SCMP - Dressing down just not the ticket at Cathay
Dressing down just not the ticket at Cathay
Simon Parry
Updated on Jan 03, 2010 Cathay Pacific has given its pilots a sartorial dressing down for being scruffy and poorly turned-out in public, and ordered them to make a New Year's resolution to smarten up. A memo sent out by general manager flying, Captain Henry Craig, said there had been recent cases when cockpit crew on their way to and from work had been seen committing the fashion faux pas of wearing jeans with uniform jackets, neglecting to wear ties and sporting "unkempt hairstyles". In the memo, e-mailed to Cathay Pacific's 2,000 fliers on December 31, and headed "New Year's Resolution a.k.a. Wearing of Uniform", Craig says pilots should make it their resolution to smarten up.
It instructs the pilots: "When we are on duty or in public view, we should always wear our uniform in an appropriate way.
"There have been recent occurrences when some crew members have appeared in uniform that is not befitting. Examples include wearing a uniform jacket but no tie; wearing a uniform jacket with denim jeans; unkempt hairstyles and crews that do not appear `uniform' when walking together.
"Whenever we wear our uniform, we are representing both the company and our profession. Therefore, when in uniform and in public view, take care to ensure that we are conveying a proper professional image."
Craig quotes company guidelines in his memo which say: "The complete uniform, including cap and tie, must be worn when on duty and in public view. However, the wearing of the uniform jacket is at the discretion of the commander.
"If jackets are worn they should be buttoned up. When crew members are together, all crew should be similarly attired."
The guidelines quoted by Craig go on: "When travelling immediately prior to or post duty, uniform trousers, belt and shirt may be worn without any other items of uniform. Alternatively, the complete uniform, including cap and tie, may be worn."
The memo had a mixed reception. One pilot said: "You would think that when we're confronting a renewed threat of terrorism on planes, our managers would have more important things to send memos out about than the way cockpit crew look on their way to and from work."
On an online forum for Cathay Pacific pilots, one person wrote: "Nice to see that at the end of a difficult year with many of us taking unpaid leave we are left with a [memo] telling us to smarten up. While I agree with the sentiment, the timing could be better."
But other forum users voiced support for Craig. "Just wear the uniform and stop bleating, You can all wear your designer kit when out on the town in Wan Chai," one pilot said.
Another pilot took issue with the instruction to be "similarly attired". "How exactly do [non-Hong Kong] based first officers and Hong Kong captains or vice-versa co-ordinate their wardrobes?" he asks.
"If the captain is Hong Kong-based with no jacket and the first officer is [non-Hong Kong] based, coming to Hong Kong with his jacket, what is the first officer supposed to do? Fold up his jacket and stuff it in his bag?"
A Cathay Pacific spokeswoman said: "The memo was sent out as a general reminder that our professionals should dress properly when in their uniform. It wasn't triggered by any incident in particular."