Qantas Pilot Uniforms: A Look Back Through the Years

— -- Qantas Airways pilots will sport a fresh new look in the skies come 2016.

The airline announced this week that Australian fashion designer Martin Grant has been tapped to outfit the fliers in new gear after successfully modernizing the brand's cabin crew uniforms in 2013.

“Every Qantas uniform over the past 95 years reflects its times and we’re excited to work with Martin on a new design that reflects modern Australian style as well as the positive things happening at Qantas,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce in a released statement.

To pay homage to the past, Martin indicated that he will be weaving elements of earlier designs into the new image and seeking out input from pilots as to their needs.

"Early feedback from Qantas pilots is that they want to retain the traditional image but give it a modern makeover to be more elegant and more wearable," said Martin. "The female pilots are also hoping for a more feminine line so I will have that front of mind when I begin the design stage.”

Here is a look back at the evolution of past Qantas pilot uniforms.

"In 1935, Qantas pilots wore a khaki military-style tunic when the first international services between Brisbane and Singapore began 80 years ago using DH86 landplanes," according to Qantas records.

"During the Second World War, Qantas flight crew reverted to military style khaki uniforms," describe Qantas historical archives from the 1940s. "The crews who flew the Catalina flying boats on the Double Sunrise service between Perth and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) were over enemy patrolled territory for much of the journey and it was thought that military uniforms would better protect crew if captured."

Over the coming weeks Martin will meet with the pilot community to gain feedback on what they would like to wear. Design, practicality and comfort are all key factors in pilot uniforms.

For further inspiration, Martin will also travel across the airline’s domestic and international network to see what the pilots experience. The designer will also join Qantas pilots in a flight simulator to better understand their working environment.

"The Qantas pilot uniforms changed back to the traditional nautical style in 1980," noted Qantas historical archives. "At this time, the first female pilots began flying with Qantas."

Martin is not the first fashion designer to put his stamp on the airline's look. Australian label George Gross and Harry Who designed uniforms in 1993 featuring a navy jacket and trousers.

Likewise, Australian designer Peter Morrissey rebooted the pilot uniform with single breasted black jackets and trousers in 2003.

The new uniforms are expected to be on all of the airline's 2,500 pilots in 2016.