Hat or no Hat?
 

Does your company still require hats? If not, do you still wear it? What is your take on it? Seems like in this modern day and age, the hat is outdated. Sadly, because it seems to be a strong image of who is the pilot.

Our company does but very few people actually do. I however do because a) on night stops everything in my pockets goes into it, b) it keep the rain off and c) when the sun gets in your eyes in the cockpit you can put it on as a sunshade :ok:

We used to have a "normal size" hat until the uniform changed a couple of years ago. Up until then, the hat was an integral part of the uniform and most pilots wore one. Then we changed manufacturers and waited with anticipation for the 'new' look. Designed by one of us, it was supposed to be THE thing. The hats came in and since then, only a fraction of the pilots wear one. I wear one for all of the above reasons plus one more....it covers the bald head so I don't get sunburned:} .
The 'new' manufacturer was a local company that manufactured hats for the Soviet forces...they didn't see the need for reducing the diameter of the hat and now it looks like I have a very large frisbee on my head. Damn good sunshade though.:ok:

yeah I know, the gene for shame is missing

It goes a little beyond fashion and cultural norms. It is part of the human psyche that obediance to authority is much increased if the person in authority is wearing a uniform cap (Yes, someone actually researched it).

In pre 9/11 times, when it was necessary for the Captain to proceed to the cabin to control unruly passenger/s, our company's Operations Manual listed as Item #1 -

Put on your hat.

Try a small private experiment. If your company's procedures allow it, take a stroll through the cabin with your hat off. A few people will give an interested glance. Now, try it with your hat on, you will have their full attention.

I kid thee not!

Regards,

Old Smokey

We had hats, then the company decided it was too expensive, and so stopped ordering them for new hires. Also, not many wore them anyway. Then a memo was issued saying they were optional. Curiously this somehow prompted the remaining crew to take up hat-wearing again!
hmmm
ps. I think a traditional pilot uniform looks incomplete without one, like you forgot it in the car. Newer looks with leather jackets and such do just fine without them IMO.

hey on that note, anyone know if CX pilots wear hats?

Cheers

Aussie

Hats have all sorts of extra benefits apart from being worn on the head.

One experienced captain in a company I once flew for never came to work with any form of brief case - his licence and headset were in his hat!

Notwithstanding the different views on wearing of hats it should, I feel, go without saying that pilots obey the uniform regulations of the company they are flying for!

Also there are different designs of hat - some being better than others.

I got offered one when I joined my (now) old company. Took it for a laugh. Apart from in a drunken moment at home giving everyone a few chuckles, I've never actually worn it. Makes me look like a stripper - and this has been agreed by crew when I put a hat on on a course once!

The problem is, the hats that most companies dish out are designed for men. If they designed a decent one for women, some might wear it. I wouldn't - it would mess up my hair!!

Aussie asked
Yes, they do..

Yes i do wear my hat, not all the time, i personally think it`s a image thing for me.

The airline i work for state it is optional.

It's compulsory where I work but the majority appear not to wear their hats! I wear mine when it's raining, it's cold or my bag is full of cheapo beer (or when I might wind somebody up!).

We are supposed to, I haven't for 9 months, think it's far too Auxiliary Balloon Corps,

It is the most expensive part of our uniform and should be dumped.

Chino's, leather jacket, name and rank badge - that's all that is needed.

Javelin,

Can I take it that you are a 20 minute'r then?;)

Not long after I joined our company the pilots had a vote about keeping them.

It was overwhelming in favour of keeping them.

i think that it adds the final touch to the uniform. On the two occasions that I forget to bring it to work I felt very strange.

Some people don't bring them in and others bring it in but carry everywhere.

Our last GMFO was very keen on our wearing them (ex military).

They are part of our uniform and I would no sooner think not to wear them than come into work with white socks and trainers or not wear my tie.

I used to carry it under my arm just in case I was flying with one of the hat loving management in which case I would put it on, always felt like a real prat wearing it however. When I got my command I left it at home from day one and never bought it in again. The company recently made them optional, a few still wear them but most had already given up before the memo. I suspect if the hat that was issued had been a bit better more would have worn them but it was the most cheap and crappy cap you could imagine and looked pretty awful on most people.

We had the 'hat, no hat, debate at our airline last year. It was decided by the powers that we have to wear hats. So be it.
I look at it this way. You all signed on for this. You all sent a resume to your respective airlines begging for a chance to fly their airplanes. Wear the darn hat. Guess what? You can all take it off when you get home! (Except of course the geeks who keep in on the rear shelf of their cars!)

Agree with Max Angle - as an F/O, I let the Captain take the lead - Carry it more than wear it!!!!

Hat history Lesson 101
 

Hats, caps or helmets came from the military, where all civil aviation originally came from (1921).

The type of hat most airline crew wear is the formal type reserved for weddings, funerals, court martials etc.

The airline hat, like the field cap and steel helmet all serve a purpose, apart from keeping the sun off bald spots.

The hat (Airline) completes the uniform and aids in identifying the flight crew from pax and other crew.

Why wear a unimform?

So that the punters know which are the flight crew and what direction they are running ifrom an aircraft on fire.

But seriuosly, I hate my large ceremonial hat. I believe it shoild be reserved for those occasions where everyone is wearing one except the accused.

For emergencies I would prefer to see a day glo orange or fluro green baseball style cap kept with the other emergency equipment on board.

In the event, say of an evacuation, the crew could don them and they would be labeled much as FBI and SWAT team members caps are during an operation. PILOT CAPTAIN or some such label.

One final comment. As a tall pilot I have walked into more undercarriage doors on the 360 (Walkround) with my hat peak blinding my upward forward vision than I have without it.

Chok Dee.

Mmmmmmmm - hats............

Well, first and foremost a gentleman would never wear a hat indoors and to that end I would include my place of work/office which happens to be a flightdeck.

Secondly, a hat has no place anywher near the outisde of an aeroplane - how many times have I seen them flying off in a swift breeze and yes just occasionally they have been known to head off down the intakes !

So, where do I need my hat - on the staff bus from the car park, probably not - so the twenty yards between the bus and the door to the terminal - well, ok but does it justify the expense ?
Perhaps again, if the hats provided had a little more style, more akin to an army cap rather than some pseudo cold war warrior from the eastern block (no offence to our new-found friends) or what about those excellent sumarine commanders caps smelling of diesel oil.

No lets bin them or at least save them for the 'hats on b*******g' from the Chief Pilot which we all receive at some time in our careers....................................

as an F/O, I let the Captain take the lead

My first airline job required a hat. As the airline was AZ, this was a proper hat, a thing with a massive front peak complete with a hard plastic strip to keep the peak nice and erect. It was a serious hat fit for a tea party.

Prior to my first line training trip, I asked for advice when to wear it. "Simple" came the reply "just copy the captain".

We got off the crew bus, hats on. Into the briefing room, hats off, into the terminal, hats on. Onto the escalator, hats off. Along the corridor, hats on. Through security, hats off .. and so it went on. As we walked down the pier, the training captain looked over his shoulder to me and laughed. I'd passed the "hat initiation test".

That hat immediately disappeared until our 10 year reunion party recently when it caused plenty of mirth as it was passed around the dinner table for a photo call.