Come on Di Vosh,

Without our caps where would we put all our 'stuff' when we get to our hotel rooms?

First thing off, cap, then into it goes wings, slides, wallet, ID card, earplugs, hanky, tie, loose change, room key, two for one drink coupon etc etc, I'd lose way too much of my 'stuff' if I didn't have my pilot's cap. :}

It also comes in handy for doing the walkaround when it's pissin down! :8

Regards,
BH.

What, you wait until you are in the hotel to take your stuff off ?

First thing I used to do is and I learned that with the captains was: After pax are all out, take off stripes, wings, hide ID tag and take the tie off.

That way you can blend in nicely and nobody will notice the difference between.

:E

yeah right,
since when do 727 pilots fly in Hugo Boss uniforms ? LOL, unless of course you are not flying 727 anymore but I am very interested in knowing which airline besides Alitalia provides designer suits ?

Had my captains wings given to me during a working lunch trying to get through upgrade class, had my wings accidentally dropped in my pepper steak before they were handed to me.

Truly memorable.

Bullethead
 

Fair point.

I do use my cap as a holder for all my metallic items when I go through security! :ok:

Still reckon caps are crap! ;)

DIVOSH!

More recently, have noticed quite a few crew who remove the eppaulettes as they walk off the flightdeck, in some kind of attempt to blend into the crowds and avoid being hassled I assume.

LOL .. now that's funny BH! I knew there was a good reason to have them! :)

Is there company policy for when and where you wear the caps? I guess some people look good in caps, others who whinge about them probably don't ;) (just joking). :)

LOL! How unceremonious was that! If I ever get in to an airline one of these days, I'll create a movement for having a wings presentation night for new pilots and upgraded pilots. Just like how some flying clubs and flight schools do. hahaha

JulieFlyGal,

Its been 3 years since I got my first airline job, and getting your uniform I thought, was a special day.

We did not have a ceremony, however, it was like being a kid in a sweet shop, knowing after all those years of hard work, you were finally going to put on that uniform and fly aeroplanes for a living. One comment that was made, was if you can still get into those trousers in 1 years time you are not eating enough crew food :=. Dam I hate the gym ;).

Another proud moment is walking upto the aircraft in that new uniform and doing your first line flight. It is great, you can actually walk through the door, turn left walk through another door and take your seat, on the right of course. The amount of times I used to shoe horn myself into a C152 while teaching, well walking into the flight deck was a real novelty!

Anyway, I thought I would share that with you. All the best with your training, it really is worth it when you achieve your goals :ok:.

For female pilots, the process of getting the uniform can be depressing. My first company provided a selection of items of men's clothing in a plastic bag. Included amongst them was a foul weather jacket that could have doubled as a tent, a "small" NATO jumper the length of a dress and five short-sleeved shirts with armholes that gaped to the waist. Only the tie and epaulettes fitted! Did I feel smart? No.

The military made a big deal about getting wings. After a year of high-pressure training, it really was a big deal.

As a new-hire airline pilot my class found our wings and stripes on our classroom tables when we came back from lunch one day about 3/4 of the way through ground school. After being fitted for uniforms, they arrived in the mail a few weeks later. The postman didn't even flinch.

With upgrade to captain came the order form for new wings and stripes, again delivered in the mail with no ceremony of note.

(Thank God my airline did away with mandatory hats about 5 years ago. What a pain in the patootie to commute with that thing.)

Jetjockey USA;

I'm a management pilot with a corporate outfit and we also wear "designer uniforms" The colour of ours is a midnight blue with the usual gold braid. They cost very little more than the usual uniform suppliers offerings, tend to be harder wearing and fit better. Mr Boss gives a very good service.

Another company on the same airport get theirs made in Hong Kong by a tailor their boss uses.

We ensure that all necessarry uniform supplies are in the office ready for a new hire on his first day with the company. He may be spending the next month in a classroom and simulator, but we want him to know he belongs.

On promotion he gets all new gear, and all pilots get a new jacket, two pairs of trousers and seven new shirts a year, to go with the two jackets four pairs of trousers and all the rest that arrives in a big cardboard box the day they start. As for any ceremony, normally completion of line training/command course involve a few beers in the local pub.

OK, everybody. . . but please don't wear your jackets at Dubai in summer. :eek:

The pilot hat has its traditions from the nautical profession and airship days as does the rest of our uniform and many of the rules of the air and aviation terminology. A peaked hat is a symbol of authority and professionalism, hence the police, military, merchant marine and many other rank based trades wear it. The hat also easily identifies the flight crew. Those that are concerned about passengers harassing them after a flight, wear a hat, you may be surprised the affect it has.

If they are to do away with hats as part of the uniform then reform the entire outfit, wear a plain business shirt and be called flight manager and assistant flight manager or wear the same uniform as the cabin crew. Airline management would appreciate the pilots being brought down a level. Besides there are many hat making families that depend on the business....

Friend ( he's about 35) of mine came over a while back, knocked on the door. Walking towards the door I looked at him and my thoughts were: "It's not Halloween- maybe he's got a job as a clown for some kids birthday party." He told me he was now a student pilot at a local (Mexico) flight school. About 3 seconds later I burst out laughing (spontaneously- couldn't help it.) Of course, he got mad.
Bob.

The scrambled eggs hat decoration was part of the uniform for very senior ranking military officers. I joined a British charter airline back in 1989 as a direct entry captain and was told to visit the BA clothing store to pick up my new uniform - standard issue dark blue. The clerk at the store asked me to try on various hats for captain rank which again were BA standard with scrambled eggs peak. I felt so embarrassed at this pseudo Air Commodore finery and opted instead for the standard issue plain hat sans scrambled eggs. The clerk merely shrugged his shoulders and muttered "your choice".
In the two years I flew with that airline, not one person noticed - which is what I hoped..

Juan Trip made us dress like naval Officers
 

As a contractor mercenary, I have a closet full, and enough hats for a serious museum display.

With my latest national carrier (5 years already, gold on black), each time I requisition for shirts, I get another bloody hat & jacket.

the only ceremony was a long time ago when I went from 1 to 2 stripes, at another national carrier (& quite a few beers) Thanks Majid.

Everybody seems to have about 10 nowadays.

Ceremony is good. I was mortified that the Aero club forgot to present me with the PPL wings 30+ years ago (Anyone listening?)

My Mom has a large collection of wings, .....and by the way I like hats!

Thanks !
 

Hey, thanks BH, perfect - retired last year after 35 years, caps were made obsolete in my company 15 years ago but I would still carry mine just for that purpose, up until my last flight.

Finally someone with a practical view :ok: