Recent FO had an interesting theory. Since so many of us still don’t have the hat, even fewer than normal will be wearing it for a while. When a large percentage of pilots are in the terminal with tech jackets and no hat, the company will give up and make it optional. I personally doubt it since they seem to like that goofy looking hat, but a guy can dream.

Preach!!!!!!

For all practical purposes, the hat has been optional for years at United. There’s no need to worry about when hats get shipped, or who wears what. Nobody is going to say anything or care.

I get it that hats are basically optional since the uniform standards in the FOM are never enforced, but it would be nice to make it official by changing the FOM. Until that day, I’ll just wear their stupid looking hat.

so everyone that is involved with training is a management stooge? GFYS.

I guess you would rather have instructors not on the seniority list with nothing personally invested.

You probably also want to show up and be spoon fed instead having to crack a book.

What makes those in the training department more aligned with management? They’re definitely by the book more than many line pilots, but I wouldn’t call them climbers. They may have been attracted to those positions in part for self serving needs, but don’t we all do that when it comes to BES? So far I definitely haven’t had any complaints from any I’m my instructors or LCP’s. All have been very thorough and professional.

I support this dream. You can’t tell a pilot from a regular person if they are wearing the tech coat. I’m waiting to see how many people try to get away with only wearing the inner shell.

I made my sad face when they updated the FOM to say no puffer only. The blazer would have never seen the light of day.

Sure you can. He’s the overweight guy without his jacket appropriately buttoned/zipped, the pant legs are probably high waters and he’s wearing a phone holster. You can spot them a mile away. Just like guys wearing camouflage in town.

TK standards captains have ALWAYS been management. With the advent of job share, I can’t say for certain if they are management, but my guess is no. Part of the reputation of training center standards captains being “management friendly” stems from our history. During the strike, they were expected to keep working, much like pilots in the flight offices around the system. Post strike, many of the scabs hid in training center for years and were protected by the company. This is why the reputation exists, fair or not.