Imagine the last time you were at an airport and were flying out somewhere. The crew arrives and you look at them quickly as they enter the gate area, well groomed, crisp white shirts, polished black shoes and clean cut haircuts – the image of true professional pilots!
So what would you think if the pilots showed up looking unkempt, badly wrinkled shirts, scuffed up shoes and a generally uncaring look? Would you feel these pilots are professional? Would you feel OK flying with them?
When you became a pilot, you must have had an idea of what pilots would look and dress like for their jobs? Maybe it is the classic Pan Am Pilot from years ago, or maybe like a crew uniform from an airline you fly on regularly. Pan Am was the first airline to use uniforms to signify the crew members rank on their Sikorsky Clipper Flying Boat aircraft. The uniform was based on Naval Uniforms, each crew member wore different epaulets to signify the ranks of Captain, First Officer, Second Officer and so on. The wearing of the uniform was also to provide assurance to the passengers that the crew were professionals, just like a Sea Captain of a ship. Today’s airlines mimic the style created by Pan Am Airlines back in the 1930s, each airline has it’s own style and dress code for their crews.
It is very important that you realize that when you put on a uniform you are portraying professionalism as a pilot. If you are part of the flight department you have no choice but to comply with the standard of a dress code. Yes, this sounds a bit like the military, and in a way our job is paramilitary-like. You are wearing a uniform just like the classic pilot image you had, now it is time to really dress and act the part. Bottom line, professionalism – always
Why should you care about uniform appearance?
As you know from reading my blog posts, I was a former Royal Canadian Air Cadet and a Cadet Instructor Cadre Officer “CIC Officer”. Before I was in cadets, my Mom would iron my shirts and pants, as soon as I joined cadets those days were over lol! My Squadron leaders showed us how to tie ties, polish boots, iron shirt and pants. I was tieing ties, polishing boots and ironing shirts and pants when I was 13 years old. But let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty when I first started out learning how to groom and prepare my uniform. I burned a few shirts and pants when I first started out. It took patience to learn how to get those nasty wrinkles out of my uniform. After a while, it becomes a rhythm and something you will get the hang of. I enjoy listening to music and ironing, I actually find it relaxing – crazy hey!
On a trip to Mexico, getting ready for departure day. Ironing my shirt, pants and getting my uniform spruced up for tomorrow’s flight.
Ironing takes time and practice, you can easily wreck your uniform if you do not know what you are doing. Each type of material can withstand a certain amount of heat from the iron.
Take some time out and check out some great youtube videos on learning how to iron shirts, pants and how to polish those shoes. Here are great videos to check out:
Thank you to T.M Lewin for their great videos and products.
Ironing pants is a step by step process that cannot be rushed, I usually start with the bottom pant leg creases, flipping over each side to ensure I have got all of the wrinkles out.
What about those shoes? I really think you should take the time to polish your shoes ahead of time (when you’re at home). Shoes have a few different parts you should be concerned about, welts, sole edges, uppers, toe caps. All of these parts need to be cleaned, blackened or polished. Always clean off your shoes before polishing, remove any dust or dirt on the shoes with a wet rag. Let your shoes air dry for a few minutes. Using an old toothbrush dipped lightly into Kiwi black polish, polish the welts of the shoes (the area between the leather upper and the rubber sole). Ensure the entire welt area of the shoe is blackened with polish. Next, comes the polish, there so many ideas on how to polish shoes, which polish to use and so on. I use a brand called Kiwi (the old military standard). I use an old toothbrush, shoe polish brush (horsehair or an equivalent), a polishing cloth and small amount of water. Please check out the videos below for exact instructions on shoe polishing.
When you are on road, it isn’t really practical to carry a big shoe shine kit with you, however, it is still just as important to shine those shoes Mr/Mrs/Miss Pro-Pilot. (The above example is a really poor example of polished shoes, these are just blackened, not polished. I always blacken my shoes if do not have the time to do a proper polish. Consider purchasing an inexpensive, small, travel shoe shine kit.
Below is an example of how to clean, treat the welts and edges of your shoes:
Thank you to the Hanger Project for the above informative video.
Below is an example of proper polishing, it will 10 minutes per shoe to get a really great shine happening. Imagine showing up at the gate with those gleaming shoes – wow – impressive:
Thank you to Captain Martin Brennan of The Irish Guards for this lesson.
Here is my uniform all ready to go, I am all for preparation, being organized, knowing where everything is for those early mornings when you really need to get going. Having to try and find a uniform part when your running to the crew taxi is not fun!
Most pilots I know will iron their uniform before they head to bed for the night. Waiting until the morning when you are getting up at 04:00 isn’t really a great thing to do. Take the time as soon as you get to your hotel room and tune up that uniform.
All set, ready to take on the day. Professionalism is key in our industry. Always look the part of the professional pilot, if you look and act professional you will be afforded the respect of your passengers and the people you work with.
Huge advice for everyone starting out in a new flight department, always be early for the crew bus/taxi, never keep your crew waiting, be professional, be ready. This includes leaving ample time to check out of the hotel, grab a coffee or whatever you need to do before your ready to get on the bus/taxi with your crew. Consider getting a wake-up call from the hotel, plus using your phones alarm function – just don’t be late!
And now you have a few more tools in your toolbox, you are on your way to becoming a professional pilot!