Qantas pilots protest new uniform guidelines which ban handlebar moustaches, backpacks & chewing gum

The industrial peace that Qantas recently achieved with its employees following the signing of a new enterprise agreement may be unsettled again. The monkey wrench could come from new guidelines on stricter uniform standards which some aviators are protesting.

The new rules require the pilots to wear their new jackets such as when going to their jets, except if the temperature is more than 27 degrees or the airport they are in is located in the tropics. In mandating the use of jackets, the guidelines explain: “If full uniform [is] not worn, you should not be recognizable as a Qantas pilot [when travelling to or from work].”

Other accessories which would make the pilots easier to recognise are the hat, epaulettes and wings, Sydney Morning Herald notes. Current rules leave it up to the captain’s discretion to determine if the flight crew must put on their jacket.

The new uniforms were introduced in April, but pilots were given a copy of the 23-page guidebook on uniforms only last week. By Thursday, the used of the uniform becomes mandatory.

Australia fashion designer Martin Grant created the new uniform which 60 Qantas pilots modeled in a Sydney catwalk in April. His creation was a modern, single-breasted navy suit in a streamlined cut featuring a narrow cut for male pilots and more feminine design for female pilots.

Although pilots are generally happy with the new suit design, they are not with the wing design, epaulettes and badge on their new white hats which comes with a kangaroo badge that reminds them of a pilot’s costume worn by actor Leo DiCaprio in the 2002 film “Catch Me If You Can.”

The guidelines ban pilots from using a backpack or rucksack when in uniforms, chew gum or drink alcohol when in uniform and smoke in public. The uniform must be buttoned up and pilots must wear their hats when walking through an airport terminal.

Only female pilots may wear earrings which should be plain round pearl, silver, gold or diamond studs. Visible facial jewellery on the nose, eyebrows, tongues and mouths are not allowed. Moustaches are allowed if the outline of the upper lip is clearly visible, while handlebar, horseshoe and similar styles of moustaches are disallowed. Beards are not allowed, while sideburns are only below the earlobe in length.