Black looks Mormon missionary...will they include bicycles and solid black skinny ties too...goody goody...third World cheap leisure suit worn in Latin America. Hopefully the final color is blue.

 

The cabin crew has it worse than us. That whole Captain Kangaroo suit and the windbreaker with the stripe down the arm looks like something that you’d see on a ULCC. As mentioned previously, those vested in this project aren’t going to take no for an answer. They think that this is a fashion show. If we want to be a first class, professional airline who caters to high revenue business professionals, we should dress like they do. The uniforms should be quality, dark, conservative, business suits with some type of subtle insignia to show position. If Oscar wouldn’t wear it to a board meeting, his employees shouldn’t wear it in front of our customers.

 

I suspect it has to do with the lateralization of brain function:

Pilots are left-brain “techies” who say things like “works good, lasts a long time.”

People who design uniforms are right-brain “artsies” who say things like “looks marvelous”.

 

Pretty much my thoughts exactly and PDR submitted

 

Thanks for the post!

Still waiting to see this in person. I too was trying to keep an open mind but others observations are starting to cloud that goal.

Pilots are not about GQ fashion statements. It should be conservative (not a political term here folks so relax) and understated.

Quality, function and fabric was my only desire in the new uniform.

Accent stripes on collars have no place on a pilot uniform.

Total unsat move by folks that work in wacker making fun decisions without engaging brain.

Dark navy, black I don’t care. Not some shade of blue.

Disappointed is my position. Shame on the uniform committee for not communicating any objections they had prior to this media release.

And if they approved it.....guess they need to go!

Lee

 

Did you say glitter? You mean this thing got "be-dazzled?"

 

"Disappointed is my position. Shame on the uniform committee for not communicating any objections they had prior to this media release.

And if they approved it.....guess they need to go!"


Not a peep out of said Committee! Nada.....Zilch....

JUST SHUT UP AN COLOR!

Oh yeah new word this week "Palette"

Reminds me of "Tranche"



Ahhhh...the memories!

 

Recalling the uniform committee chairman is not a personal slight for time and effort on behalf of the pilots, it's just business. We can all show gratitude for volunteerism and the time spent to represent pilot uniform issues to the company, but this issue goes beyond risking hurt feelings.

As an organization recalling the uniform committee chairman sends a pretty clear message that the rank-and-file pilots do not approve of the new uniform.

If the uniform committee voiced opinion and shared input that went unheeded by the company, then we should turn up the volume. If the committee approved of this uniform, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest they don't represent the majority of the members.

Whatever the case with the uniform committee, recalling every member and then directing the MEC chairman to make it explicitly clear to UAL senior management, including a direct conversation with the CEO is appropriate IMO.

File all the PDRs you want, but the business of our union is only done by successful resolutions in the union hall.

 

That sounds very much like another instance in IAH about 20+ years...when the London flight cancelled.

Around that time my hat challenge from the local EWR hat nazi, when I walked to the gate podium for our PDC (DC-9). I had a terrible sun burn from a day before - hence no hat. An ACP demanded I return to the plane and wear my hat to the podium. When I asked the ACP if he was DC-9 qualified, since the choice of putting that hat on my nearly blistered pate would require an immediate sick call for me....he did a very military about face and strutted his little arse back down to the CPO warren.

 

Just one small issue with your plan......

The uniform committee members are not in control of what gets selected. They present options to the MEC, the MEC ultimately chooses what options are selected.

The uniform committee followed MEC direction which was driven partly by member surveys. That direction was to come up with a higher quality uniform that was distinctively United.

You may not like the fabric color, stripe color or purple accent color (not in ALPA control) chosen, but the committee did what it was asked to do.

The fact is, 90% of the comments have been negative. It's also true that those 100+ comments represent less than 1% of the pilot group, so I don't think we really know how the majority feel. In fact it appears about 50/50 based on what I've seen/heard from people who have seen it in person. I would anticipate we'll hear more next week on how the process will move forward.

It's been said: The only thing pilots hate more than the way things are......is change! That's certainly been on display the last week.

My humble $.02 worth.