employer's public responses concerning it.

Anybody claiming that this is the end result of multiple surveys careful consideration of the end users opinions is simply not credible.

Don't **** on my leg and tell me it's raining. Whatever mid level executive is trying to cram this down the throats of over 12,000 employees regardless of how incredibly stupid it looks, all while lying to us, needs to be shown the door.

I agree on the McPeak comments. Skeletor was a complete tool. I got to see him up close and in action. He wasn't fit to carry Mike Dugan's helmet bag.

 

Was that before or after Dugan got himself fired?

 

This uniform deal is going to go down like an unpopular government program. They will filter through the piles of hate mail, find a couple of people who actually like it, and use them as examples of how the masses approve of their every move. We’re just going to get something like this crammed down our throats while being told that we’re better off as a result. I do think uniform compliance is going to tank. If they allow us to dress like it’s casual Friday by wearing a vest and windbreaker, I don’t think that the new hat will be an issue. It will just stay in the box at home.

 

McPeak only got the job when Dugan got sideways with Cheney's war PR machine.

The CSAF made some informal comments to CNN in his office about how quickly and easily we were going to obtain air superiority. While that was certainly the narrative afterward, it was off-script beforehand, as was Dugan's "enthusiasm." I guess Dugan should be happy he only got fired and not shot in the face.

General Dugan was a laid-back former SPAD pilot (Who flew out of NKP, at that.) and a really well respected leader. I had a post-retirement conversation with him once at the Henderson Hall BX in 1992. Just a really genuine, nice guy.

Skeletor was a disaster. I watched more than one really good briefer get torn to pieces for no other reason than McPeak was drunk on power. Or a dick, take your choice. His four star peers openly made fun of him. Talk to some of those PACAF EC-135 IP's about his antics. The C-21 folks weren't too impressed with his lack of skills either.

 

This is spot on.

 

Not a McPeak apologist at all, but Dugan’s “informal” comments were certainly off color and not befitting a man in his position. At the bar with all his fellow “spad” drivers, sure, but not in front of the media. Gen McChrystal (a very good Officer as well) found this out as well. The media will sell their mother’s soul for attention.

 

Agreed.

Yesterday’s newsbrief said, paraphrasing: “ We’ve unveiled our new uniforms and received a LOT of spirited feedback. We are reading ALL of your comments before we make a final decision.”

This made me hopeful. But as it went on:

“...and the feedback we are getting, loud and clear, is you want something that conforms to our new color palatte that will make us stand out from our alliance and regional partners.....”



Translation:

“While 98% of the responses are negative in ALL work groups, we have found 10 people in each functional area who will testify that the new uniforms are not only attractive and enhance job performance, but actually cured their mother’s cancer.”

 

The same people that are too heavily invested in this uniform project are the same people coloring and filtering the information to management.

Not a single line pilot has ever voiced concerns over:

1. "color palette"
2. "distinctive look differing from regional and code share partners."


What I have always heard is this:

better uniform vendors
better quality fabrics



How did this entire issue become so convoluted and messed up?

 

Saw the uniform on display in SFO today. Was optimistic before seeing it in person but was incredibly let down with how bad everything looked. The Navy Blue was much lighter than I thought it would be which made it look very cheap. The absolute worst part for me was the glittery silver on the bars and hat. It reminded me of the cheap ass stuff sold at FBO’s or flight academy’s to make private pilots feel like they were hot shots in a “cool uniform”

I honestly felt the tie color was one of the least offensive parts. Really stunned at how bad this thing looks. PDR will be submitted shortly.