skigambia

I was in a Hotel this morning, and hit my breaking point. A fellow pilot was eating breakfast, and I couldn't help but notice how many people were looking at his flight bag, and how could you not? It was covered in stickers, with most being politically extreme in nature. I even overheard conversations commenting on some of the content on his bag. So instead of the typical, "Oh there's a pilot eating" type of talk, it was "Did you see whats on that pilot's bag."
We all have the right to believe whatever we choose, and yes, we all have freedom of speech, but do we need to broadcast it in our work environment. To be treated like professionals, we need to act professional. Whether we admit it or not, we are highly visable and the public is still intrigued with all things relating to the profession. Is it too much to ask to have a neutral flight bag? Flair is for waiters, not pilots.

N9373M

Is there a code of conduct at that Airline? I would surmise that the pilot in question could do/say/support anything he wants on his own time, but whilst dressed in Airline "X"'s attire, it may be construed he was speaking for that airline?

I am bound by a code of conduct at my employer, and any public political endorsements while on duty are prohibited.

JayHub

i've seen this alot. I know a guy that had to do the carpet dance for a sticker he had on his bag during the '08 elections.

IrishTiger

You guys may have seen me around... but i have "Annoy a Liberal" on mine. I don't find it particularly offensive (unless you're a liberal)! haha

Ottopilot

Stickers are not allowed on our bags at my airline. Of course, people have stickers on them. I do too. I have a sticker on the end for each Boeing type rating I have. 737, 757, 767, 777. I have not got in trouble for those.

I just flew with a guy with "save the boobies" bumber sticker on his.

IrishTiger

I think any sticker promoting stuff like that is great. Although I don't know if I've ever personally been fond of "Save the Boobies" myself, and I wouldn't use it.

JT8D

What did the stickers say, and what do you consider to be politically extreme?

N49194

Censorship is censorship. I may not approve of everything I see but I say let freedom of choice run it's course.

The status quo is constantly in flux but in most cases extreme behavior on both ends has a carpet dance in it's near future.

Personally I choose the 'stay under the radar' approach but to each their own

HSLD

First, what's a flight bag? (yay! Ship sets!)

Second, I don't think I could get away with "save the boobies", but I would try a sticker with the pink ribbon and "show us what your fighting for"

johnpeace

What is 'offensive'?

Our company's manual offers no guidance on flight kit stickers, except to say that the flight kit itself must be 'plain, black'.