You Scruffy Bu**ers!
 

Nice to see that at the end of a difficult year with many of us taking unpaid leave we are left with a NTC telling us to smarten up! Whilst (as an old fart) I agree with the sentiment the timing could be better.

Happy New Year chaps!

Well give me something to be pride of Henry. Those 20 cent uniform wings, Russian generals cap or the Mong Kok trousers is not much to be proud of.

As for the management team, cant be to proud of a leadership that spend most of the year in court fighting their employees.

Happy New Year to the rest of my colleagues, at all levels, that stayed professional during all of this the last year.

Get WW Chan back on board as tailors and that would be a start.

As for the Kelloggs Cornflake packet wings :ugh:

All that aside....Happy New Year one and all.....here is to 2010:ok:

How dare you Henry. You god bothering tosser. You give us some respect and we shall return the favour!

Next thing u'll see implemented in FCOM3 is the EXACT order to put ur uniform on starting from ur undies. This will be checked during ur RT/PC and will be graded on. Failure to achieve the "Cathay Standard" will result in a meeting with your fleet training manager and additional training will be provided.

Being a "Captain's Airline", of course the captain knows best about whether his F/O's need to wear a jacket or not, and as previously testified, S/O's are simply not capable of doing much of anything so who cares about how they feel. A new QRH checklist will be created for all captains to determine whether they should wear a jacket themselves.This is neccessary cause we're not professionals in determining whether it's cold enough for us to put on a jacket or not as an individual and would require some sort of standard across the company.

And of course, if you go sick because your captain wasn't wearing a jacket and hence you weren't, you should consult your physician whether or not to consider a career change.

henry would have been proud to the an S/O at dispatch the other night jacket all buttoned up and CAP ON while checking the Notams..... As for me, what's a jacket and what is a Cap??? I thought a cap was something you did to my pay........

Very rarely do I agree with HC. But all he is asking us to do is wear the uniform that CX provides. Just do it.

I suspect many of us agree with the sentiment of the message but surely a positive message rather than an implied bollocking would be more appropriate (certainly appreciated) at this time of year.

Uniforms
 

Honestly I wear the uniform out of self-pride, not because someone in management tells me to do so (edited for PWP).

Why I wear my hat; well, it’s a personal thing. If the F/O or S/O do not wear a hat or jacket, I personally don’t care. I will not tell them to wear a hat or jacket. We can be from different bases and the F/O out of HKG in the summer may have it in the closet while an ANC Capt has his on year round.

I wear my uniform out of pride. No, I am no a vain person (quite ugly perhaps, depending on how many drinks you have had) but I like to look professional or smart as some may call it.

It is like kids in boarding school, you have a set uniform but you need to accessorize. I see kids accessorizing with different things here in HKG and it defines them.

I see pilots with some great looking hats; believe me some great looking hats. The ones you can wear your headset over and what some guys do to get them this way is remarkable. To me, have fun with the hats if you so choose?

I am a Captain, I am not you Father nor management and I will not dictate to you on how to wear you uniform, it is a personal thing but I must say” be proud of your profession”. Many people have died in our profession and we must keep it as professional as possible and we must look the part.

We make the profession look easy but we are professionals. When we make it look easy, people think that anyone can do it.

Management over the year have taken the professionalism out of our job for industrial reasons and ranked us as merely bus drivers and Capt “Sully” Sullenberger has demonstrated just the opposite.

I am not the uniform police in CX but all I am saying is: if you want to be respected, look respectable, be proud of your uniform and if someone says you are just a mere pilot or bus driver, punch the fcuker in the face.:}

I broke one of my rules "PWP", posting while pissed so hence the mistakes.:=

Can anyone confirm that someone in Flight Operations 'management' has an interest in 'Wonderful (!) Tailor', that produced these dreadful uniforms after the abrupt termination of CX's relationship with WW Chan?

No doubt 'Angel', our GMF, had a wonderful time over Christmas composing this gem of a NTC. A Happy New Year to him too and may his 'god' go with him.

I agree that all wearing hats is a nice idea but how exactly do based FOs and HKG Capts or vica versa co-ordinate their wardrobe? E.g. if the Capt is HK based (no jacket) and the FO is based coming to HK with his jacket what is the FO suppose to do? Fold up his jacket and stuff it in his bag so that it looks like s&*t the next time he wears it?
On a separate note if we are to be proud of our profession and uniform why do we not show our profession (wings) on our shirts???

I see the children are revolting again.

You have all taken the "queens shilling" just wear the uniform and stop bleating. You can all wear your designer kit when out on the town in Wan Chai. If you cannot work out how to carry your jacket without stuffing it in a bag then there is NO hope.

CXChildLabour

You obviously do not read your Line Check report!:rolleyes:

However, a return to WW Chan would be great.

you know Pprune can be quite a handy source of good info................................

But not this crap.....

Just wear the damn uniform CX pay you to wear, if you want to look like crap then go fly rubber dog shi* for some third world outfit.

have some pride for god's sake.:mad:

Just call in (Toss Parker) the resident fashionista!! He's the new uniform police man so I'm told! It's a shame no one can police him when he turns up in the bar looking like Joseph Fritzel fresh out of the dungeon!

Nice Gold Chain! :ugh:
Nice Canairy Yellow Skivvy!:ugh:
Nice Stone Washed Jeans from 1983!:ugh:
Nice Cow Boy Boots!:ugh:

"Yeah back when I was in the Airforce this is how we pulled the chicks ...just watch and learn young fella uncle Tossco will teach you a trick or two"

Outstanding post, Maple Leafs. Not much else needed to be said...

8888. You call Maple Leaf's post 'good'...?! If a lack of eloquence and poor grammar is your definition of 'good', then yes, your right. :ooh: Ps. Maple Leaf. How exactly do you define' reading the Bible too much'...?

"then yes, YOU'RE right"

Pot calling the kettle black!

Always happy to be humble...! :ok:

For those of you wondering whether to take a jacket or not....

Vol 1 excerpt...

c. All crew members should have the uniform jacket available to take on a flying pattern, unless they have established with the Commander that jackets are not required. However, crew members may assume that jackets are not required on regional patterns from Hong Kong between the months of April and September inclusive.

That means that unless you are the Captain, then you take your jacket with you... all the time, unless its the HKG summer and you are on a regional pattern. Surely it's not that difficult to understand.

I am very pleasantly surprised by how many of our colleagues agree with HC's intent, if not the content of his message!

I doubt very much much that his religious beliefs have anything to do with this message.

I would say reading it at all is too much.

Despite the unavoidable bickering, I believe the OP's sentiment is still valid.

Last year we endured paycuts, a host of contract incompliances that led us to court in cases that the management would rather shut the whole thing down rather than see us win, at the end of the year everybody who works for CX got a payrise, except us pilots, and of course the constant belittling.

And to cap all of that off, our dear GMA takes time during the holiday season to come up with a nice NTC to tell us all how to correctly wear the HK$ 20 Sham Shui Po uniform, since apparently we aren't able to dress properly on our own either, like the bunch of half-retard school kids they consider us to be...

Gee! Thanks a lot, there, mister boss sir...

Irrespective what the Vol 1 says, if it is cold, ill wear my jacket, if it isnt i wont...prertty simple really.

Only sheep would voluntarily wear their jacket because someone told them to and it is 30 degrees outside!

Well there are some sloppy dressers in our ranks that's for sure.

Maybe a gentle kick up the ass is what some need.

In part I have to agree. I wear my uniform whenever I am in view of the public, ie the terminal. As soon as I am on the train, the tie, epaulettes, etc all come off or another jumper goes on. I have seen guys wearing their jacket, undone and without a tie. It does look weird and unprofessional.
Yes the uniform is not the best, but is it all the poor company can afford. :rolleyes: I have even had my jacket tailored privately as it was so poorly fitted (I don't think the company tailor did anything to it regardless of how many times I took in back), and I am considering doing the same with the pants and shirts.
As for me wearing the jacket because the captain does, well, why can't I decide if I am hot or cold? Like others have said, it is very difficult when flying with based guys as to what they are going to do. Summer here, winter there, and vis versa. There are even some that wear it regardless of if it is cold simply because they didn't want to iron their shirt. I am a grown adult, I can make my own decisions about if I will wear my jacket. Oh wait a minute. I am not supposed to think apparently.
I do not agree with the timing and intent of the NTC though. I feel like there are more pressing matters to write about. Reminds me of a old Sergeant or something. When moral is down, or things are bad, he would give the old "grooming standards" treatment as a means to redirect focus.

End of a year with SLS, no 13th month, no pay rise (again), lawsuits en masse,no commands, no basings and a very uncertain future.

And then this : a senior management pilot gives me a New Year resolution regarding how to wear my uniform.

He probably wouldn't even talk to his children in such a patronizing manner.

Nothing on earth could describe the hopeless mindset of the dear leaders in this company better.

Unbelievable.

Many of you have obviously missed out on the best years of flying for Cathay and did not have the pleasure of flying with an illustrious captain, the son of a famous man who designed and built the first jet engine. Woe befall the poor F/O who had the temerity to remove the bamboo hoop in his new hat and be rostered to fly with said captain! Not coming to fly as my crew, in this shameful manner, he was told. Upon which the hapless F/O made his way to the uniform section to book out a new hat, the issue of which was denied as he had already used up his issue. However F/Os not being stupid, he booked one out on the captains hat allowance and duly reported for the continuation of his duty.:ok:

Brings back memories of dress standards bollockings worthy of an old drill instructor I had. I can't remember Ian ever giving me a serve for my dress standards, however, I do remember another worthy 'wtf'....

On taxi-ing out with a former 74 skipper (GTG - for those that remember, Bali IIRC, Wife/ ID90/ back to FO - say no more), I removed my tie, only to be asked " What are you doing???" rapid checks of what switches I last touched revealed no apparent stuff ups, so admitted "I don't know"
To be told, "well what would happen if we aborted, evacuated and were seen wandering around the wreckage with no tie, wouldn't this look unprofessional?"
I think that would have been the last thing on my mind whilst surveying burning body parts.

As for the 'reverend' who issued the letter, my dad told me to never trust a man who didn't drink.
As for religion, well if you need it use it, but don't point it in my direction.
Overall, timing could have been better, and considering the aspect of 'those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones', I thought a poorly thought out management missive.

Now if they said easy on the hair product and lay off the earings and piercings, then as an oldie, that would have my vote:ok:

BUT - we are given a uniform, we don't make the rules, we just have to follow them. So how hard is it for us just to look neat & tidy without having to be told. Come on guys, this is bread & butter stuff, let's just wear it like we are meant to and look the part. If you want to go alternate, wear flouro undies, pink socks or a prince albert, but the parts that the great unwashed get to see, should present us as a group, in a professsional light or we do ourselves a disservice.

Does no-one remember that in the early 80`s the Line Check report forms had a column for " Grooming and Deportment"!? Old Pat R*****l gave me a "C" for a scruffy hat. The mentioned "Hat Captain" received quite a few bamboo hat hoops in his mailbox if memory serves me right.

Good post Maple.
don't know how you became the grammar police tornado but that one boomeranged. At least you have the character to apologize.

Mapleleaf
 

We work for a bunch of p####s whom most of us don't give a s##t about anymore ....seriously we don't , take your professional very nice rant and go have a pale ale and think about it , cx don't care about you why should you care about them ?
professionalism has nothing to do about it...the times have changed where have you been ? on your base somewhere?
Respect is a 2 way street, think about it caps make no diff
Most of us do not wear it because we can't stand the company we are working for, not with.
:ok:

NTH (Notice to Henry)

F:mad: YOU...

...don't most of you have anything better to do on New Years Day...? Ad Posse...nice attitude to start off the new year....charming.

When I am treated (by management and public alike) and rostered like a UPS delivery boy, I am gonna dress like a f:mad:ng UPS delivery boy :ugh::ugh:

Maple Leaf.
On The uniform issue I am with you 100 percent.
So much is being taken from our profession by the bean counters that we have to make a stand.
It doesn't take HC to remind me of the significance of my uniform but his religious views are not part of this.
I am proud of my uniform.
I spent a lot of time trying to get the opportunity to wear it and I wear it with pride.
Come on guys do you remember when you applied for the job?
You were over the moon when you were accepted.
Management are on a campaign to reduce your status.
They have employed several tactics.
Now I have heard hats are to go.

Next thing is that the 9 to 5's will arrive with 5 stripes and a bigger hat.

As Maple Leaf implies "Wear it with pride guys" what is the alternative that you prefer?

All of you that talk about wearing the uniform "with pride" were probably the first spineless bunch to sign up for SLS and the first ones to believe the lies that are told to you on a daily basis. You keep quoting how many have worn this uniform with pride and that we have professionalism to uphold. The people who wore the uniform before you and actually stood up for the profession would spit in your face after the sad performance you have delivered when faced with adversity (49ers, COS08, SLS). People who risked their jobs and stood at the front line would be ashamed to call you lot their "collegues". Don't think that because you wear your uniform all neat and according to Vol 1 that you have even a fraction of professionalism. Your actions are what define you, not your dress.

I tell you what lets me walk with pride. Knowing that I do not run away with my tail between my legs when faced with a challenge to uphold my profession. Knowing that I did not take SLS nor will I ever until I see honesty from my leaders. Knowing that I show up to my checkrides well prepared to do my job - not prepared to stroke that particular checker's ego. I also know that I do not work for free and that time spent with my family is very valuable to me, way more than a G-day callout or a roster disruption. I might not wear my hat or my coat when it is too hot, but I certainly have no problem walking with my head held high. I doubt a lot of you can say the same. :yuk:

Clothes don't make a man (or a woman). So stop thinking you can make up for your lack of professionalism and dignity by putting on a silly hat or jacket (regardless of wether it is a uniform or a suit). Grow a pair and start acting professional regardless of how you look. That will do much more to improve your self image than just looking the part. :D

Sqwak 7700

Now THAT is a good post. You realize 100% of responders will talk with you but not walk with you Sqwak.
Just look at the A.O.A. list of jellyfish that had no back bone during the 49er case. I have the empty bank account to prove my 5% contribution to my profession and the protection of my contract.

I would hope that the CX uniform does not come to resemble the Virgin Blue issue ie. no hat, no tie, and brown pants ???
I have always worn my uniform with pride in my profession and will continue to do so. It presents a very clear image to the traveling public who are by and large clueless as to what goes on in the sharp end.
Tend to agree with most posts regarding the CX pilot management though, some of our esteemed leaders(tossers) would be better suited to giving sermons from the pullpit and presiding over the odd confession before dutyfully administering the required strokes of the rattan cane.

Sqwak

Good post and I agree with you on a number of points. The problem still remains though that we don't have 100% of the pilots who think the way you do and until that happens we'll always vulnerable to what's happened in the past. Those who decided that the AOA could no longer represent their views and either quit or defected did nothing but weaken our negotiating position and that still remains the case today.

So are you saying that those who are smartly dressed are unprofessional or are not prepared to defend our professional standing? The two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.

Beta

So what? Has it achieved anything other than to allow you to write the above comment? Seriously, if it has you have to let me know because I'd be interested to find out how your contract is better than mine.

I've heard that somewhere before and when we were all walking together 49 guys were fired because we then lived in a place with skewed labour laws. Maybe times are changing and instead of all this bloody "my d*ck's bigger than yours" nonsense that it appears that most contributors to this forum seem to relish, we should make every effort to get some sort of unity going so that we at least have a chance of fighting our corner.

Anyway, after all of that, I wear my uniform as smartly as the shoddy quality will allow (as someone else said, bring back W W Chan) and I try to be as professional as I can and I try my best to defend our professional standing.

STP

Clarify this....
 

Wow !

First we have constant expectation management and now we are being given our New Year's Resolutions !!

Oh and the guy wearing the jeans, called in off a G day, not at home, and could not get home to get uniform so was Ok'd to fly in civies !!

What is wrong with having one or more crew in the jacket and one or more without. Punters will still see only well dressed professionals, so what if they do not "match". I am sure the folks in the back don't think..."well if the Captain forgot his jacket...what else is he going to forget ??"

Also, I guess we now have the "Hair" police to add to the Hat and Tie police.

Not long before they publish grooming standards. I can see the Notice to Crew now....." and if you are having trouble getting your hair cut to the proper length, we will gladly book an appointment for you in the CX street Barber after a quick chat..."

I have plenty of pride in the profession, just not the employer.

Now can we get back to how unprofessional the company has been acting in the courts, and with our contracts ??

Happy New Year !!